Building Energy Rating Needed To Reduce Emissions - Stunell

1.00.29pm GMT Mon 13th Nov 2006

Liberal Democrat Shadow Communities and Local Government Secretary, Andrew Stunell MP

Commenting on the 'reasoned opinion' sent from the EU to the UK for failing to introduce an EU building directive, Liberal Democrat Shadow Communities and Local Government Secretary, Andrew Stunell MP said: "The Government has been caught out again, talking big but acting small. It should be deeply embarrassed by the EU's action.

"Buildings account for half of the nation's carbon emissions. Labelling buildings according to how energy efficient or wasteful they are is an easy way to encourage carbon savings.

"The Government could have taken decisive action two years ago when the Sustainable and Secure Buildings Act became law. Instead it choose to flout this European law in its sluggish response to climate change.

"The result has been that in the last two years Britain has needlessly pumped millions of tonnes of carbon into the atmosphere."