Sustainability Forums
Posted on February 8th, 2012
Here is a specially compiled list of active forums on the subject of environmental sustainability. Such forums are used by several categories of persons – planners, environmentalists, home builders, researchers and policy makers. Look up the forums to find out where you fit in and how you can benefit.
Action for a sustainable world – Forum for the future
Renewable Energy and Sustainability Forum – UK’s most popular Renewable Energy Forum
The Prince’s Accounting for Sustainability project – Accounting for Sustainability Forum
Sustainable Remediation Forum UK – SuRF-UK
From one of the UK’s leading construction sites - Open sustainability forum
Tags: Environmental Sustainability, Renewable Energy Forum, Sustainability Forum UK, Sustainable World Forum
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Towards Better Sustainable Housing Practices
Posted on January 5th, 2012
If you need to educate yourself on sustainable housing practices, one of the better options is to get hold of the book “Sustainable Housing: Principles and Practice“. The publication comes to you from experts, giving you new perspectives on sustainability by employing case studies.
Another related resource is Sustainable Construction, which means to be a reference point for anyone who is looking for further information on sustainable building and refurbishment methods.
Here are some events from which you will greatly benefit, if you work in the energy efficiency / sustainable housing sector.
8 February 2012, at the Emirates Stadium, London - Whole House Refurbishment – Getting More for Less Seminar
12 to 14 June 2012 at the Manchester Central – The Chartered Institute of Housing Annual Conference and Exhibition
Tags: Sustainability, Sustainable Building, sustainable construction, sustainable housing, Sustainable Housing Principles
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Passivhaus / ‘Passive House’ Standards
Posted on November 8th, 2011
Passive House is an energy performance standard in the context of sustainable housing. In the UK, there are as many as 30,000 buildings built to the Passive House standard till date. What’s special about the Passivhaus Standards, one may well ask. Its main strength is simplicity. This standard enables a ‘totally green’ house to be built – one that has “excellent thermal performance, exceptional airtightness with mechanical ventilation”.
People who are eager to know more about the passive house concept will be happy to access additional information and resources on the Passive House Standard -
‘Passipedia’ – basic Passivhaus information and insight.
The Passivhaus Standard – Basic Principles
Scottish Passive House Centre (SPHC), working on Passivhaus consultancy and certification
Tags: Energy Performance, Green House, Passive House, passivhaus, Performance Standard, sustainable housing, Thermal Performance
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‘Green Infrastructure in Urban Areas’
Posted on October 7th, 2011
This is the title of an information paper published by RICS (Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors) in June 2011. Green infrastructure includes – trees, green walls, green roofs, open spaces and the systems that arise from interlinking these modules.
The aim of this RICS paper is to “make surveyors aware of the contribution which green infrastructure can make to reducing the impact of climate change”.
There are two related documents published in the UK.
- the UK National Ecosystem Assessment (UK NEA). According to the UK National Ecosystem Assessment Secretariat, this is the first ever analysis of the UK’s natural environment in terms of the benefits it provides to society and continuing economic prosperity.
- the Natural Environment White Paper. In the words of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, this paper is a bold and ambitious statement outlining the Government’s vision for the natural environment over the next 50 years, backed up with practical action to deliver that ambition.
These publications are meant for citizens, local authorities, businesses, environmental organisations, farmers and landowners and schools. As such they are eminently worthy to be bookmarked as informative and reference material.
Tags: contraespeculacion, Ecosystem Assessment, Green Roofs, Green Walls, Institution Of Chartered Surveyors, National Ecosystem
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Code for Sustainable Homes – Updates
Posted on September 9th, 2011
Towards the end of August 2011, The Department for Communities and Local Government released an updated cost review of the costs involved in building to the Code for Sustainable Homes.
The Code for Sustainable Homes is the national standard for assessing the sustainability of new housing in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
This document has been released with the aim of providing guidance on the costs of building housing that adhere to Code standards. What the reader gets are updates over and above the two previous Code cost reports. Note that the recently updated document is based on a much larger availability of market-tested industry data.
Access plenty of other details about the Cost of building to the Code for Sustainable Homes – updated cost review (available free for download as PDF, 136 kb, 90 pages)
Tags: Code for Sustainable Homes, Local Government, Sustainability, sustainable homes
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SHIFT Index
Posted on July 14th, 2011
If you are in any activity or business related to sustainable housing, it is possible that you have heard of SHIFT (Sustainable Homes Index for Tomorrow). The initiative came about through the efforts of Sustainable Homes in partnership with the Tenants Services Authority, WWF, Bank of Scotland Corporate and the UK Green Building Council.
Basically, the SHIFT Index is claimed to be a ‘sustainability benchmark and best practice learning network’.
Learn more about the SHIFT Index, membership benefits, and how to become a member.
Tags: Accreditation, Benchmark, Membership Benefits, SHIFT Index, sustainable housing
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Greenbuild Expo
Posted on April 25th, 2011
Greenbuild Expo, a sustainable refurbishment and building event is scheduled to be held on 29 and 30 June 2011 at Manchester Central. This expo is termed as “an essential and informative event for the construction industry covering everything from training opportunities and renewable technologies to sustainable materials and legislation updates.”
These are the highlights of the expo
- Ignition11
- Retrofit for Buildings
- Information hub about availability of training courses
- Code Clinic on surface water run-off
Here’s the link for you to register for the expo
Tags: Greenbuild Expo, Manchester Central, Renewable Technologies, sustainable homes, Sustainable Materials
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HIP and EPC – current status
Posted on January 12th, 2011
New home buyers in the UK will need to note that the UK Government has announced the suspension of Home Information Packs (HIP) with effect from 21 May 2010.
What does this mean? The law now states that houses put up for sale on or after 21 May 2010 will not need a Home Information Pack (HIP). However, sellers will still be required to commission, but will not need to have received an Energy Performance Certificates (EPC) before actually finding a buyer.
The legislation regarding EPC is contained in the Energy Performance of Buildings (Certificates and Inspections) (England and Wales) Regulations 2007, as amended by the Energy Performance of Buildings (Certificates and Inspections) (England and Wales) (Amendment) Regulations 2010.
Visit Department of Communities and Local Government for additional information.
Tags: Energy Performance, EPC, HIP, Information Packs
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Sustainable construction
Posted on December 13th, 2010
The UK Environmental Agency’s website provides some amount of guidance to builders and developers who are keen on showing that extra care and concern, much needed in the UK and elsewhere in times to come.
The basic guidelines for the construction industry on the topic of ‘sustainable construction’ – by no means exhaustive – can be found here.
If you intend getting your home built, be sure to look up several of the Agency’s compilations, available as pdf downlods from the same website.
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