Entries for May 2009

The Scottish government, like the government for England and Wales, is failing to hit its own targets for cutting greenhouse gas emissions, figures released this month show.

A man who compiled and sold a black list of over 3,000 construction workers has pleaded guilty to breaching the Data Protection Act, and may face a large fine.

British engineers saw new sustainability guidelines launched this month, which outline the profession’s role in sustainable working and list six principles to follow.

Arup, the C40 and the Clinton Climate Initiative, a project of the William J Clinton Foundation, signed a memorandum of understanding this month that will see the three organisations working together to help the world's largest cities continue to tackle climate change. 

Grants of £100,000-£500,000 have been made available for new projects that can demonstrate significant carbon savings - coming from a £2m fund to aid North West England’s move towards a low carbon economy.

Barack Obama’s Clean Energy and Security Act took a step closer to becoming law this month, when the Energy and Commerce Committee approved it by a vote of 33 to 25. 

Construction began on a new £5.6m Marine Skills Centre this month, making it the first building to be constructed as part of the New Campus Glasgow project, which holds world class design and sustainability at its heart.

China has called for developed countries to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 40% below 1990 levels by 2020, in a position paper on its intentions for the United Nations climate change conference in Copenhagen in December. 

Businesses participating in the EU Emissions Trading System saw their greenhouse gas emissions fall 3.06% in 2008 compared with a year earlier, according to registries from member states.

Between an imposing 19th century hotel and a water’s edge lies Rhodes South, a contemporary rectangular timber restaurant run by celebrity chef Gary Rhodes and boasting a variety of healthy and sustainable building features. Ella Taylor looks around.

Before Parliament was transformed into the House of Pariahs, it hosted an important debate on creating greater opportunities for green energy technologies in England, in the Green Energy (Definition and Promotion) Bill, a private member initiative sponsored by former Conservative shadow environment secretary Peter Ainsworth, MP for East Surrey. Dr David Lowry reports.

There was a mixed crowd at this year’s Grand Designs Live exhibition – from young architecture students asking questions of veteran designers, to families with children in their early 20’s eating packed lunches, couples kitting out or refurbishing their first home, retirees looking at new eco pod homes and suited men popping in to seminars in their lunch breaks. Ella Taylor joins them to look at the sustainability messages and debates taking place.

The Standard Assessment Procedure (SAP) tool for calculating the emissions from domestic buildings is being revised in preparation for the next edition of the energy in buildings regulations – Part L of the Building Regulations. Simon Napper looks at the main changes.