Tag: energy

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 […]