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  • in reply to: Green Deal consultation documents published #38243

    Hi All,
    thought you would all be interested in the RIBA response to GD.

    The role of a “Green Deal Project Manager” seems an incredibly sensible idea.

    Alex

    in reply to: Green Deal consultation documents published #38237

    Hi,
    so we have just submitted our own response to the DECC consultation.

    If you'd like to read it – please download from this link:

    http://dl.dropbox.com/u/9496539/GreenDeal_GBPResponse.pdf

    Cheers – Alex

    in reply to: Green Deal consultation documents published #38236

    Congratulations Andy, that's a fine response and more comprehensive than ours (equally beset by time problem), but pleased to say we will complement and certainly not contradict anything you've said. We're nearly there, a few typos and a missing negative (!) but should get it in ok and will publish here too.

    PS This process has at least created a lot of response. I haven't yet read one that overturns my impression that this whole Green Deal eruption is just to disguise a new mortgage vehicle as a social benefit. – Fran

    in reply to: Green Deal consultation documents published #38233

    Yes agreed. I said in my draft re consultation that there is no need for yet another layer for Green Deal accredited materials because BS, Codes of Practice, CE, BRE, already cover standards comprehensively. Indeed BRE are forming their own 'Green Book' as a specialist list, and I should add in for our GD statement that there are other sources like Green Spec that have been around awhile and deserve much credit.

    Andy S is worried about even the restrictions of BSs etc, and can understand this as a lot of green building is of necessity experimental and basic so not part of the established construction industry. Same for us when we were trying to use hand-tamped hemcrete.

    Jeremy R is right on in his last paragraph especially – anything likely to get a generic GD warranty, as is proposed, is going to have to meet at least the normal industry standard checks. The hope is that most green material manufacturers are going to be pulling out all the stops to get stuff certified if GD comes anywhere near selling green upgrades in quantity.

    However I think big danger flags should be raised over how the GD is going to lay on another new bureaucracy by setting up its own methods and materials list – a very lucrative possibility for someone with influence over this – Tesco/Marks&Spencer/Wickes/B&Q?

    Another point is that don't we already have a method for demonstrating thermal efficiencies? the U value? Doesn't this then get used in SAP/PHPP etc. and allows inventive detailing? Don't we already use this in Building Regs to prove their validity, just needs values raised and isn't there another improvement on the cards in 2013?

    All this layer upon expensive layer of red tape is enough to send anyone crazy and will inevitably just mean people avoid doing anything at all?

    ???

    in reply to: eco electric heating #38256

    Thanks Nick & Kate, I take the point of the Green Electricity illusion – and have even given a copy to my clients to read – but I don't want to discourage them from their commitment to using a renewable energy supplier, because after all, it is only through demand that the continued development of this sector will happen (they pay 15p/kWh rather than 10p/kWh which would be available through a big 6 supplier)… a feeling that they share.

    the plan is certainly for a really good job on the thermal efficiency (integrated in with other works – new kitchen/bathroom/redecs/wood burning stove/PV/grass roof etc), but as ever the issue is budget/disruption/time and we have to be practical as to what they can afford, and appreciate that they also have other priorities – there is only so many time i can say to them i really can't see electrical heating as a viable alternative, when they have really set their hearts on not installing a wet heating system.

    So, what would be really helpful if there is anyone out there who has had to go down this route and have used a system successfully, and any feedback on what good products there are out there… thanks in advance.

    in reply to: Steam Free Mirrors #37849

    thanks all!

    As it turned out with a little gentle persuasion the client was convinced not to go down the electricity route – I'll let you know if they have a problem with steam after our 3 months retention.

    Thanks again for your input and I will think about the clever idea of pipes behind the mirror for the next job!

    Alex

    in reply to: a vegetable garden on an office roof? #36934

    thanks Joolz,
    sorry for not responding before, I thought the system was supposed to tell me when someone replies? all ideas we came up with too, we even looked at a cantilevered system from the wall, but in the end the idea was squashed by the owner of the building who wanted nothing to affect their potential sale to a new owner…

    something for next year perhaps.

    Alex

    in reply to: Building a new home #37126

    Hi again, see the thread 'warranties to replace Zurich' for some suggestions. I talked to a couple of warranty suppliers about their requirements and asked if an architects' certificate 'counts' , I got an answer something like “duh”. Sigh.
    Fran

    in reply to: Warranties to replace Zurich #36853

    Hi Jean-Marc

    Thanks for that, I discovered them last week and it’s good to have confirmation that they really are on stream as an alternative. I spoke to both, the first, LABC, was the most helpful with an immediate guide to their offerings. There are others to be found on google but these seemed the most convincing.

    I expect costs are similar across the board but conditions vary: Small house 2-bed plus room-in-roof with architect & Regs (Regs their absolute demand) and no hike on innovative building (I said going for Code 5): will cost IRO £5,000 inc fee & premium for a 10 year cover against defects (excluding defects still down to contractor first year). They must be on board before breaking ground for this to apply. If warranty sought after construction then it costs ‘considerably’ more as their surveyors will not have done on-site checks during the build.

    My client who launched us into searching for warranties is reserving their position on whether they will want to sell or not (isn’t everyone unsure about cash for the future?) so I think it likely they will do it retrospectively if their house does go on the market, enough to know that possibility available.

    However in future I’ll be making sure this is included in any of our one-off-house cost forecasts – yet another item that makes ‘low-cost housing’ a myth!

    Fran

    in reply to: Warranties to replace Zurich #36851

    We started a new thread headed 'building a new home' which is a search for warranties other than NHBC, sorry I missed your topic already on the go.

    The trouble with NHBC is that it adds loadsa money to the build cost and requires large contractors doing volume builds to finance it. For a one-off house for a private client it seems over the top. This was only clear to me when our structural engineer proposed £3000 for trial holes (small site, 99% sure to be virgin chalk) to meet NHBC compared to £500 for the checks we actually needed. I don't mind meeting their standards in general as long as they still allow us to aim for Code 5, but fear the paperwork will add too much to costs and doubt there a contractor out there who won't pass on their NHBC accredition and admin costs to our client.

    Has anyone raised finance recently via a RIBA Final Certificate? Has anyone had experience of the mortgage companies who specifically support sustainable new-builds?

    Fran (RIBA)

    in reply to: Building a new home #37125

    Hi, thanks for the response, do you mean an Architects' Final Certificate signing off the contract?

    That used to be the accepted means but with the rise of NHBC warranties etc I've heard that RIBA professional input isn't considered enough by mortgage companies. The trouble is you have to get it right ahead of time, does anyone have actual experience with this, especially to cover relatively new sustainable construction?

    Anyone done a self-build and needed to finance it before or after?

    Fran (RIBA)

    in reply to: solar panel sheeting #36504

    I have no idea if this works but I cam across it while looking for a solution for a large flat roof in Brighton that needs renovation – http://www.derbigum.com/EN/EN_energies_derbisolar.html

    let me know if you do find it works!

    in reply to: DIY Green Roofs #32307

    I have to agree with Nigel,
    the safeguard system is pretty easy, straightforward and seems to be doing the trick on a 16m2 garage roof i installed in the summer (even after all the snow we had this winter!).

    we used Coir blocks rather than soil (coir made from the insides of coconut husks) – lightweight, easy to install and seems to be perfectly good for the sedum matting we used.

    Its still early days – but the roof looks great – loads of wildlife seems to be attracted to it.

    I have photos if you're interested.

    in reply to: Cork underneath tiles #36527

    Hi, what's the nasty vinyl – or even ceramics – for? You can get some really interesting cork tile finishes now, and it's warm underfoot, environmentally good (renewable, maintains cork industry in Portugal which isn't far away for transport) and a bit different.

    Fran

    in reply to: recycled/reclaimed tiles #32472

    There is a company called Resilica based in Newhaven that makes kitchen worktops from 100% recycled glass – I recently visited them to discuss the possibility of using the same product to replace tiles in a bathroom – certainly do-able, they can manufacture a bespoke design to a maximum 1.5m x 2.9m size at approx £400/m2 – so not cheap – but definately original – see their new website – http://www.resilica.com

Viewing 15 posts - 1 through 15 (of 15 total)