Developers accused of putting green gadgets before sustainability

Developers are focusing on superficial “green gadgets” instead of making long-term sustainability a priority, a government watchdog has claimed.

The Commission for Architecture and Built Environment (CABE) said a “painfully slow, piecemeal approach to sustainability” was threatening efforts to build green towns and cities.

It reviewed more than 700 construction projects surveyed and found less than 10 made sustainability a real priority.

CABE director of campaigns and education said the industry needed “risk-taking”.

He told the Guardian: “There are some architects and developers who really get climate change, but most don’t or choose not to.

“As a result we get a lot of greenwash, such as green gadgets and microtechnology stuck on to buildings, rather than a proper approach to sustainable design.”

He complained many buildings were located where access to public transport was difficult, many failed to use the sun and breezes to heat and cool, and few were powered by district energy generators.

Under criticism were projects including Foster and Partners’ Arcadia tower in Ealing and flats in Newcastle.