Entries for May 2008

New research for English Partnerships suggests that a Millennium Community home will be responsible for 145,000t less of CO₂ over a 30 year period compared to an ordinary home built at the same time. The work by the Richard Hodkinson Consultancy says Millennium Homes, launched in 1997 to achieve a 20% improvement in energy use compared to the 2002 building regulations, have actually achieved a 23% improvement. On average, each home achieved an 11% improvement on the 2006 regulations, saving an estimated 2,000t/yr of CO₂.

Construction industry professional organisations are warning the Government that the industry’s skills shortage is set to worsen despite the sharp downturn in the economy.

The National Landlords Association has urged its members to use the Landlords’ Energy Saving Allowance which offers them tax breaks when they claim for the cost of energy saving items on their tax returns.

The International Council of Shopping Centers has decided to work with BREEAM to produce a pan-European version of the standard.

Building service professionals’ work has long gone unnoticed when buildings run smoothly but the sustainability agenda means these achievements will be come more visible, according to Faber Maunsell director Ant Wilson.

A new capital grant programme to support recycling businesses working to divert construction waste from landfill has been launched by the Waste & Resources Action Programme.

Environmental consultant Environ’s new premises at Box, near Bath, are in a listed building but that hasn’t deterred it from a range of eco-friendly initiatives. The building now has 100% recycled carpet material,
uses filtered mains water to do away with bottled water in coolers, a cycle-to-work plan, energy efficient lighting and a scheme to recycle old IT equipment. “As an environmental consultancy, we thought it was only right that we should implement initiatives along these lines to play our part and to help spread the green message within our local community,” said managing principal Niall Smiddy.

Applicants for heritage grants over £50,000 from the Heritage Lottery Fund will need to have regard to the Fund’s new Planning Greener Heritage Projects guidance. Although the diversity of projects precludes use of minimum standards, the guidance sets out the environmental impacts it expects to see considered and the type responses it believes would be appropriate for grant funding. The guidance affects both stages of the grant application. “We recognise that more sustainable solutions sometimes (but not always) involve higher upfront costs,” says the guidance. “We are prepared to fund these extra costs where we consider them to offer value for money.” The guidance includes advice on energy, water, building materials, construction waste, soil, biodiversity and transport.

New solar panels fitted to a primary school in Gateshead lasted just one month before they were stolen, reports the Newcastle Evening Chronicle. The £20,000 panels were fitted at Swalwell Primary School after receiving grants from the government and the co-op. “These panels are virtually worthless unless used as solar panels,” said neighbourhood officer Sgt Tim McIntyre. “Even traded in for scrap, their value would be nominal.” The school’s head teacher said her pupils were very upset.

The Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers has launched a Register for Low Carbon Energy Assessors which will provide an online database of qualified and accredited people to perform energy assessments and to produce and lodge building energy certificates. They will be able t provide energy performance certificates, display energy certificates and air conditioning inspections for commercial buildings. The database can be searched by region, name or specialism and already has over 100 assessors accredited or awaiting final assessment. There is also advice on the accreditation process.

Domestic energy consumption in the UK has risen by 9% since 1995, according to a report from Roland Berger Strategy Consultants.  This puts UK households among the highest energy consumers in Europe, 40% higher than the French and 44% higher than the Germans, says the report. It argues that ‘soft’ legislation, like public awareness campaigns and long term financial incentives (such as the recently proposed stamp duty rebate), are unlikely to influence consumer behaviour much or encourage energy efficiency amongst householders.

Energy minister Malcolm Wicks has presented to Parliament an amendment to the Climate Change and Sustainable Energy Act 2006 aimed at clarifying that heat pumps should be included in the scoping definition of microgeneration in the Act.

The Planning and Energy Bill received its Report Stage and Third Reading in the House of Commons on 9 May. Michael Fallon’s Private Member’s Bill now goes to the House of Lords.

The Academy for Sustainable Communities has extended consultations on its draft brownfield skills strategy to 10 June as it defends its record to a highly critical committee of MPs.

Business leaders called for improved tax incentives and tightened building regulations at a parliamentary inquiry in early May.