Speaking on a HSBC UK video debate in association with Mortgage Solutions, when asked why there was a delay in implementing initiatives Tracie Burton (pictured), senior corporate account manager at HSBC UK said it was best to act now.
Burton said: “This is something that’s not going to go away the sooner we adopt it and onboard it with any changes that we need to make, the better.”
She added that if not, companies could “miss out on business” as customers may go somewhere else.
Sally Laker, managing director of Mortgage Intelligence, said there was possibly a “reticence” to adopt too many new things which were not being widely used yet.
Laker added: “Heat pumps for example, is that going to be tomorrow’s technology must have? Or is it the first version that might be quite expensive now only to find that there’s a different version in five years’ time that’s much more efficient.
“People have got to get their heads around ‘is that the starting model?’ ‘Is there going to be something that’s a bit more compact… and that’s a lot of money to spend if it’s not going to actually deliver the right result.”
Sitting and waiting
Burton said there was an element of sitting and waiting to see how others would approach sustainability.
She said businesses wanted others to “go first and if that works, I’ll follow”.
“Once we do get those guidelines, I think that will be the catalyst to lots of other things following quite quickly,” Burton added.
Michael Kallaras, managing director of Green Mortgages, said legislation needed to come first.
Daniel Kittow, managing director of Vibrant Energy Matters, said there was an absence of care and consequence.
He added: “The care is improving through education… but the consequence isn’t there. So, I think right now consumers and businesses are a bit hesitant. Waiting for everybody to take the plunge before they do anything because right now, there is no consequence for not doing anything.”
Watch the video [11:05] hosted by Shekina Tuahene, commercial editor at Mortgage Solutions, featuring Tracie Burton, senior corporate account manager at HSBC UK, Daniel Kittow, managing director of Vibrant Energy, Sally Laker, managing director of Mortgage Intelligence and Michael Kallaras, managing director of Green Mortgages.
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