Tom Dollard | Pollard Thomas Edwards

The Zero Carbon Hub’s recent work with industry has found extensive evidence of a considerable ‘Performance Gap’ between the energy use of new homes as-designed and the actual use of the completed building. This gap occurs when a constructed home requires more energy than was predicted during its design, before taking into account the behaviour of occupants.

This gap represents a significant risk to...

Cath Hassell | ech2o 

Anyone who is used to working in the commercial sector and looking at scoring easy BREEAM points will already know all about total washroom control (1). For the rest of you think urinal controls only bigger, better, faster, exerting control over all the water supply into a toilet block.

Benchmarking of schools

The main way of comparing different buildings with regards to how much water they use is based on the number of building users. For schools the...

Lucy Pedler | The Green Register

I recently made a presentation to a room full of architects for the RIBA South West in Exeter. Having been given free reign about what to present, I chose to take a look at what progress we have, or have not, made since the turn of the century.

There is no doubt that Bill Dunster’s BedZed scheme in south London welcomed the new century in with a bang. It is one of the most...

Jillian Mitchell | Project Logistics

I recently enjoyed a week’s holiday on a narrow boat.  There’s something about pootling around at 3 miles an hour, spending time in the great outdoors, which slows the mind and gives time to think, or better still, time to simply be – a rare treat, these days.

This blog isn’t about my holidays, although of course that would be fascinating.  This is actually about water consumption.  (I won’t cover the wonders of civil engineering and water...

Rob Borruso

I was planning a whole load of puns to go with this blog especially as my take on this is going to be rather heavy on facts and figures. But actually no, I think it is best that we all suffer the numbers. To my mind to issues surrounding fracking are, in many ways, a lot like those surrounding nuclear power. The public at large want lower bills and energy security at the prices that cheap fossil fuels have always delivered. Unfortunately, the fact that the era of cheap energy bills is now in the past is an inconvenient...

Cath Hassell | ech2o 

G3 (1) of the Building Regulations (England and Wales) states that hot water must be provided ‘to any washbasin in, or adjacent to, a room containing a sanitary convenience.’(1) Under the guidance it states that: ‘in the Secretary of State’s view the requirement will be met if: the installation conveys hot water to the sanitary appliances … without waste, misuse, or undue consumption of water.’ (2) G4 states that: ‘adequate hand washing facilities must be provided in rooms containing...

Chris Hocknell & Rita Margarido | eight associates  

What needs to be done?

Commercial sector buildings are responsible for 10% of the UK’s carbon emissions, and it is estimated that £1.6 billion in cost savings could be achieved through investment in commercial energy efficiency. However, the Bank of England states that banks and investment institutions are actually reducing their lending although they have significant financial reserves. Clearly there is an opportunity for directing these funds to productive means; it is called sustainable energy finance.

How can it be...

Jim Allen | E&M West

Working with water is a challenge wherever you are.  Balancing human need for supply on the one hand, and safety and security on the other are common concerns, although the severity of the challenge and the particular focus will vary.

In the UK recent experiences with extreme weather events in all corners of the country have focussed attention on flood risk.  Existing provision for drainage and flood defence was tested and found wanting, having suffered years of limited investment and frankly neglect. 

Flood management is complex, with responsibilties split between local and national...