Green entrepreneur Gary Summers says that offering reductions in businesses rates and council tax on new energy efficient buildings would stimulate the constructions industries uptake of sustainable practices.
Mr Summers' proposals were stimulated by a new survey from PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) and the Construction Products Association (CPA) that discovered only 40% of construction firms undertake any kind of carbon analysis of their products.
"The report demonstrates that there is a general understanding of green issues within the construction industry but legislation will be required to stimulate greater adoption of sustainable building methods," said Mr Summers, who is the founder and CEO of the Alumet Group.
The Alumet Group has developed a range of energy efficient curtain walling and cladding and diversified their portfolio to include EOS Energy photovoltaic solar panels. The Alumet Group is the current holder of the CBI Green Strategy Award, The Renewable Installer of the Year, Green Apple Environmental Award and past winners of two Queen's Awards for Industry.
The PwC and CPA survey, that was published today, questioned more than 100 leading building products firms and found that the majority (63%) reported that they thought there was insufficient data available about sustainable building products.
"A simplification of regulations would help the take-up of green issues within the industry," said Mr Summers. "If all elements of the supply chain and the construction industry can be brought on-side we can make very significant advances."
Over 3 million people are currently employed within the construction industry throughout the country and deliver 8% of the Gross Domestic Product.
"There would obviously be a problem with old buildings but new buildings could be subject to a taxation shift which would concentrate of energy efficiency rather than market value," said Mr Summers. "Such a system would complement the Government's 'Green Deal' energy efficient loan scheme."