Engaging with the small business community is one of the crosses universities have to bear these days and so it was probably with a sense of trepidation that Matthew Taylor from UEA’s Adapt entered the FSB Bear Pit yesterday.   A hard briefing to pitch, it started with a new-build acronym frenzy (12% uplift on TER anyone?) before getting to the bit that interested me i.e. commercial viability of green buildings.

Lots of interesting references to the positive reports (link to post ) but much of the audience seemed unconvinced.  A green builder recounted tales of thoroughly disinterested consumers; another on the infeasibility of meeting 2018 EPC targets in a 600 year old hotel.   The urgent need to influence government policy was the overwhelming conclusion and one the FSB Chairman was very keen to stress.

The same conclusion (sticks not carrots are needed) was reached at the SABRE closeout event albeit slightly ‘off the record’.