Green Construction Roundup - Current issue
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July 2010 - No. 197
Periodical Articles
Cost model: Part L
The upcoming changes to Part L, in October, will crank up the low-carbon agenda. This article considers the costs and their influence on design in the built environment.
Building. 30 July (Pg. 66-71)
Lighter than air
Experts are beginning to look again at lighter-than-air craft for their environmentally friendly and infrastructure-light credentials. A number of companies, including
Boeing and Lockheed Martin, currently have modern airships under development. This article looks at the capabilities and future for this technology.
New Civil Engineer. 22-29 July (Pg. 10-11)
Renewable energy: tidal – turning the tide
Halcrow and Mott-Macdonald have joined forces to promote tidal energy around the world. But their biggest challenge is UK-based - the Severn barrage. Article looking at the
joint venture’s efforts to promote hydro renewables in the UK.
New Civil Engineer. 22-29 July (Pg. 18-19)
Renewable energy: offshore wind – In at the deep end
The Third Round of offshore wind farm developments has stimulated a rush to develop sites in the North and Irish Seas. This article looks at how engineers are using skills
learnt by the oil and gas industry in planning the latest offshore wind installations.
New Civil Engineer. 22-29 July (Pg. 20-21)
Renewable energy: geothermal – Ground control
In the UK there is just one geothermal power plant under development. However, new technologies could soon make this energy source more attractive. Looks at how geothermal has the potential to become one of the most compact and acceptable forms of renewable energy.
New Civil Engineer. 22-29 July (Pg. 22)
Beyond the hive
Arup Associates has won the golden beetle top prize in British Land and the City of London’s bug hotel contest. The open competition asked designers to propose a
sustainable ‘insect hotel’ to be installed in one of five City of London parks. This article in pictures looks at the winning entry and the runners up.
For further information on the competition, visit Beyond the hive
Architects' Journal. 08 July (Pg. 21-27)
Technical and practice: Building regulations
The new energy-efficiency requirements of Part L of the Building Regulations come into force on 1 October. This article analyses the proposed changes.
Architects' Journal. 01 July (Pg. 35-38)
London 1012: Brown to green
In east London hundreds of hectares of derelict land has been made into beautiful park for the next Olympic Games and for the city’s enjoyment for decades to come. This
article reports on the transformation taking place at the Olympic site.
New Civil Engineer. 01 July (Pg. 20-25)
Green cross code
Projects with a total construction value of almost £15 billion are going through, or have been assessed with CEEQUAL, the environmental and social assessment scheme for
civil engineering and the public realm. This article looks at the increasing number of schemes that are choosing to demonstrate and improve sustainability criteria by using
CEEQUAL.
New Civil Engineer. 01 July (Pg. 28-33)
Publications
Zero Carbon Britain 2030
The Centre for Alternative Technology has published a 380-page report detailing how the UK could become a zero-carbon country by 2030. The report covers energy, transport, land use, the built environment and industry. It aims to integrate thinking across a range of sectors and identify potential for 'Powering Down' through reducing demand and 'Powering Up' renewables to 100% by 2030 with no requirement for nuclear energy
A number of universities, think tanks and other organisations have supported this initiative including the University of East Anglia, the Met Office, the New Economics Foundation, the Carnegie Trust UK and Bioregional. Key priorities of the report include:
Transport – a 63% reduction in energy use for transport could be achieved by:
- A switch from petrol / diesel powered vehicles to electric / battery powered vehicles
- Rail and bus services replacing domestic and short haul flights
- Two- thirds reduction in long haul aviation using kerosene fuel produced from coppice in the UK
- Insulation of all of Britain's un-insulated cavity walls and lofts
- Using natural construction materials such as wood, straw and other natural materials will lock away C02
- The UK can grow most of its own food whilst still producing biomass for heating, electricity and transport fuel
- Land can be used to mop up residual emissions through sequestration
- A 80% reduction in livestock products that generate 82% of green house gases in the agricultural sector.
- Emphasises the urgent need for an international agreement
- Explores different policy options for emissions reduction including cap and trade, carbon tax and tradable energy quotas
Web Resources
REFER
The Assembly of European Regions (AER) and GE Energy have announced the launch of REFER. (Responsible Energy for European Regions), a blog aimed at facilitating thoughts and
discussion on energy matters across all regions of Europe. REFER reports on the latest energy news, energy analysis and commentary about the various regional energy markets,
energy efficiency, regional sustainability, secure energy supplies and public policies from across Europe.
The blog is available atthe REFER website.