Entries for May 2008

“If we continue to ignore the impacts of climate change there will be severe consequences for the property market and the wider economy” Professor Mark Maslin, Director, UC London’s Environment Institute, launching new report on impact of climate change on property, 2 May

Many roads lead Rome, but the route to zero carbon is less clear.

Liz Green of The Millward Partnerships (TMP) has been shortlisted for the Atkins Inspire Sustainability Award for her work in setting up TMP Sustainability, a new division of TMP that assist low energy projects to be cost effective and offers assistance with environmental regulations compliance. She has also helped to set up GreenAid, a charity that promotes science, engineering and the environment in schools and local communities, and has been involved with Green Street, a Nottingham based eco-housing development.

The Institution of Engineering and Technology Innovation Awards 2008 is open to engineers, scientists and technologists whose work demonstrates a commitment to sustainability. The awards can be for a new concept or the development of existing processes and products and are open to individuals, small teams or organisations. The IET Innovation Awards 2008 Presentation Ceremony will take place on Monday 3 November 2008 at the Park Plaza Riverbank Hotel, London

ARENA Network has announced the launch of this year’s Wales Business and Sustainability Awards which are sponsored by the Welsh Assembly Government, WRAP, the Carbon Trust and Envirowise, among others. The winners will be presented with their awards at a satellite-linked ceremony in October, to be held at venues in Cardiff and Wrexham. The Awards are given to Welsh organisations that have succeeded in improving their environmental performance and employ sustainable practices throughout their operation. Applications should be submitted by 27 June 2008

Pendle Borough Council is looking for a private sector strategic partner to work on regeneration projects in the Pendle area. The initial focus of the new sustainable developments will be a site in the town centre of Nelson. The partnership is expected to continue as a long-term arrangement and will combine an advisory role offering financial, architectural, engineering, construction and related guidance to the council with leading development opportunities for projects such as the construction of commercial buildings, warehouses, industrial building as well as buildings relating to transport.

The Royal Free Hampstead NHS Trust in London is seeking a consultant to undertake their building and capital works programme. The expertise needed covers all aspects of design and technical advice for architecture, M&E engineering, civil and structural engineering and quantity surveying services. The Trust will require proof of a commitment to sustainability through the provision of evidence detailing measures taken for previous environmental development management projects.

Richard Huish College in Taunton, Somerset, is looking for a contractor to design and build new art, design, dance and drama buildings. The sixth form college is situated on a single site campus and the project includes the demolition of the current art and design building as well as the construction of new classrooms and associated external works.

Sligo Borough Council requires a team of consultants to prepare a masterplan for the Cranmore Regeneration Project. The development of the region east of the city needs a plan that can accommodate the area’s and the city’s needs, is in line with government policy and features high quality urban design and planning that fully employs all aspects of sustainable development. The masterplan will stand as a statement of the overall development objectives for the region, and provide a detailed scheme covering architecture, construction, engineering, urban planning and landscaping to be developed as the Cranmore Regeneration Project.

The University of Leeds is currently updating their student accomodation and intends to achieve an BREEM Excellent rating for all their building projects. It is looking for a main works contractor to work on the redevelopment of the Charles Morris Halls. The contract will entail demolition, site clearance and earthmoving, leading on to the primary work for services, landscaping and design and construction of new halls of residence.

Sustainable building practices are slowly moving into the commercial refurbishment and retrofit market, driven by both legislative requirements and good corporate housekeeping considerations. In the final part of a series on sustainable retrofit, Dr Paul K Hatchwell looks particularly at energy issues facing the sustainable offices sector

The conference run by Climate Change Solutions was a heady mix of high level policy initiatives aligned with practical examples of how different sectors in their efforts to reduce carbon.

The development aims for 900 habitable rooms per hectare at Code Level 4. Ben Kochan explains

By 2050 there could be as many as a million ground source heat pumps in use. Ben Kochan investigates

One of five key new powers of the Energy Bill, currently under scrutiny in the Lords, is to underpin the roll-out of smart meters to medium-sized business in the first instance, but potentially to the 44 million domestic consumers BERR minister Lord Jones of Birmingham told Conservative environment spokesman Lord Taylor of Holbeach in responding to the debate on the 2nd reading of the bill on 21 May.