The public sector must go carbon neutral by 2025 - but there are concerns an overburdened construction industry doesn't have the capacity to help achieve it. The Government, in making its climate declaration earlier this month, said it would lead by example by getting its own house in order - and so, in just four years' time, the public sector will have to measure and report carbon emissions, ditch the coal boilers and electrify its16-thousand strong vehicle fleet.
Big public buildings - those over 2000 square metres - will have to implement an energy efficiency rating standard, and new leases and new builds will have to achieve a high minimum standard of that. Smaller government buildings are not included in that rating. Kathryn talks to Professor of Construction Management at Massey University, Suzanne Wilkinson and Andrew Eagles, chief executive of the Green Building Council.
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