ABSTRACT
Introduction In 2008, the UK Government published a strategy for sustainable constructionwhich reflected the industry’s commitment to reduce its carbon footprint and consumption of natural resources, whilst maintaining a strong construction sector. The initiative was within the wider context of concern for global warming and
climate change, which has led to UK national targets for reduction in carbondioxide emissions by 34% from 1990 levels by 2020 and by 80% by 2050. An indicator of the problem is that the middle-range emissions scenario for London predicts by 2020 a 1.5◦C increase in mean summer temperature (+1.3◦C in winter), with 6% more rainfall in the winter and 6% less rainfall in the summer.
