Welcome To The UK’s First Eco-Town
The UK’s largest array of domestic solar panels covering 17,500 square meters of roofspace to generate electricity is at the heart of the nation’s first eco-town where homes are all timber-framed – many of them being built off-site as the community developed. All buildings in North West Bicester had to comply with the Code for […]
Electricity Storage To Stabilise Grid
As increasing volumes of power are being generated by renewables across the UK, research and investment is moving towards finding a solution to keep the grid stable as production levels and usage with wind and solar fluctuate dramatically. One answer could be electricity storage – switching availability from time of production (daytime for solar) to […]
Tests To Assess Impact of Solar Power on Fuel Poverty
London councils have received funding from the Green Investment Bank to pilot a project assessing the impact of solar power on tackling fuel poverty. Camden, Islington and Waltham Forest are collaborating on a scheme to install solar panels and batteries in 41 low income homes to see how they affect fuel consumption and costs. Part-funded […]
Chance for businesses energy saving
Businesses have the opportunity to save money on their energy bills thanks to a new regulation forcing them to have half-hourly meter readings. P272, approved by Ofgem, means accurate data will be recorded from medium/large companies to more accurately reflect usage. Every business using an electricity meter has an electricity profile class from 01 to […]
Change of direction as wind power overtakes coal in EU power generation
For the second consecutive year, the UK was Europe’s biggest investor in wind energy with €12.7bn spent on the construction of new onshore and offshore wind farms, new figures reveal. This accounted for 46% of the total wind energy investments in 2016 and brings the total number of turbines in the UK to 14,452 compared […]
Your water, your choice
It’s that time of year when you turn on any TV or radio news channel, one of the headlines is the cost of gas and electricity and how we should all switch suppliers. And apparently last month record numbers of us, ever keen to cut costs, did just that. Maybe it’s something in the title […]
2016 Zero Carbon Home Standard
From 2016 it will become law that all new homes in England must meet the Zero Carbon Home Standard. Therefore, Housing Associations need to be prepared and gain an idea of the time and costs involved in order to ensure compliance. This may include looking past traditional construction methods and considering more modern methods. The […]
New Publication Launched – Free For A Very Limited Time
Managing Director of the Syntegra Group has just published, Reduce Your CO2 Emissions and Increase Your Bottom Line. From the back: “In “Reduce your CO Emissions and Increase your Bottom Line” Alan Wing-King – Managing Director and Founder of the multi-award winning international energy consultancy Syntegra Consulting – provides you with strategies and explains how you can […]
Energy Utility Procurement: Westway Housing Association
Overview Westway Housing Association began life as Grove Housing Association in March 1987. Initially operating only in North Kensington, Westway Housing Association soon expanded into a larger area of Kensington & Chelsea and then into the neighbouring boroughs of Hammersmith & Fulham, Ealing, Barnet, Brent, Westminster and Enfield. Their vision is to be regarded as […]
Air Conditioning Systems to meet New Legislation
What is this new legislation? After January 1st 2015 “the use of recycled HCFC’s will be prohibited in the maintenance and servicing of refrigeration and air conditioning equipment existing at that date” (www.r22-legislation.co.uk, 2014). Why is this legislation being brought in? Because of the environmental damage that the use of R22s cause, specifically ozone depletion […]
Life Costing Analysis: Cost and Carbon Efficient Construction
Life-time cost and carbon savings can be easily made by making small simple specification changes to a base design of a building. The materials and components chosen for a building will have an impact on a building’s performance, both financially and economically throughout its lifetime. Financial and environmental costs should be coupled together whenever thinking […]
The Queen’s Speech to Both Houses of Parliament on 4th June 2014 Will Have Great Positive Impact on energy Efficiency and Environmental Design in Building Industry.
This speech commenced with an introduction by the Prime Minister David Cameron MP and Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg MP. During which the prime minister mentioned that the “Queen’s speech marks the next big step in our long-term plan for Britain”. The speech comprised of various main subjects including: – PENSIONS TAX BILL – PRIVATE […]
LEED Assessment Services
Publicly displaying green credentials is becoming a must for organisations in our new sustainably-aware society. Multi-national companies are keen to show that every part of their business is green, including their buildings. In other words, being green and sustainable development, and indicating that by employing one of the conventional sustainability measures, is a part of […]
Wales’ One Planet Development Scheme
In July 2010, Wales introduced One Planet Developments; a national planning policy to encourage low environmental impact developments. This is in response to studies showing that, if everyone consumed natural resources at the rate that Wales currently does, it would take 3 planets to support everyone. It has been concluded that Wales must reduce its […]
Reducing Artificial Light Pollution under BREEAM
The use of artificial lighting has become integral to many modern day uses; roads, streets, security, outdoor sports facilities and to improve the appearance of buildings at night. However, increased light levels at night can cause problems. With increasing complaints to local authorities, it is apparent that light pollution at night can become intrusive. Light […]
The Future of Standard Assessment Procedure (SAP) Calculations
The Standard Assessment Procedure (SAP) is a method for evaluating and comparing the energy performance of dwellings in the UK. They provide a standardised method to underpin the UK’s environmental policies relating to energy performance in dwellings. Based on predefined comfort and occupancy conditions, SAPs look at both the energy consumed by a dwelling and […]
Recent budget offers mixed results for the industry
The chancellor has announced that there will be a new shared equity programme to assist first-time buyers and reform of the planning process, but the focus is on new build rather than the secondary market. The lack of an announcement on stamp duty land tax incentives for retrofitting homes will be seen as a missed […]
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