About Us

The challenge

The built environment has a great influence over our daily lives, from our homes to our places of work, learning and leisure.

Being so fundamental to our way of living, it’s perhaps unsurprising that buildings have such a significant impact on the environment, through the emission of greenhouse gases, the production of waste and the consumption of water, timber and other materials.  

This has a massive impact on our contribution to climate change and other environmental problems both in the UK and around the world.

However, as the need for urgent action - particularly on climate change - becomes ever clearer, this sector has the opportunity to be at the forefront of finding solutions.  Solutions which are not only environmentally sustainable, but have positive social and economic effects.
 

Background to the UK-GBC

The UK Green Building Council (UK-GBC) was launched in February 2007 to bring clarity, purpose and co-ordination of sustainability strategy to the sector.

The Government's ‘Sustainable Buildings Task Group’ had earlier reported that no one body or organisation was providing clear direction for the sector as a whole. The UK-GBC was established to fulfil this role.

We are part of the World Green Building Council federation, membership of which is growing as new chapters are established across the globe.

We are a membership organisation, primarily consisting of businesses from across the industry.  Uniquely, we bring together architects, engineers, investors, product manufacturers, cost consultants, energy suppliers, surveyors, developers, contractors, occupiers – anyone involved in the complex process of planning, designing, constructing, maintaining and operating our buildings.

Our members approach sustainability not only as a challenge, but as an opportunity and are committed to our campaign for a radical transformation in the sustainability of our built environment. 

What we do

In addition to industry, our members include NGOs, academic institutions and government agencies. Through this cross-sectoral approach, we are able to provide information and facilitate learning between members and help the industry take the action required on sustainability.
 
An important feature of our work are the time limited ‘task groups’. These are working groups that bring together experts from within the memberships to tackle a particular barrier that is perceived to be preventing progress. The clearly-defined outcomes frequently feed directly into the development of government policy, or will set out guidance for the industry on a given issue.

Our Approach

The UK-GBC is helping to a forge spirit of partnership between government, industry and other stakeholder groups. We believe in ambitious targets and good regulation, but based on outcomes, not prescription, allowing industry the flexibility to innovate and adapt accordingly.
 
In difficult economic times we don’t believe sustainability should fall from the agenda.  Quite the opposite - we believe our economic recovery has to be a low-carbon one, and that the built environment can be at the heart of sustainable growth and a boom in ‘green-collar’ jobs.