July 3, 2009  
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Sustainable Building is a newsletter on energy efficiency and green building. Every month it will give you news, features on using renewable energy, analysis of energy policy, a legislation tracker and case studies of good practice. Further information: Click here.


Lead Articles
Tories would abolish Building Regulations

The Conservative Party would scrap the Building Regulations and put forward challenging standards in their place, according to John Gummer, who announced the plans at an Environment Industries Commission conference on climate change.

Bringing walls to life

London’s first vertical gardens were unveiled last month, prompting a flurry of interest in the mainstream press, and prompting Ella Taylor to wonder just how much do they do to benefit our environment.

Comment

Last month the Building Services Research and Information Association published partial statistics for new school Energy Performance Certificates, but only showed part of the problem, as full statistics are nearly impossible to find.

UKGBC to examine obstacles to low carbon infrstructure

Energy company E.on has called on the UK Green Building Council to set up a task group to remove planning obstacles and red tape to low carbon infrastructure such as community energy networks.

Cityspace gets BREEAM Excellent

Sunderland University's new £12m sports and social centre, Cityspace, has been awarded a BREEAM Excellent standard, rare for a sports facility as internal environmental requirements vary drastically from floor to floor, along with energy loads and occupancy levels.

Welsh government pushes for zero carbon by 2011

The Welsh Assembly Government has published new building standards in its draft technical advice note Planning for Sustainable Buildings which is now out for consultation until July 31.

Early days in low carbon

Labour MP Paddy Tipping has tabled a new Early Day Motion promoting the benefits of a low carbon industrial strategy.

Eperjesi resigns

Louis Eperjesi is resigning as executive director from the board of Kingspan Group at the end of July to pursue other business interests.

Ministerial musical chairs as Brown clears out tainted colleagues

Former communities secretary Hazel Blears was the highest profile victim of Prime Minister Gordon Brown’s recent cabinet reshuffle, resigning – and wearing the now infamous lapel badge saying ‘Rocking  the Boat’ – while several other senior ministers were moved and removed from other posts.

Financial support for Green Energy Bill

Future expenditure on the Green Energy (Definition and Promotion) Bill, has been approved by the House of Commons, led by the new energy and climate change secretary, David Kidney, and sponsored by Conservative MP Peter Ainsworth, a former chairman of the cross party Environmental Audit Committee. 


Latest Articles
Government to give green makeovers to all

All UK households will have a ‘whole house’ green makeover of energy saving measures, renewable energy sources and loft and cavity wall insulation by 2030 under government plans to reduce carbon emissions.

Government urged to stick to zero carbon guns
The UK Green Building Council has warned the Government to stick to its guns on the meaning of “zero carbon” following its consultation paper which mean such homes renewable energy may be generated off site and proposals on energy solutions and cost capping.
Some green improvements not worth the money says RICS

The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors has dismayed sustainability circles with a report which points out how long it can take to repay the cost of some home energy saving devices.

A new standard for energy

What is the difference between an ‘energy survey’, an ‘energy audit’ and an ‘energy review’? Is there, in fact, any difference and if so, what? Well, a new European standard may help to clear up the confusion.

Notable & Quotable

“We’ll take the cost of carbon into account if we’re building a new substation, [or] if we’re installing new gas lines,” Chris Mostyn, National Grid US unit, International Herald Tribune, Business of Green supplement, 14 Oct.

Comment

Amidst the doom and gloom, lo and behold some green shoots.At the weekend, Communities secretary, Hazel Blears, said that the government’s priority was to keep together the construction skills base and to do that finance will be found for large scale public investment.


Timber fortunes rising
Ecobuild grand debates


Latest Features
Bringing walls to life

London’s first vertical gardens were unveiled last month, prompting a flurry of interest in the mainstream press, and prompting Ella Taylor to wonder just how much do they do to benefit our environment.

A future of flooding

The recent UK Climate Impact Programme (UKCIP) report is probably the bleakest official assessment yet of the impact of climate change in Britain over the remainder of the century.



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