Network - The free AECB newsletter - November 2010
Network - The free AECB newsletter - November 2010 |
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Network is free and distributed to members of the AECB and those who have subscribed to it. If it is passed on or reused, acknowledgment should be given to the information sources directly (newspaper and periodical titles, web site owners, events organisers etc.). Information contained in this mailing does not represent the views or policy of the AECB or the editor, nor does any reference contained herein imply any form of endorsement. |
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If you have any news, events or courses you would like to publicise in Network then please email details to network@aecb.net. |
Logging On To aecb.netWe've had a number of requests - including at conference -- for help with logging on to the AECB website and forum (it's the same log-in). The trickiest problem has been people who have forgotten their user names, as in that situation you can't get past first base. We've made a few enquiries and discovered that (most of us) can log on using our email address instead of the user name (of course, it has to be the address you registered at the time your account was set up). If you get the right user name or email but have forgotten the password, you can reset the password via an automatic email link (should work immediately). You may have set yourself a 'secret question' to protect your log-in, if so, hopefully you will be prompted to answer it, again, automatically. We have added a few prompts in the log-in areas of the website and forum, which will hopefully make it a bit easier to navigate the system. If you are still having difficulties, email the ever-patient Emma (emma@aecb.net) and she will, hopefully, be able to sort out your query. And don't forget, once you have logged in, you can add/update your own 'listed profile' - including up to three projects, with photos. Go to 'My Account', and take it from there. Any problems with this, email kate@aecb.net for help. |
Centre For Disability Studies Wins Another Award; AECB Members Successful Design Team.The Centre for Disability Studies (a training and research centre) , in Rochford, Essex, was completed in February 2010. The building was designed by AECB members ; Simmonds.Mills architects, David Olivier of Energy Advisory Assoc., Alan Clarke, M & E, Bob Johnson, structural engineer. It achieved its Passivhaus Certification in April 2010, at the time one of only seven buildings in the UK to have achieved this certification. Go to www.passivhaustrust.org.uk and www.centrefordisabilitystudies.org. It now awaits final certification of BREEAM "Excellent" rating. At an award ceremony on 20th October at The Maltings in Ely, Cambridgeshire, Author, Journalist and TV presenter Lucy Siegle presented to Disability Essex, the Award for Environmental Excellence This was part of the Creating Futures Award (Investing in the East of England) promoted by the East of England Development Agency and GO-East. The awards recognise innovation in Low Carbon; Environmental Excellence; Skills for Life; Community Impact; Personal Transformation; and Sharing Best Practice projects supported by the European Social Fund and European Regional Development Fund. The building is also shortlisted for the UKGBC Under £10m Sustainable Building of the Year award, due to be announced on 30th November. |
Sustainable Social Housing Design Consultancy of the YearBritain's Greenest Housing Experts Congratulated At The 2010 Sustainable Housing Awards The greenest social housing organisations in the UK were congratulated at a special environmentally friendly awards ceremony in London last week, hosted by comedian, writer and climate change campaigner Mark Watson. Jon Broome Architects were the winners of the Sustainable Social Housing Design Consultancy of the Year, beating stiff competition from entrants from all around the country including some large and well known practices. Jon Broome's recent work has included The Green Homes programme of 3 completed developments and one in the pipeline for Greenoak Housing Association who also won awards for Low Energy Social Housing Project of the Year and Social Housing Provider of the Year - Innovative Approach to Green Homes Award and detailed information on these developments which wiped the board on the night is enclosed. Jon Broome has been innovating in the affordable housing sector since the 70's when he worked on adaptable, self-build housing designed with residents. More recently his attention has turned to a passive approach to housing demonstrating that cost effective and trouble free construction can significantly reduce environmental impacts within a mainstream housing budget. Jon Broome's approach to sustainable design is to cover the whole breadth of sustainable design and not be constrained by mere compliance with minimum standards. Emphasis is given to the importance of adaptability and a proper role for residents as necessary features of any sustainable system. He believes in the need for a theoretical framework for practical action and the need for practical experience to inform theory. Thus his work is a mix of creative, practical design with consultancy in sustainable development. Jon Broome acts as consultant developing policies for sustainable construction and advising on specification and sourcing for sustainable building. He was one of the directors of the Sustainability Works website project for the Housing Corporation. For more information and pictures visit Inside Housing's website - www.insidehousing.co.uk |
Spending Review: What It Means For The EnvironmentChancellor George Osborne announced the country's spending cuts today in one of the most savage Comprehensive Spending Review's in history. The environment was always going to be high on the agenda as interested parties waited to discover if the government would live up to its former claim to be one of the 'greenest governments ever'. The Department for Energy and Climate Change suffered an overall annual cut in budget of 5% but announcements on the future funding for a Green Bank and Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) were not all bad. Secretary for Energy and Climate Change, Chris Huhne, succeeded in securing £1 billion for carbon capture technology, although this was half the amount he had bid for. That sum was matched for investment in a Green Bank. While this is seen as something of a victory, Greenpeace expressed disappointment, saying that the £1bn fell short of the amount needed. Businesses have also joined the criticism. Other announcements included a £200 million funding for wind power development. Chancellor George Osbourne expressed support for low-carbon energy. New incentives were also announced, including a funded Renewable Heat Incentive to encourage home energy efficiency with no upfront cost to homeowners but this also meant a phasing out of the Warm Front programme. Environmental groups will digest the news and reflect on what this means in the face of huge cuts for welfare, councils and the police, with a total of £81 billion cut from public spending. Source www.edie.net |
Make Green And Mend Market Tipped For Decade Of GrowthWith forecasts increasingly pointing to a double dip for UK construction, any signals that a major growth market could be just around the corner will be keenly watched. So what is the sleeping giant that market observers say is about to wake up? It's commercial retrofit and refurbishment, a sector already said to be worth £10 billion and about to propelled forward by a combination of tightening regulation and government stimulus. The greening of company premises and operations has just become a boardroom issue for thousands of leading UK companies. The deadline for registration for the mandatory CRC Energy Efficiency Scheme was the end of September, with some 20,000 companies and public sector organisations expected to register with the Environment Agency on the basis of their electricity use. Of these, around one quarter will have to actively participate in the scheme by monitoring and reporting their carbon emissions, and from 2011 they will have to purchase allowances for every tonne of CO2 they emit. This year is the first carbon 'footprint' year against which savings will be measured. From 2013, the scheme gets serious and brings in a cap-and-trade system to limit the amount of carbon allowances in circulation, with the price set by auction. The Environment Agency will also publish national performance league tables to show which organisations are successfully reducing emissions and to shame those that are lagging behind. The objective is to make it more financially rewarding for companies to invest in energy saving measures. And despite the complexity of the scheme, this is one pile of red tape that the coalition government seems happy to live with. There are also reports that Barker wants to open up a second energy efficiency front for businesses by extending the forthcoming 'pay-as-you-save' scheme designed for homeowners to commercial premises. The model here would see building owners and occupiers able to access finance to pay for upgrades such as higher insulation of building fabric and low carbon technologies, with costs recovered incrementally through reduced energy bills. Energy minister Greg Barker is clearly on board and has pledged the coalition government's backing to CRC, although he has invited suggestions on how it might be simplified in the future. The Department for Energy and Climate Change is reported to be working on the scheme in time to introduce it, alongside the homeowner version, in this autumn's Energy Security and Green Economy Bill. Apart from these incentives, there are also the progressively tightening demands of Building Regulations that, of course, apply to any significant commercial refurbishment project. The main source of information on the CRC Energy Efficiency Scheme is the Environment Agency website, which is administering the scheme across the UK. The guidance not only explains the scheme and its future development, but also lists every CRC participant. www.environment-agency.gov.uk/business/topics/pollution/98263.aspx Meanwhile the British Property Federation has just released a guide to the CRC scheme, prepared with the RICS and others, from the landlord/tenant perspective. The sharing of responsibilities between leaseholders/occupiers and building owners under CRC is complex, with the Federation presenting its guide as emerging solutions, rather than definitive guidance, which does not yet exist. www.bpf.org.uk/en/files/bpf_documents/CRC_Guide_2010.pdf Source RIBA Practice Bulletin No 561 |
RIBA's Sustainability Hub Will Focus On The Design ProcessThe RIBA launched a new sustainability resource this week, fully operational now and offering design strategies and case studies and with ambitions to become the primary online portal for architects and students seeking information and inspiration. The RIBA's sustainability hub is distinguished by its focus on the design process and the plan is to develop it as a platform for both learning and discussion. Core content includes design strategy pages, with the emphasis on how strategies can be embedded in projects at the conceptual stage, and case studies illustrating how strategies have been successfully used. These are complemented by a library of short films, each focusing on a single architect, building or design strategy. Blogs will be posted by regular contributors and guest bloggers, who will keep architects up to date with new projects, ideas and fresh content on the hub. The RIBA says it has ambitious plans to develop the hub, with plans for discussion platforms, book reviews and a directory of education and CPD opportunities. Contributions are also being invited from architects, particularly those well-placed to provide the content for case studies for which a pro forma has been provided. Members with queries and suggestions for content are invited to email the RIBA at sustainabilityhub@inst.riba.org. |
Secretary of State embraces Passivhaus as ideal for 'every new home in UK'The Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, Chris Huhne, this week [Monday 11th October 2010] described the Passivhaus comfort and energy efficiency standard as a watershed moment in our relationship with the built environment and said he would like to see every new home in the UK reach the standard. Mr Huhne was speaking at the first ever UK conference devoted entirely to discussion about the Passivhaus standard, which was held at Islington Town Hall on Monday 11th October. The Passivhaus standard is a comfort and energy efficiency standard for both new build and retrofit which was designed by German architectural engineers more than 20 years ago. Thick walls, triple glazing, heat recovery ventilation and, where applicable, careful solar orientation of the building means, in most cases, there's no need for central heating or air conditioning the warmth of human bodies and electrical appliances is enough. There are now thought to be about 100 Passivhaus buildings either completed, under construction or being planned in the UK. It is estimated that there are tens of thousands in Europe. Mr Huhne promised the introduction of a minimum standard for fabric energy efficiency as part of the governments forthcoming Green Deal. He told conference delegates that the Green Deal would be underpinned by a strong framework of standards and accreditation - for assessors and installers and that eligible energy efficient measures would be focused on the building fabric, and would have to be installed to the highest standard. For more information go to www.cuttingthecarbon.co.uk/news/18/101. |
Jonathon Porritt Calls On The UK Construction Industry To Urgently Embrace The Passivhaus Low Energy Building MethodologyJonathon Porritt, Founder Director of Forum for the Future, has called upon the UK construction industry to urgently embrace the German low energy standard Passivhaus as part of efforts to meet the 2016 Zero Carbon target. Speaking in the Foreword to Green Building Store's new technical film 'Passivhaus low energy building in the UK', Jonathon Porritt stressed the urgency with which the construction industry needs to adopt low energy construction and praised Green Building Store's efforts to combine traditional UK cavity wall construction with the Passivhaus standard in its Denby Dale Passivhaus project. The 'Passivhaus low energy building in the UK' film is available to view at Green Building Store's website www.greenbuildingstore.co.uk. The 60+ minute film aimed at building professionals covers all stages of construction of the Denby Dale Passivhaus - the UK's first Passivhaus to be built using traditional British cavity wall construction methods. To get cavity wall to perform to Passivhaus standard, the Green Building Store team needed to develop many original design details. The film includes much of the technical detailing for the project, including floor and foundations, first floor, roof, window openings, mechanical ventilation with heat recovery systems and much more. The film sets out to offer the UK construction industry a template for building ultra low energy Passivhaus buildings using construction methods and materials familiar to UK builders and designers. It can also offer detailing for radically improving the energy efficiency and airtightness of cavity wall construction, regardless of whether the project is aiming for the Passivhaus standard. Filmed over 12 months of construction, the technical film contains on-site footage and technical diagrams and graphics, as well as interviews with the clients and Green Building Store Directors. Green Building Store has also made a 10 minute documentary 'Future Passiv' (presented by TV environmentalist Penney Poyzer) which makes the case for Passivhaus low energy building in the UK to a wider audience. Also available to view from Green Building Store's website www.greenbuildingstore.co.uk. A free technical briefing on the Denby Dale Passivhaus project to accompany the film is also available as a 40 page pdf for building professionals registering at: www.greenbuildingstore.co.uk/denbydalehouse |
Energy Efficiency In Private Rented HomesACE has been working closely with Friends of the Earth to bring together a 19-strong coalition of wide-ranging organisations all calling for one thing - the introduction of minimum energy efficiency standards in the private rented sector. For too long the private rented sector has been overlooked, and as such it contains some of the coldest houses in the UK. We think this needs to change, and so we are demanding a new law to protect private tenants. The coalition (which includes children's, housing, elderly, disability and environmental charities) is calling for urgent Government action to make it illegal to rent out the least insulated properties until they are brought up to a higher standard of energy efficiency. We need our supporters to help us win this campaign. If you would like to help this campaign then please write to your MP and ask him/her to sign EDM 653 calling for minimum energy efficiency standards in the private rented sector. The letters need not be long or complicated, but please be sure to include a return address, and forward on any replies to us. We don't like to provide template letters to our supporters, as this makes less impact on the MPs, but you might also wish to add something to your letter from the suggestions below. This vital campaign will bring improvements to health, create jobs, save money on fuel bills and help the UK to meet its carbon reduction targets - please help us to win it by writing to your MP today. For more information go to www.ukace.org and click on campaigns. |
Passivhaus Front Door For SaleDue to a series of errors and misunderstandings, which weren't the fault of the supplier, a Passivhaus certified front door is for sale - purely because the hinges are on the wrong side. They're on the right, viewed from the outside, and it opens inwards. Supplied by Greensteps Ltd. it's absolutely brand new, and as seen here is still in its original packaging. Go to www.cropthornehouse.co.uk/front_door/ for more information. |
Delivering Zero Carbon Through Low Energy Homes - 5th November, Milton KeynesLearning the lessons from Milton Keynes and beyond. This inaugural event from the newly formed Green Gauge Trust will provide valuable lessons in low energy low carbon principles and practice for developers, policy makers and planners. It will also outline how 'fabric first' and Passivhaus techniques are being used by today's low energy pioneers. Delegates will hear of the pioneering low energy work undertaken by the town developers and gain real insight into the lessons learned. You can find out more, download the conference programme and register at: www.greengaugetrust.org or contact conference@greengaugetrust.org |
Be Water Aware!At various venues in the SEEDA region, during November and December 2010 As part of a water efficiency strategy in the South East of England, many water suppliers will be installing meters into domestic properties in their areas. For many people (especially those in flats and small houses) this will mean an increase in their water costs. This workshop is designed to demystify water bills, to show why retrofitting of water meters is being encouraged and to provide practical ways in which delegates can reduce their water use. Delegates will:
Held at various venues in the SEEDA region, the workshop will be free for tenants. To find out more about the workshops and to register your interest send an email to cath.hassell@ech2o.co.uk or visit www.ech2o.co.uk/. |
Low Carbon Refurbishment - New Policies And Solutions - 10th November.A major conference addressing the environmental performance of existing buildings. 9.30am - 4.30pm. The Watershed, Bristol New government priorities include more challenging targets for carbon reduction. The removal of many of the existing targets and policy mechanisms for energy efficiency and action on climate change is driving the need for mainstream improvements in the energy efficiency of existing buildings. The decentralisation and localism agenda and the proposed Green Investment
Bank signal a new approach to action on climate change. Easy wins for
energy efficiency improvements will rapidly be achieved and more technically
challenging issues, such as solid wall insulation and area based heat
networks, will have to be addressed to meet the targets. Meeting the challenge
of scaling up pilot approaches to large-scale area based action to address
public housing, private housing and commercial property is the key to
success. The day will bring together key national policy makers and practitioners involved in low energy, low carbon refurbishment. They will share their experience and present effective future strategies in addressing the low carbon refurbishment agenda. For more information go to www.ecostrust.org.uk |
Free Green Building Open Day - Bristol - 13 NovemberNeed advice on your green building projects? The Green Register is pleased to announce a FREE green building event for members of the public, taking place at The Create Centre on the 13th November between 11am and 3pm. The event will provide free advice for anyone who is planning a refurbishment project or with an interest in greener building practices. This is a unique chance to meet Green Register members and gain practical advice from the experts on a range of cutting-edge techniques including energy saving, using natural materials, installing renewable energy technologies and water saving systems. With the government's Feed-in Tariffs having been introduced this year and homeowners realising that they can save money as well as reduce their carbon footprint by building sustainably, TGR's members will be on hand to advise on many aspects of green living so don't miss out. To book your advice slot please contact mail@greenregister.org.uk
or for more details see the website at www.greenregister.org.uk
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Seminar on the Conservation of Energy and Building Fabric in Pre-1919 Buildings - 16th November.The Rationale and the Practicalities - Newton House, Dinefwr Park, Llandeilo Houses built before 1919 make up one third of the building stock of Wales - nearly 500,000 homes. These buildings already face challenges in both their conservation and in understanding their fabric. With the continuing emphasis and drive to reduce carbon emissions in Wales is it possible to tackle the above challenges as well as reduce and conserve energy in old buildings? The aims of the seminar are to look at the range of approaches to energy saving in old buildings, explore practical methods of reducing energy requirements in old buildings and discuss the policy context surrounding these issues. The cost is £30 per participant. For more information contact Nell Hellier, 01558 824271, or NHellier@carmarthenshire.gov.uk |
Definition of Zero Carbon New Homes - 30th Nov - 2nd DecCarbon Compliance, what is the appropriate level? Series of 'Have Your Say' industry consultations this autumn. The Zero Carbon Hub has announced a series of industry 'Have Your Say' consultation events to consider details of the Carbon Compliance element of the definition of zero carbon for new homes. These interactive events, open to all those interested in how homes will be built from 2016, will be held later this year in:
Those wishing to attend should register interest by email to events@zerocarbonhub.org or telephone on 0845 888 7620. For more information about Zero Carbon Hub, please visit www.zerocarbonhub.org |
Forthcoming CarbonLite Training CoursesThese courses frequently sell out and early booking is advised.
A 1-day course for Building Professionals involved in the design and delivery of airtight buildings for Passivhaus and other low energy designs.
This practical hands-on course will provide energy consultants, technical building designers and architects with the skills necessary to design low energy and CO2 buildings to AECB standards using the Passivhaus Planning Package (PHPP). Delegates will need to bring a laptop with mouse, pre-loaded with a copy of the PHPP software for this course.
This course is aimed at the design team who are new to low energy buildings and the use of the Passivhaus standard. It introduces the principles behind the Passivhaus standard and methodologies for a variety of building types and the use of the Passivhaus Planning Package (PHPP) for achieving low energy performance. Attendees will leave with an understanding of the Passivhaus design and certification process and associated costs.
Find out how to minimise the effect of thermal bridging when designing low energy and CO2 buildings to AECB standards. This course shows attendees how to use free numerical modelling software on a number of practical examples. These courses frequently sell out and early booking is advised. For details and dates go to www.carbonlite.org.uk/carbonlite/courses.php |
Using Living Roofs And Walls: A Macro And A Micro Perspective - Nov 15 - 19This course is organised in association with RESET. This course looks at living roofs and walls from a macro and a micro perspective, and the role that they can play in meeting the challenges of climate change mitigation, resource depletion and habitat loss. Participants will develop an in-depth understanding of the design and construction of these structures and how they relate to planning for the future, as well as about the selection and purchase of suitable plants and substrates. Part of the course will be devoted to gaining practical experience in their construction, with guidance from the tutors. By the end of the course participants will have an overview of the benefits and challenges of green roofs and walls, and the practical skills necessary to build their own. For more details, please go visit the Schumacher college website www.schumachercollege.org.uk |
Housing Occupancy Feedback: Linking Behaviours And PerformanceEdited by Fionn Stevenson and Adrian Leaman has just been published in Building Research & Information, an international, peer-reviewed research journal. The main purpose of the issue is to advance evidence-based policy and practices through the provision of a user-centred approach to housing occupancy evaluation and effective feedback. Although a body of literature exists on feedback, the focus on domestic buildings has, until now, been rare. Cutting edge international research examines domestic occupant behaviours in relation to: Smart metering, energy and water use, usability, comfort and other human needs, motivation, regulation, cultural values and methods of performance evaluation. A cross-disciplinary socio-technical approach in the published papers demonstrates the critical importance of incorporating user values, perception, norms and behaviour into any evaluation of housing. The role these can play is highlighted in a commentary by Robert and Brenda Vale which fundamentally challenges the current approaches to reducing domestic carbon emissions. The BRI special issue is now posted online at www.informaworld.com/smpp/title~db=all~content=g926280309 |
Study On Hard To Fill Cavity Walls In Domestic Dwellings In Great BritainUndertaken by Inbuilt Ltd & Davis Langdon on behalf of DECC Cavity insulation is the most important single insulation measure in Government household energy efficiency programmes such as CERT. However, some of the remaining cavities are classified as hard to fill. This report is based on extensive consultation with industry and suggests options for filling different types of "hard to fill" cavities. The estimated costs and carbon savings are also calculated. The report has important implications for household energy efficiency policy. Go to www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/what_we_do/consumers/saving_energy/analysis/analysis.aspx |
New Publications From IHS BRE Press.
This Information Paper summarises the findings of BRE research to assess the feasibility of creating a funding mechanism for carbon reduction projects in the UK. It outlines the comprehensive framework for reporting of UK-based carbon reduction projects that BRE is proposing to develop. The research was commissioned by BRE Trust in response to demand from BRE clients to support UK-based carbon reduction projects instead of, or in addition to, traditional international carbon offsets. A full account of this research is published in a BRE Trust Report 'UK carbon reduction projects'.
This Information Paper provides an update on the process of refurbishing housing to make it suitable for modern living, with sustainability in mind. It includes useful tips plus links to numerous sources of information and websites. Many organisations are working towards refurbishing the UK's housing stock, and these are referred to at relevant points. For more information go to www.brebookshop.com |
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