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Get Sust! Issue 19
It's your shout
Get Sust takes a short break in April during the Easter vacation. The next issue will reach your desk-top on 10 May, with a feature-length report and case studies from the CIBSE national conference, which takes place later this month (see events, below).
To round off this academic year we’re planning a special ‘It’s your shout’ feature for the last issue of the season (out on 10 June)... in other words, we want you to tell us about the great sustainable construction projects you’ve been involved in recently.
Whether it’s a piece of course-work or research, developing a new product or technique, or designing a building or system - we want to hear about it.
Students, academics, practitioners, manufacturers, associations - all submissions welcome.
Send brief details to editor@get-sust.com by 31 March, and we’ll follow up a selection of your stories.
More reviewers wanted
Thanks once again to the readers who have reviewed books and sent in suggestions.
More reviewers are most welcome. So if you are registered on any relevant first degree or post-graduate course and you’re willing to write 200 words or so in return for keeping the review copy, please contact us as soon as possible. E-mail: editor@get-sust.com.
As always, please do continue to support the newsletter by sending in news items, announcements and careers information. And don’t forget to pass it on to colleagues who may be interested.
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Who’s afraid of the big bad Building Regs?
Amendments to Parts L and F of the UK Building Regulations were announced in September 2005, though we had known that changes were in the offing since the previous update in 2002. There has been a review, a debate, another review... and the new requirements were due for implementation from 6 April this year, with a three year ‘transitional period’.
Then suddenly last month Housing and Planning Minister, Yvette Cooper, announced that the transitional period is to be cut to just 12 months (check the link below to see her statement)... sparking a flurry of furious response from industry bodies and individuals, who say that this change is ‘unworkable and unenforceable’ and calling for an urgent meeting with the Minister.
The main concern appears to be that the final version of Part L has not yet been published, and the software for calculating compliance has not been formally approved. But this begs the question, what is it that they are so afraid of? They knew the changes were coming; they’ve been able to see the draft proposals; and they knew that the new Regulations would be introduced from 6 April.
One irate architect told Building magazine that he thought the only alternative to putting projects on hold was to ‘overdesign them to guarantee compliance with the new version of Part L’...
And that, it seems, neatly summarises many people’s attitude to the changes - they want to ‘comply’, and see the Building Regulations requirements as the best they need to achieve, instead of the minimum standard from which they should aim higher.
At a Part L conference organised by CIBSE last November, Bill Gething, of Feilden Clegg Bradley Architects LLP, and chair of the RIBA’s Sustainable Futures Committee, said that a good architect or engineer:
‘Recognises that good environmental performance using minimal energy is a fundamental design requirement... aims to make the building siting, form, orientation and construction do the work... and cares about whether the building works in practice’.
Surely many of those who are complaining have missed the point of the new Regulations?
Part L is no longer a checklist of what is or isn’t allowed - its aim is to allow architects and engineers to develop buildings that meet their clients needs, with the lowest possible level of carbon emissions. It also opens the door to greater integration of project teams, because these two groups of professionals will need to work together to design a building from the outset, rather than (to put it bluntly) one do the shell, and the other fill it with services.
It is unfortunately that there are some ‘administrative’ hitches, because it’s inevitable that some parts of the industry will take this as an excuse to delay projects, or to carry on with business as usual.
But the wise ones (i.e. Get Sust readers) ought to be ahead of the game - and seizing the business advantage - by taking CIBSE’s advice to design for a minimum 28 per cent improvement over the 2002 regulations, and paying plenty of attention to what happens on site - because poor construction will compromise airtightness.
And to the complainers we say: ‘look on the bright side’... if you think this is a tough target, the American Institute of Architects (AIA) has recently adopted the aim of achieving a fifty per cent reduction in the current level of fossil fuels needed to construct and operate buildings by 2010.
Learn more:
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• | Details of the timetable for implementing the new Part L are in the ODPM press release ‘Introduction of new building regulations speeded up to maximise impact on climate change’, 22 February 2006 at www.odpm.gov.uk (choose News Releases). STOP PRESS: The ODPM also announced yesterday (9 March) that it is going to ‘strengthen’ the proposed Code for Sustainable Homes. |
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• | Drafts of the new Building Regulations Part L (Conservation of Fuel and Power) and Part F (Ventilation) are at http://www.odpm.gov.uk/index.asp?id=1130479. |
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• | Source: ‘Unenforceable Part L could delay projects’, Building, 3 March 2006. |
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• | Details from the CIBSE Part L conference in November are at http://www.cibse.org/index.cfm?go=home.show&TopSecID=5&PageID=544&L1=544. |
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• | The SBEM calculation software is at http://www.ncm.bre.co.uk. |
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• | See the AIA position statement by clicking http://www.aia.org/SiteObjects/files/HPB_position_statements.pdf. |
| © Melanie Thompson 2006 | |
Nominate your favourite renewables campaigners
The Renewable Energy Association is inviting nominations for The British Renewable Energy Awards. There are six categories – the British Renewable Energy Pioneer, Innovator, Advocate, Region, Company and Lifetime Champion.
Learn more:
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• | Further details are at http://www.r-e-a.net. |
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• | Send nominations by 17 March to: awards@r-e-a.net. |
| © Melanie Thompson 2006 | |
Eco-Render for new build and restoration projects
Sustainable materials supplier Lime Green has launched ‘Eco-Render’ lime-based renders that are suitable for a wide range of applications.
Lime is extracted from limestone (calcium carbonate) by heating at more than 900°C. This process releases carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, leaving highly reactive calcium oxide (quick lime), to which water is added. The resulting lime is mixed with aggregate to make mortar or render. When the material dries out it takes up as much atmospheric carbon dioxide as had been released when the original limestone was heated. Thus the process is on the way to being carbon neutral.
Lime Green’s two new products are:
- an insulating render and plaster, which is highly breathable and elastic, and is suitable for most old buildings and eco-projects;
- an ‘ultra modified’ insulating render that has been specially developed for upgrading modern houses with cavity or concrete walls.
Both materials are made using St Astier Natural Hydraulic Lime and recycled aggregates.
Lime Green says that these products offer the following key additional environmental benefits:
- They are manufactured using up to 60 per cent recycled and reprocessed aggregate.
- During the company’s proprietory reprocessing technique, minute air chambers are trapped inside granules which, on setting, offer greatly increased levels of thermal efficiency, with insulating properties up to 5 times better than normal renders.
- They are up to three times lighter that alternative renders, which significantly reduces the financial and environmental cost of transporting the materials to site.
Learn more:
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• | Details of the products and general information about lime in construction materials can be found at http://www.lime-green.co.uk. |
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• | See also ‘Learning to love lime’ in Get Sust no. 13. |
| © Melanie Thompson 2006 | |
Back to nature with rubber flooring
Most modern rubber flooring is actually made from synthetic rubber (SRB), which is derived from petrochemicals, but Dalsouple, which has been making rubber products since the 1940s, has decided to go ‘back to nature’ by introducing a natural rubber range.
DalNatural is made from 90 per cent natural ingredients. The natural rubber used is harvested from mature rubber trees which, with a typical lifespan on 30 years, absorb a considerable amount of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. This, combined with an energy-efficient factory production process is, according to Dalsouple, the primary environmental advantage of its materials. But there are others:
- rubber has a long service life;
- it is easy to recycle, not just once, but several times;
- it is relatively non-toxic, particularly when compared with pvc-based flooring;
- it is hygienic and dust-free.
Learn more:
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• | Check it out at http://www.dalsouple.com. |
| © Melanie Thompson 2006 | |
The loo that knows when you're on holiday
Developed and tested in Holland, the Ecoplay water management system is a cleverly designed filtration system that makes domestic water recycling a practical option for many UK households.
The device - which is compact enough to fit easily into the typical bathrooms of UK houses, flats and hotels - made its UK debut at the EcoBuild exhibition last month. The manufacturer says the system will cut the average household’s water consumption and drainage by up to 30 per cent, which is not only good for the environment, but saves money too, for households where water is metered.
The Ecoplay comprises a cleaning tank and a storage tank, and is slim enough to be installed behind the loo, as part of an integrated concealed cistern. Waste water from the bath or shower is diverted to the cleaning tank, where it is cleaned by a simple gravity system - light particles and soap scum rise to the top of the cleaning tank; heavier particles fall to the bottom - and clean water from the middle of the tank moves into a storage tank.
The storage tank is monitored by an on-board computer which makes sure there is always sufficient water for flushing the toilet by taking account of the household’s water usage. For example, it will top up the tank with tap water if showers have not been used regularly, or flush itself out if there is a power cut, to prevent stale water build-up.
Learn more:
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• | HB Systems of Gloucestershire is the UK importer of Ecoplay. Contact David Blackler. E-mail: david.blackler@ecoplay.co.uk. |
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• | Further details, including diagrams of the water management unit are at http://www.ecoplay.co.uk. |
| © Melanie Thompson 2006 | |
See the city's carbon emissions
A new software tool developed by Dr Rajat Gupta of Oxford Brookes University aims to help planners, energy advisers and property developers to make better decisions about energy efficiency options.
The tool, known as DECoRUM, makes the connection between UK geographical information system (GIS) data about properties (such as the location and age of the buildings) and estimated carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions for the property types. The result is a coloured, annotated map of the subject area showing typical CO2 emissions, that clearly shows which buildings or areas are responsible for the most emissions. For example, pollution ‘hotspots’ can be identified using the GIS data.
The system can then be used to compare the various options for energy-efficiency measures, low carbon systems and renewable energy technologies - including cost-benefit analysis.
Dr Gupta says that the tool uses well-established methodologies, and it has been tested in the Oxford area.
Learn more:
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• | Contact Dr Rajat Gupta, Oxford Institute for Sustainable Development, at Oxford Brookes University. Tel: 01865 484049. E-mail: rgupta@brookes.ac.uk. |
| © Melanie Thompson 2006 | |
Post-occupancy feedback from RES
Full details and data of post-occupancy monitoring at the RES headquarters (Beaufort Court), which was reported in Get Sust, November 2005, can now be download from the project’s website.
Learn more:
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• | See Get Sust No. 15. |
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• | The presentations are at http://www.beaufortcourt.com. |
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• | For further information about the project, contact Alexandra Bizys at Studio E Architects. E-mail: alexandra@studioe.co.uk. |
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Avoiding Dangerous Climate Change
In 2005 the UK Government hosted the Avoiding Dangerous Climate Change conference to take an in-depth look at the scientific issues associated with climate change.
Defra has now published ‘Avoiding Dangerous Climate Change’, which consolidates the scientific findings of the Exeter conference, and gives an account of the most recent findings from the leading international scientists who attended the conference – including critical thresholds and key vulnerabilities of the climate system, impacts on human and natural systems, emission pathways and technological options of meeting different stabilisation levels of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.
Learn more:
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• | Click here to download (16.3MB file). |
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• | * Order a printed copy of Avoiding Dangerous Climate Change, Edited by Hans Joachim Schellnhuber et al, price £70 (hardback; ISBN-10: 0521864712) from http://www.cambridge.org/catalogue/catalogue.asp?isbn=0521864712. |
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Correction - Solar Cities Congress, 3-6 April
Apologies, readers - last month we gave out the incorrect date for this event in Oxford. The Solar Cities Congress features presentations by urban design and solar power experts from around the world, including examples of solar power in action as far afield as China and Nigeria.
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• | 3-6 April - Solar Cities Congress, Oxford - Special discounts for students. Learn more at http://www.solarcities.org.uk. |
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Energising sustainable lifestyles
SPONGE, the network for young professionals interested in sustainability, is hosting an event entitled ‘Energising Sustainable Lifestyles’ at 6.30pm on Thursday 16 March.
This will be an evening of presentations from policy makers and policy implementers, looking at how energy policy is helping to develop sustainable homes for sustainable lifestyles.
Speakers are: Simon Barnes, Head of Technical Policy, Buildings Division, ODPM, Sonny Masero, Senior Consultant, Energy for Sustainable Development (ESD), and Lee Barker, Chief Architect, Milford Homes. |
• | The event takes place at the RIBA Wren Room, 66 Portland Place, London, W1B 1AD. More details can be found at http://www.spongenet.org/. |
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• | Please contact SPONGE if you are planning to attend. E-mail: leo@spongenet.org. |
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Using wood in sustainable, innovative and creative design
This ‘timber in architecture’ conference will be held at the RIBA in London on Tuesday 14 March. It will look at some of the most advanced technical solutions and discuss other timber-related issues, such as sourcing sustainable timber, choosing the best material for your project, and compliance with the Building Regulations.
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• | Full details are at http://www.ajtimberdesign.co.uk. |
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Timber frame training
T RADA Technology Ltd is taking timber frame on the road with its training course ‘The A-Z of Timber Frame’. This roadshow is aimed at designers, manufacturers, builders and project managers, and looks at design, manufacture, erection, reference to Approved Documents E, L & B, disproportionate collapse, differential movement, and cladding. Catch the event at:
- Warrington - 30 March 2006
- Gloucester - 9 May
- High Wycombe - 25 May
- Wakefield - 12 July.
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• | The cost is £195 + VAT (TRADA member) and £235 + VAT (non-member). For further details visit http://www.trada.co.uk/training/timber_frame.html, or Nicola Cannings. Tel: 01494 569620. E-mail: training@trada.co.uk. |
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Hands-on sustainable homes
The Somerset Trust for Sustainable Development is running a one-day practical course that shows how you can make your house a healthier place to live, more energy efficient and improve it, without costing the earth.
The course – which will cover domestic-scale renewable energy technologies, energy and water efficiency (low cost and no-cost measures), sustainable materials, and creating a healthy interior – will be delivered by David Barton, Director of Impetus Consulting, and Pam McDonald, founder of the Natural Decorating Company.
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• | Dates and venue: Saturdays – 25 March, 22 April, 3 June at Genesis Centre, Somerset College of Arts and Technology. |
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• | Costs range from £66-£118 (depending on status). Details are at http://www.sustainablehousing.org.uk, or contact Christine. Tel: 01458 259400. E-mail: admin@sustainablehousing.org.uk. |
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Resource-efficient regeneration
WRAP (the Waste and Resources Action Programme) is running a series of seven interactive workshops during March and April 2006. The free events aim to show people who are involved in demolition and new build projects how to implement robust and cost-effective sustainable design and construction practices through materials resource efficiency.
The workshops will focus on achieving verifiable resource efficiency targets, and will explain the use of the ICE Demolition Protocol, pre-demolition audits, site waste management plans, and ways to identify and maximise the potential for recovered material in the new-build that will replace the previous building.
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• | Venues include Liverpool, Leicester, York, Solihull, Bristol, London and Stirling. To book a place, send an e-mail to: conferences@trl.co.uk or visit http://www.trl.co.uk/events/default.asp?pid=22 to download a booking form. |
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Teaching aids - SHADA Carbon Counting workshop
Learn about ‘carbon counting’ at a free event on Monday 3 April. The EC-funded project ‘Sustainable Habitat Design Adviser’ (SHADA) is running a one-day workshop at the University of Oxford.Speakers from this international project will discuss the challenge of educating architects for climate change, and explain the ‘carbon counting’ methods for cutting carbon emissions from houses and offices. The event also features a working lunch workshop for course leaders, entitled ‘How do we teach for emissions reductions?’ Speakers at the event are drawn from the IPCC, TERI, ICAEN, and Oxford Brookes University.
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• | The event is on 3 April 2006, at the Examination Schools, University of Oxford, from 09.30-14:30. |
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• | The event is free, but participants will be asked to make a £10 contribution towards refreshments/lunch). |
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• | Details of the event are at http://www.admin.ox.ac.uk/schools/conference. |
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• | Learn more about the SHADA project at http://www.sustainable-buildings.org. |
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Big three get together for façades event
On the 5 April 2006, CIBSE, RIBA and IStructE will be holding an in-depth discussion of facade engineering, entitled ‘Façades - The Whole Picture’. Taking place at the RIBA in London, this event will explore the architectural structural and services element of façades, and will examine problem areas and the issues to be dealt with during design, construction and performance.
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• | Details are at http://www.cibse.org/events. |
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• | 14 March - ‘From Fuels to Futures - Reframing the Energy Innovation Agenda for Renewable Production and Reduced Consumption’, a discussion forum at the Design Museum, London. Contact Adrian Monaghan, (Manager of the ESRC Sustainable Technologies Programme, and Research Fellow at Brunel University). E-mail: Adrian.Monaghan@brunel.ac.uk. |
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• | 21-22 March - CIBSE National Conference 2006 - Special discounts for students. Full details are at http://www.cibse.org (choose ‘events’). |
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• | 30 March - Small-scale, buildings-integrated wind power. For more information visit http://www.bre.co.uk/events. E-mail: events@bre.co.uk. |
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• | 16-25 June - Architecture Week - events nation-wide. See http://www.architectureweek.org.uk. |
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Sustainability consultant for Thirdwave, Edinburgh
Sustainability Consultancy, Thirdwave, is looking for a consultant to join its Built Environment Team in Edinburgh, which is working within a rapidly expanding market.
The successful candidate will work with other consultants, reporting to the Director of the Built Environment Team, and will provide input related to sustainability to a range of projects, including the provision of sustainable design advice to design teams on live projects; client support and insight to building procurers / estate managers - embedding
sustainability into the procurement process; policy guidance for public bodies; sustainability guidelines for a range of stakeholders; and workshop sessions on a range of sustainable building issues.
Ideally, applicants should:
- Be educated to degree level in a relevant building design / construction discipline;
- Have relevant experience in construction, engineering, construction waste management, or construction procurement;
- Have a postgraduate qualification;
- Be able to demonstrate technical competence in construction and/or engineering;
- Work flexibly, providing input to other built environment projects and Thirdwave activities;
- Write and present reports.
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• | Apply with covering letter and a CV (quote ‘Get Sust’) to: Richard Atkins, Director, Built Environment Team. E-mail: bltapp@thirdwave.org.uk. |
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Timber in construction - £1000 student prize
The great thing about the ‘TRADA Timber in Construction Student Prize’ is that entering need not entail any extra work for entrants (other than completing the entry form), because submissions could simply be, for example, a copy of your final year thesis or a design project that is under way as part of your course. The winner will receive £1000, and there’s £500 for the runner-up.
The judges will be looking for projects that demonstrate innovative and inspiring applications of timber within any type of structure, including restoration and conservation of existing buildings, private buildings, public buildings or non-building structures (e.g. bridges).
The prize is open to all students, but entries must include consideration of Eurocode 0, 1 and 5 (EN 1995-1-1, EN 1995-1-2 and EN 1995-2). TRADA’s Timber Design Knowledge software, an information resource and guidance document for the structural application of timber, may be of use for this.
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• | The deadline for entries is 26 May 2006. Students can either enter the prize directly or via their lecturer. |
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• | The Timber Design Knowledge software is available to students free of charge from http://research.ttlchiltern.co.uk/pif294. |
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• | For further details or to download an entry form, please visit http://www.trada.co.uk/training/student_prize06.html, or contact Charlotte Andrews. Tel: 01494 569622. E-mail: candrews@trada.co.uk. |
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Hurry to catch exciting research opportunity
CIBSE, in conjunction with the University of Oxford's UK Climate Impacts Programme (UKCIP), is seeking an enthusiastic recent graduate to work on a two-year project to review and develop design guidance for the internal environment of buildings.
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• | Full details are at http://www.eci.ox.ac.uk/news/vacancy.htm#resassociate. |
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• | For an informal discussion please contact Dr Stuart Wilkinson at the Oxford University KTP Office. Tel: 01865 283785, or e-mail: stuart.wilkinson@begbroke.ox.ac.uk. |
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