AECB News

DESIGN & BUILD OF THE SUSCON ECO-IMPRESSION CENTRE, Ebbsfleet, Thames Gateway

Dear AECB members - Kent County Council is asking for Expresssion of Interests for the Design & Build Tender (subject to final DCLG CLG funding confirmation and planning process) for the SusCon Eco-Impression Centre, a state-of-the-art 'temporary' building to operate as a sustainable construction skills training and demonstration/visitor centre near to Ebbsfleet Intl Stn in North kent. For more details see:

http://kent.gov.uk/business/support-services-and-advice/property-group/expressions-of-interest.htm

Amusing Guardian piece:

A new Msc in 'Sustainable Futures' is currently beinf proposed at the Scott Sutherland School, Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen. It is hoped to have it up and running by October 2008.
Aim: to create the thinking, awareness and analysis tools to continuously develop and challenge the methodologies and received wisdom for creating sustainable housing. The development of communities will be examined in a broader context to the more technical solutions of the physical built environment.  The course is designed to address the shortage of skills in this area, which has been identified by professional bodies. there will probably be a residential element at Findhorn Foundation.
Visit the website to find out more http://www.rgu.ac.uk/sss/courses/page.cfm?pge=44675

Join The Environmental Transport Association (ETA) And Help The AECB At The Same Time

Why the ETA?

They are the only motoring organisation to campaign for a sustainable transport system, 98% of members would recommend it to their friends. The average waiting time is 40 minutes and 80% of breakdowns are fixed at the roadside.

The AECB ETA affinity Number is '1387 affinity', your members need to quote this number when calling to ensure they receive their discount (3 months free breakdown cover and ETA membership).

For more information please ring 0845 389 1010, email eta@eta.co.uk or visit www.eta.co.uk.

The AECB understands the importance of making accurate projections of energy use and the resultant CO2 emissions at the design stage of any building. It concluded, reluctantly, that it would have to recommend the use of PHPP rather than SAP for those planning to work to the AECB energy standards. AECB, with NES, has now commissioned consultants to undertake a line-by-line comparison of the two software programmes, the results of which will be shared at an invite only workshop to be hosted by the Home Builders Federation at the end of January.

AECB was delighted that the Commission for the Built Environment and EST both expressed an interest in joining the CLP advisory board. Representatives of both organisations attended the third meeting of the board on 12 September. Both made valuable contributions in explaining what their own organisations are doing that is consistent with and complementary to the CLP.

Liz Reason, Director of the CLP, is to speak at a CABE Lunch 'n Learn session in early January.

AECB Signs A Memorandum Of Cooperation With Leeds Metropolitan University On Education For Low Carbon, Energy Efficient Building Design And Construction

On 30 November, AECB Chairman, Chris Herring, and Director of the CarbonLite Programme, Liz Reason, attended a ceremony at Leeds Met University School of the Built Environment at which Chris signed a Memorandum of Cooperation between the two organisations to expand and deliver web-based education and training linked to the AECB energy standards.

Drawing on the work of LMU at Stamford Brook in Cheshire, the joint programme will concentrate on helping to close the gap between theory and practice. Using LMU's existing VirtualSite, the impact of failing to meet aritightness standards and thermal bridge-free construction will be made visible through the extensive use of thermal imaging, and films of lectures on key topics.

"I can't wait for this exciting project to get started" enthused Chris. "It will expand our CarbonLite resources in exciting and innovative ways".

The National Energy Foundation (www.nef.org.uk <http://www.nef.org.uk/> ) and Sustainable Energy Academy (www.sustainable-energyacademy.org.uk <http://www.sustainable-energyacademy.org.uk/> ) are searching for renovated (energy efficient) solid walled houses to join an alliance of exemplar houses as part of their Old Home SuperHome project. 

For more details, please contact David Hancock at david.hancock@nef.org.uk or Tel. 01908 665555

This is an interesting project which says "We can no longer wait for government to act so we will join forces to demonstrate what can be done and start making it happen".  If you can help please do.

Liz Reason

The Guardian October 22, 2007

World oil production has already peaked and will fall by half as soon as 2030, according to a report which also warns that extreme shortages of fossil fuels will lead to wars and social breakdown.

The German-based Energy Watch Group has released its study in London saying that global oil production peaked in 2006 - much earlier than most experts had expected. The report, which predicts that production will now fall by several percent a year, comes after oil prices set new records almost every day last week, on Friday hitting more than $90 (£44) a barrel.

The report's author, Joerg Schindler, said its most alarming finding was the steep decline in oil production after its peak, which he says is now behind us. The results are in contrast to projections from the International Energy Agency, which says there is little reason to worry about oil supplies at the moment. However, the EWG study relies more on actual oil production data which, it says, are more reliable than estimates of reserves still in the ground. The group says official industry estimates put global reserves at about 1.255 gigabarrels - equivalent to 42 years' supply at current consumption rates. But it thinks the figure is only about two thirds of that.

Global oil production is currently about 81m barrels a day - EWG expects that to fall to 39m by 2030. It also predicts significant falls in gas, coal and uranium production as those energy sources are used up. Britain's oil production peaked in 1999 and has already dropped by half to about 1.6 million barrels a day.

The report presents a bleak view of the future unless a radically different approach is adopted. It quotes the British energy economist David Fleming as saying: "Anticipated supply shortages could lead easily to disturbing scenes of mass unrest as witnessed in Burma this month. For government, industry and the wider public, just muddling through is not an option any more as this situation could spin out of control and turn into a complete meltdown of society."

Full story at http://business.guardian.co.uk/story/0,,2196436,00.html

The Ashden Awards for Sustainable Energy are seeking entries from inspirational and innovative schemes in the UK that use renewable energy, or reduce energy demand, at a local level to compete for a share of £160,000 of prize money. We are looking for schemes that have made significant CO2 savings through the use of renewable energy or energy efficiency measures, and that demonstrate real social and economic benefits to the local community.

All Award-winning schemes must have been consistently successful for at least one year in delivering benefits to local communities and achieving carbon savings and must have plans for future growth. Successful schemes will be highly replicable to ensure maximum impact in the battle against climate change. Cash prizes will be used to assist plans for further expansion. Award winners are promoted in the media and to practitioners and experts in the field as leading examples of sustainable energy in action at the local level.

In 2008 we will be offering the main UK awards in three categories with first prizes of £30,000 and second prizes of £15,000. The award categories are:

Energy business award - this award is for businesses that have made local renewable energy and energy efficiency products and services more accessible.

Local authority award - this award is for local authorities that have undertaken programmes to improve energy efficiency and increase the supply of local renewable energy (electricity and heat). We will be rewarding the broad range of achievements of an authority, rather than individual projects.

Charity and community award -this award is for non-profit groups such as energy agencies, charities and community organisations, which have carried out projects or programmes to improve energy efficiency and increase the supply of renewable electricity and/or heat, at a local level.



In addition, we are again offering the Sustainable Energy in Schools Award with a first prize of £15,000 and a second prize of £5,000, for any UK school (primary or secondary) which has created a sustainability ethos in which the responsible use of energy is a crucial element. Improving energy efficiency within the school premises, integrating sustainable energy throughout the curriculum and involving pupils in the promotion and use of sustainable energy should be central to the school's approach. (Note that it is NOT essential for a school to have renewable energy generation on-site in order to be eligible for this award). Closing date for entries for Schools Award is 4 December 2007.

For more information, including downloadable application forms please visit www.ashdenawards.org or contact: Jane Howarth on 020 7410 7023; email: info@ashdenawards.org