Renewable Energy - There are alternatives to eco-towns

29/04/2008

The government's plans to create eco-villages do not offer truly sustainable developments in light of other alternatives, a construction expert believes.

Creating brand new eco-towns is a "bad idea" when the UK's empty houses could be redeveloped to make them eco-friendly, according to the Federation of Master Builders (FMB).

Brian Berry, director of external affairs at the FMB, notes that projects such as BedZed eco-homes in London show that the UK already knows how to build sustainable buildings and recommends bringing existing technology to vacant houses.

Mr Berry said: "Building brand new eco-towns outside existing settlements is really bad idea when there are 675,000 empty homes in England alone sitting empty, all ripe for refitting with green technologies."

Green technology, such as modern efficient boilers, ground source heat pumps and solar water heating, are already available and can cause significant cuts to a home's energy use.

Earlier this month, a shortlist of 15 potential locations for the UK's first eco-towns was announced.

The government hopes that the proposals will help the UK reduce its carbon emissions, while creating a supply of affordable housing.