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The global methane budget can be modelled by simply considering emissions as increasing the atmospheric burden of methane, with sinks removing methane from the atmosphere – the methane cycle. The concentration of methane in the atmosphere is thought to be increasing at a rate of 22 Mt/yr, due to the imbalance between estimated annual global emissions of 598 Mt and removals of 576 Mt (Figure 4).1 It is therefore important to reduce global emissions to such a level that they are outweighed by methane sinks.....

Summary

Recent rapid expansion of the Private Rented Sector (PRS) is recognised but the extensive involvement of ex local authority stock in this new PRS is not. This paper uses existing literature to outline the commodification processes through which Right to Buy (RTB) housing enters the PRS. Other published research is used to estimate a likely range of council to PRS tenure change over 30 years of RTB in the UK. Then using detailed data matching, we present one local authority example at individual dwelling level across the whole stock to establish the true scale of this transfer from council housing to private rental. Finally, to stimulate debate about the revenue cost of this switch of rental tenures we speculate on the additional annual cost of Housing Benefit support to this ex RTB stock given that the PRS is invariably more expensive than council renting for equivalent dwellings. This may well be over £1bn per year. We conclude that UK government’s plans to expand the RTB scheme will simply increase revenue costs year on year for no discernable social or housing supply benefit.

By Duncan Smith and Nigel Sprigings

Contents:

• 1.1 RETROFIT OVERVIEW
• 1.2 INTERIM CONCLUSIONS
• 1.3 PROJECT INFORMATION SUMMARY
• 1.4 SENSOR LOCATIONS
• 1.5 SENSOR INSTALLATION METHOD
• 2.1 Analysis: IS THE INSULATION WORKING SAFELY?
• 2.2 Analysis: IF NOT, WHERE IS THE MOISTURE COMING FROM AND HOW?
• 2.3 Analysis: HOW IS THE WALL DRYING?
• 2.4 Analysis: SUMMARY
• 3. APPENDICIES

The AECB AGM will be held online on Thursday December 9th 2021 at 9am.

The AECB produced this initial design guidance document to support ‘early adopters’ pioneering the AECB standards. It concentrates on two of the areas where current UK practice most adversely affects building energy performance - thermal bridging and airtightness. Please refer to CLP Volume Two: ‘Principles and methodologies for calculating and minimising heat loss and CO2 emissions from buildings’ whilst using this document.

CarbonLite Volume 5 concentrates on the two respects in
which UK buildings most singularly fail to perform well in a thermal sense;
i.e., poor airtightness and high thermal bridging. The design and
constructional principles in this document will be valuable to all those
who are seeking to design better-performing thermal envelopes.

Passivhaus Level Detailing.

How to select a good lime for the retrofit and conservation of historic buildings – Dr Giovanni Pesce

In retrofitting and conservation projects, mortar porosity is one of the main characteristics that should be carefully tailored since this, in turn, affects the mechanical properties (e.g. compressive strength), adhesion, moisture transfer, and durability (e.g. freeze/thaw and salt transport) of the mortars. Mortar porosity is affected by several factors (e.g. water to binder ratio, aggregate size), including the type of lime used in the mix.

Selection of the correct type of lime for specific applications (e.g. renders, core mortars, floors) is therefore essential but it is often hindered by the overwhelming number of lime-based products available in the market and the general little knowledge of the regulations governing the commercialisation of lime.

This webinar will provide an overview of the standard designations of lime (e.g. CL, NHL, etc.) and of the characteristics of the various types of lime included in the standard EN BS 459-1. By providing the basic information necessary to understand the labels printed on the bags and buckets of lime you then will be able to specify lime products more appropriately.

Please find all the board meetings minutes below for 2018-2022

The AECB AGM will be held online on Nov 17, 2020 . A link was sent to all members to attend.

Our homes and other buildings leak in a wide variety of places. Some are obvious (like windows that don't close properly), others are hidden behind skirting boards, in lofts or hollow floor spaces. This guide is a distillation of over 30 years experience finding air leakage.

Here we outline a 12-step program for contractors and design teams to assist them in delivering airtight buildings. The UK construction industry needs to adapt and develop, otherwise contractors and others will continue to face significant difficulties, delays and additional costs. Airtightness is a key element to the design and delivery of low energy buildings.

Paul Jennings of Aldas is the most experienced airtightness tester and consultant in the UK, with over 30 years’ experience. He has been an an AECB member for over 15 years and a Trustee for much of that time. He is also a Director of the UK Cohousing Network.

AECB Airtightness Webpage