Guest post by Tim Pollard, Wolseley’s Head of Sustainability
As the challenges of climate change and resource depletion continue to grow it becomes ever more apparent that the solutions we require will need to be scalable, practical and economic. The built environment has already been identified as one of the key delivery areas for delivering improvements in energy and water efficiency whilst minimising waste outputs. Read the rest of this entry »
Guest post by David Cheshire, regional director in AECOM’s Sustainable Development Group
The Government has announced its intentions for the Zero Carbon Definition, but what does this mean in practice for non-domestic buildings?
The consultation on the definition of Zero Carbon proposed three steps towards compliance: the first stage sets a minimum level of energy efficiency, the second sets a minimum target contribution from low and zero carbon technologies called ‘carbon compliance’ and a third stage uses on and off-site ‘allowable solutions’. The last stage is there to make up the difference in CO2 reductions between the first two stages and full zero carbon and includes solutions such as exporting heat to surrounding buildings. Read the rest of this entry »
The Carbon Reduction Commitment (CRC) is a new emissions trading scheme for large non- energy intensive organisations. It starts in April next year and Tom Fidell from energyTEAM discusses the need to develop a five year strategic plan now. Read the rest of this entry »
Bastian Fischer, VP and general manager EMEA for Oracle Utilities responds to the government’s pledge to install every home with smart meters by 2020
In order for smart metering to realize its potential, utility companies need to tackle the explosion of data that will result from this technology. Millions of pieces of data on household energy usage and meter performance will travel from people’s homes, via the broadband network, to the IT systems of the supplier. Read the rest of this entry »
Guest post by Martin Bailey, chief innovation officer, NG Bailey
There are many well known innovators who, through the ages, have contributed considerably to the world as we know it today. Thomas Alva Edison, for example, patented numerous inspirational inventions, the most triumphant being the practical and longer-lasting electric light bulb. By the time Edison died, lights lit entire cities. Read the rest of this entry »
Have you completed a stunning project you want shout to the world about? Do you want to highlight a particularly innovative aspect of a scheme you’re working on to a client or your peers? Or would you like to question a project team about how a design has evolved?
If so log on to BSD’s new Project Wiki, bsdlive.co.uk/wiki. BSD’s latest web offering will allow users to upload details of projects, images and design team information to our project database.
You don’t have to know every last detail about a particular project, just log in and fill in the bits you do know then encourage other members of the project team to upload information on the aspects of a scheme for which they were responsible.
Like Wikipedia, the BSD site is a database open to everyone, to contribute or scrutinise. Over time we hope the BSD Wiki will grow into a valuable resource of contemporary project design. We hope it proves useful. To enter your project log on to bsdlive.co.uk/wiki.
Guest post by Alasdair Young, senior engineer at engineering consultancy Buro Happold
CHP plants have been subsidised by an exemption from the Climate Change Levy – the tax on industry’s energy use. This exemption has been due to expire but it was announced in today’s budget that the levy will remain in place from 2013.
Whilst we welcome the retention of the levy and recognise its effectiveness in encouraging industrial CHP development, further financial incentives are required to encourage the use of CHP in the urban environment, as the current levy has historically shown to be unsuccessful in that respect.
Industry response to this year’s budget so far:
RIBA President Sunand Prasad:
“The 2009 budget carries little positive news for the industry amidst a global economic crisis. Regretfully, the Government in the current economic climate has found it impossible to make a significant investment in the long-term future, whether in housing or infrastructure. Amongst the few chinks of light is the stimulus for housing, but the 10,000 homes is a fraction of what is needed.
Paul King, Chief Executive of the UK Green Building Council
King dismissed the chancellor’s announcement that carbon emissions will be cut by 34% by 2020 as a “historic commitment”. However, he welcomed the £375m support for energy efficiency schemes for homes, firms and public buildings but said the budget was a missed opportunity to put low carbon buildings at the heart of economic recovery. King said: “More could have been done to really make green refurbishment affordable and attractive to home owners, businesses and the public sector, in order to both cut carbon emissions and create green-collar jobs. This is a wasted opportunity to map a truly low carbon route out of this recession.” Read the rest of this entry »
Guest post by Jim O’Neil, chairman of M&E Sustainability, urges building managers to avoid the renewables trap.
The Russia/Ukraine gas crisis highlighted the vulnerability of our future energy supplies and gave utilities a good excuse to keep prices up. Concern over security of supply along with the impact of the deepening recession, means energy efficiency should be an economic priority for many UK businesses. However, most building managers don’t know where to start and many think a big statement renewable will tick all the boxes, but as President Obama famously said: “You can put lipstick on a pig, but it is still a pig.” Read the rest of this entry »
Guest post by Rob Annable, Axis Design
Axis Design has worked for many years on masterplanning and urban regeneration projects informed by successful community consultation. Over that time we’ve sought to develop new ways to engage with residents and find better techniques to improve communication and get richer, more informed feedback. If you were to go back 15 or 20 years you’d find us using drawings and physical models at public events to show ideas and ask questions, a technique that will be familiar to those in the field.
In the late 90’s we started to use computers for the first time during sessions like this to speed up the process and let residents see the results of their input immediately. During the last 5 years, as the cost and accessibility of an internet connection has improved, we’ve used web sites to widen our reach, make contact with a more diverse demographic and be as transparent as possible about the effects of the masterplanning process.
