Government measures needed to get tough on housing stock to meet carbon reduction targets
Legally binding carbon reduction targets will not be met in the UK unless the Government takes steps to tackle the “increasingly uncomfortable and unsafe” existing housing stock and implements stringent measures around new build projects. That is the conclusion of a report by the Committee on Climate Change (CCC). The report criticises the withdrawal of […]
How could a no-deal Brexit affect the UK’s low-carbon energy transition?
Brexit…love it or loathe it, there’s simply no getting away from it as the divorce deadline looms ever closer with as much confusion as ever (if not more) about what life after Brussels will look like for Britain.With all the debates and meetings going on, publicly and behind closed doors, it’s clearly impossible to keep […]
Landlords could be letting illegal properties due to ‘inaccurate’ EPC ratings, report finds
Tens of thousands of properties are potentially being let illegally by landlords due to false Energy performance Certificate (EPC) scores affecting around 2.5 million buildings, according to a new report. The report by property technology solutions provider Spec notes that floor space is used as a key component to creating an energy rating, and that […]
UK cities to become ‘climate hubs’ under new £3.5m scheme
A series of ‘climate hubs’ are to be created in some of the UK’s major cities bringing together research and best practice to tackle the decarbonisation issue. The Government’s £3.5m initiative, the Place-based Climate Action Network (P-CAN), will cover work in Edinburgh, Belfast, Leeds and some projects in London. The Department for Business, Energy and […]
It’s a snow-brainer – remote working is a sustainable business option
It’s that time of year when we’ve all got one eye on the weather app or out of the window to check for snow and the chance of a snow-day remote working from home. But should businesses capitalise on people’s enthusiasm for remote working and actively encourage it – not just rely on goodwill when […]
The 10 Year Challenge: How the UK’s low-carbon economy has changed
As our clients know, here at Syntegra we like to read widely around our subject to broaden our knowledge and expertise and spend a considerable amount of time explaining to potential new customers how making even very small changes to their sustainability record can have an impact on their environmental footprint. So we were delighted […]
Solar powered homes mandatory
In a bid to escape the bitter Brexit debates this week, I cast my reading net further afield and was pleasantly surprised by some brighter news from across the Pond. The item that caught my eye? It’s official: any new homes built in California after 2020 will have to be at least partially solar powered. The […]
From puddings to packaging: Inside the UK’s Christmas waste problem
While the Christmas decorations have been taken down and everyone is immersing themselves at work again (and many on diets!), our friends at Edie have shared with us the sustainability cost of the festive season and given us food for thought in relation to the waste associated with this time of year. With plastics action […]
Upholding environmental standards if there’s no Brexit deal
The government has issued guidance around the potential impact of a ‘no deal’ Brexit on environmental standards in the UK, affecting areas including waste, air quality, water, and protection of habitats and species. A large body of existing EU environmental law currently covers these areas and some of this legislation also delivers the UK’s commitments […]
Brexit White Paper: Everything you need to know about the UK’s environmental aspirations
It’s understandable if large numbers of the UK population have switched off from the whole Brexit debate and the ‘will we, won’t we’ keep any ties at all to our European counterparts after March next year. A few ears seem to prick up when news of another resignation leaks out or former Cabinet members take […]
ESOS reminder issued
Organisations have been urged to plan ahead and measure their energy use to comply with the Energy Savings Opportunity Scheme (ESOS). Under ESOS, eligible organisations have to complete their compliance with Phase 2 by December 2019. Total energy use has to be measured over a 12 month period to include the qualification date of December […]
Syntegra seeks to strengthen its top team
Two new senior management profile roles have been created at the multi-discipline sustainability consultants Syntegra Group as they seek to expand ahead of the new post-Brexit energy environment. Umer Uzair has been promoted from his post of Associate Director to the newly created post of Director of Energy & Sustainability and vowed to put customers […]
Budget 2017: Chancellor takes action on air quality, electric vehicles and plastic waste
22 November 2017, source edie newsroom Chancellor Philip Hammond has today pledged to build an economy “fit for the future” by announcing new air quality funding, tax incentives for electric cars, and measures to combat plastic waste in his 2017 Autumn Budget. Chancellor Philip Hammond delivered the 2017 Autumn Budget to a jubilant House of […]
Boost for house building in London as figures show increase in demand for eco-friendly designs
A number of recent reports have struck us here as we move from layering up our clothes to turning up the dial on the heating now that the clocks have gone back and the long winter stretches ahead of us with thoughts of energy bills dominating the headlines, and both domestic and business budget holders. […]
Clean Growth Strategy
Much has been trailed about the Government’s Clean Growth Strategy since its launch last week. But is it all hot air or are there some nuggets in there which will energise the debate about our country’s future direction and place on the world stage when it comes to putting the environment at the heart of […]
Brexit Boasts Business As Usual For Building Services
The building services industry should assume that European regulations that currently affect the UK will still be in force immediately after Brexit in 2019, says CIBSE technical director Hywel Davies. ‘Brexit will change nothing immediately – at least in terms of legislation that affects our industry,’ said Davies, who supplied a list of regulations that […]
Coal-fired power stations cease by 2025
Prior to the announcement of the General Election, the Government vowed to see all ‘unabated’ coal-fired power stations cease operation by 2025 – those without carbon capture equipment. The Government gave an undertaking to spend £730 million in support of renewable electricity projects during the Parliament’s lifetime. It remains to be seen whether that pledge […]
Why the UK is Better Off Inside the EU Internal Energy Market Post-Brexit
Access to the single energy market was one of the priorities identified by energy professionals during a Question Time-style debate hosted by The Energy Institute in relation to Brexit negotiations. KPMG head of power and utilities Simon Virley also believes the key negotiating point in relation to energy is continued access to the Internal Energy […]
Building cladding under the spotlight
Unfortunately, the issue of building cladding is currently in the headlines for all the wrong reasons – and it looks set to stay there for a while. Cladding is essential to the exterior of a building and plays a variety of roles in the overall efficient construction. First and foremost it keeps the building weatherproof […]
Syntegra shortlisted for industry award
The Syntegra team has been shortlisted for an architectural industry award for one of its projects. Consultants worked on the retrofit development of Print Works House in Great Titchfield Street in Fitzrovia, London, providing advice on issues of mechanical and electrical design, acoustics, energy and sustainability ahead of the planning application submission. The project comprised separate […]
Energy manifesto review
Syntegra energy sector manifesto review Energy costs and regulation plus attitudes to climate change and renewables feature in all the main political party manifestos for this week’s election. Here we offer Syntegra’s unbiased review of some of the key themes relating to this policy area plus a selection of comments from the Parties around their […]
Energy Sector Emissions Fall But Household Levels Rise
Greenhouse gas emissions attributed to the energy sector in the UK fell by 12 per cent in 2015. Emissions from business in general fell by three per cent but emissions from households rose by four per cent and from transportation by two per cent. Transport is set to overtake energy as the biggest source of […]
Heat Network Case Studies Published
The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy has published case studies showing the targets and positive impact of implementing a heat network. Cranbrook and Skylark in East Devon is one of the largest district heating systems outside London. When the development is completed in 2031, 8,000 homes, shops and businesses and 20,000 people will […]
Business As Usual For Building Services
The building services industry should assume that European regulations that currently affect the UK will still be in force immediately after Britain leaves the European Union (EU) in 2019, says CIBSE technical director Hywel Davies. ‘Leaving the EU will change nothing immediately – at least in terms of legislation that affects our industry,’ said Davies, […]
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