Sustainable building a must to help environment

The UK could face its very own Hurricane Katrina if we don't wake up to more sustainable building, according to Stafford MP David Kidney.

David Kidney and MEP Phillip Bushill-Matthews told the Federation of Master Builders Annual Conference of the importance of energy efficient building and warned of the environmental impact of the construction industry not implementing sustainable construction in UK and Europe.

Kidney said: "Nearly one-third (31%) of primary energy supplied to the UK is consumed by housing. Housing consumption is second only to transport and over the last 20 years has increased by about 1% a year.

"Without a change in direction - greater energy efficiency, more use of renewable energy sources - the houses you build, renovate and bring back into use will go on churning out greenhouse gas emissions that will eventually throttle the world."