30 June 2008
It would cost £9.2bn to eliminate fuel poverty from all but the poorest households in England according to new research published by the Eaga Partnership Charitable Trust.
30 June 2008
The head of the UK unit of German utility Eon, Paul Golby said utilities will have to spend some £100bn by 2020 on wind farms and new nuclear plants to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and replace ageing facilities, in line with the EU’s policy on renewable energy.
30 June 2008
A revised version of BREEAM, set to be released in August, will give points for innovation. ‘Innovation credits’ will be from areas that aren’t assessed under regular BREEAM credits. The idea is to encourage creative thinking on how to achieve better buildings.
30 June 2008
The BPF wants a radical reshaping of the housing market and presented housing minister Caroline Flint a report advocating a corporate rental sector to boost investment.
30 June 2008
CIBSE has flagged up a potentially severe shortage of assessors needed to implement the Energy Performance of Buildings directive.
30 June 2008
The Planning and Energy Bill, introduced to the House of Commons earlier by Conservative MP Michael Fallon, with cross-party backing, was debated in the House of Lords on 13 June.
30 June 2008
Environment minister Joan Ruddock has given low energy lighting her strong backing answering questions in environment question time in Parliament on 12 June.
30 June 2008
Anne McIntosh, Conservative MP for Vale of York, stressed her concerns to date over the plans to date for eco towns in an adjournment debate held on 3 June, arguing that “the democratic process has been completely flouted.”
30 June 2008
New-build home buyers will find it increasingly difficult to insure their houses, unless better protection against floods is built in, the Association of British Insurers has warned.
30 June 2008
Environment Minister Phil Woolas questioned Conservative leader David Cameron’s credibility on green issues. Mr Woolas said: “All we get from David Cameron on the environment are warm words and photo ops. He offers salesmanship, not leadership. The Tory leader continues to talk about introducing new green taxes ‘on pollution’ but still refuses to give any detail as to what they will be. “Labour is acting to make Britain a world leader on tackling climate change”.
30 June 2008
The Association for the Conservation of Energy has told DCLG that its consultation on The Future of Building Control is fundamentally flawed as it fails to address the issue of improvements and compliance.
30 June 2008
Conservative leader David Cameron has unveiled the party’s Blue/Green Charter.
30 June 2008
“Building brand new eco-towns outside existing towns and cities is a really bad idea when there are 675,000 homes in England alone sitting empty and ripe for refitting with green technologies. Given that demand for housing is right across the UK it makes more sense for every village, town and city to have new housing rather than creating brand new settlements,” Brian Berry, director of external affairs, Federation of Master Builders, 22 May
30 June 2008
Things change unbelievably quickly in this industry.
30 June 2008
CABE and the Office of Government Commerce’s Prime Minister’s Better Public Building Awards has this year seen 21 projects shortlisted, ranging from sea defences to light rail stations and museums. Gordon Brown said the public buildings and project’s on this year’s shortlist are excellent examples of good design fostering civic pride. “I am especially pleased to see the emphasis on sustainable design, regeneration and bringing life into communities shown by this year’s selection,” he said. The shortlist includes the new Shetland Museum and Archives (above) which has spurred regeneration of its formerly derelict surroundings.