The Technology Strategy Board has today launched a new initiative that will help UK business to meet the growing global demand for environmentally friendly buildings, while responding to the Government's challenging targets for improving sustainability.

With initial funding of £30m over three years, the Low Impact Buildings Innovation Platform will work with industry, academics and research organisations to develop new products and services, and help bring them to the market.

The Technology Strategy Board has consulted extensively with both industry and academia to identify the major challenges to delivering low impact buildings and has identified a number of main targets:

* Designing for future climate change
*Design and decision tools
*Management of building operations
* New components and materials
* Low carbon energy.

The Innovation Platform's first activity will focus on the development of materials and components that will reduce energy and water consumption and which can be integrated into existing designs and building practices. It will launch a funding competition within the next few days and will allocate £4m to provide partial funding for winning projects that involve businesses working collaboratively with other businesses and/or with research organisations and academic institutions.

The Technology Strategy Board's chief executive, Iain Gray, said: "Buildings are responsible for over 45% of the UK's total carbon emissions. The Government has set targets to reduce net carbon emissions to zero for new houses from 2016, and for new non-domestic buildings by 2019. The new build market in the UK is currently worth about £50bn a year and these new targets will drive the change to low impact buildings. UK businesses that meet these exacting standards will also be well placed to take advantage of the growing global demand for environmentally friendly buildings."

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