Sustainable Consumption and Production
Key objectives in this area include breaking the link between economic growth and environmental damage, and examining the whole life cycle of a product- from design and production, through to use and disposal, to help reduce its effect on the environment.
Science can provide Government with a range of tools, to stimulate innovation and investment into providing cleaner technology.
Sustainable Buildings
Changing the way we work and do business is going to be essential if we're to do more with less and develop sustainably.
To coincide with the official opening of Nobel House, a Defra building
in London, the latest science note, produced by the Science Communication
team and Estates Division focuses on Sustainable
Buildings
(848KB) and details how science has been used to reduce Defra's impact
on the environment, and the problems the building contractors faced in
refurbishing a 1920's building with listed features.
For example, we have aimed for Nobel House to be as energy efficient to run as possible by using new Combined Heat and Power (CHP) boilers. This efficient plant will minimise our carbon dioxide output. We have also tried to break the link between consumption and damage to the environment by choosing materials on a 'low-impact-to-the-environment' basis, and even creating new markets for them in the process.
As the Government Department responsible for Sustainable Development and tackling climate change, we're proud to set an example by reducing our impact on the environment and use science and technology to find innovative solutions to our problems.
We welcome your views on the value and interest of Defra Science Notes, if you have any comments please send them to the science communication team or call 0207 238 2019.
Further Information
Find out more about Sustainable Consumption & Production or related research on waste and resources.
Page
last modified: 9 June 2008
Page published: 19 January 2005