George Osborne has been accused of working behind the scenes to halt the introduction of display energy certificates (DECs) for commercial buildings.
MPs had been planning to introduce an amendment to the Energy Bill at its third reading last week that would make DECs compulsory but according to construction industry magazine Building the chancellor blocked the moves.
DECs, which detail a building’s energy consumption, have been compulsory in the public sector since October 2008 and the government promised in March to roll them out for the private sector by October 2012.
The news has been criticised by construction sector bodies. They say the certificates are important as they will encourage businesses to improve the sustainability of their buildings.
“It seems that even the simple step of requiring commercial premises to put up a certificate that shows their energy performance is beyond the self proclaimed ‘greenest government ever’,” said Paul Reeve, head of environment at the Electrical Contractors Association.
“It is a missed opportunity and it shows a spectacular lack of imagination – this move would have simultaneously spurred commercial activity and saved energy and carbon.”
Meanwhile the Chartered Institute of Building Services Engineers warned the move would cost the industry millions in lost work.
