Although lockdown has been stressful at times, one silver lining has been the positive impact quarantine measures have had on the environment. Photos have shown the increase in visibility thanks to a drop in air pollution, the levels of harmful gases such as nitrogen dioxide have fallen in cities across the UK, and wildlife has been seen exploring urban areas that are now much quieter.
Will Kirkman, co-owner and managing director of EcoMerchant, reflects on how green focused building professionals involved in high standard builds, (self, custom or private) can influence how national builders merchants define sustainability.
Brian Murphy | Green Building Encyclopaedia
A recent announcement anticipated temperatures of 48 degrees C in London in 2050, 14 degrees higher than the Midlands peak of 34 degrees C in July 2016. Urban climate specialists argue that building façade design needs to respond to alleviate the consequences of future high temperatures.
Bronwen Thomas | Associate, Pollard Thomas Edwards
A window to another world… airtightness, wet stone, fancy sticky tape and ‘breathing’ walls. How we can reduce energy use, but through two very different methods, but with the same concern for moisture within the wall.
Rob Borruso
We live on a finite planet, resources are limited, most stuff is running out etc. The good news is that there are resources that rely on the sun in one way or another, that are getting constantly renewed, i.e. renewables. These are solar, wind, hydro and biomass (or woodfuel). But biomass is not quite a 'renewable' as we've assumed even without the issue of using arable land to feed power stations instead of people.
Thomas Vazakas | RPS Group
In 2008, Parliament introduced the Climate Change Act. The Act, which is independent from European Union (EU) legislation, established a legally binding target to reduce UK greenhouse gas emissions by at least 80% by 2050, compared to 1990 levels. The recent vote to leave the EU does not change this commitment.
Cath Hassell | ech2o
Views from the industry...
With only a few weeks to go, the noise around the In/Out referendum is getting louder. Concerns about the economy, immigration and the strains on public services abound but views on how the construction industry might be affected are less easy to find.
Niall Crosson | Senior Engineer | Ecological Building Systems
Reflecting on the International Passive House Conference, Darmstadt 2016. By Niall Crosson, Senior Engineer at Ecological Building Systems and Member of the Board of Directors of the Irish Green Building Council
Neil Turner |