Our homes and old towns will be uninhabitable by 2050, warn the architects Sébastien Clément and Emmanuel Mille, and the philosopher Thierry Paquot, who argue for an "intelligent rehabilitation" of existing buildings in an article on Le Monde website. For a heritage policy consistent with the climate emergency June 2020 was the warmest month … Continue reading Arguing for “intelligent rehabilitation” of existing buildings
Category: buildings
New EEA briefing on benefits through circular economy actions in the buildings sector
Improving efficiency and reuse of materials to construct houses and other buildings can open significant new opportunities to further reducing greenhouse gas emissions, according to a European Environment Agency (EEA) briefing released this week. Greater circularity in the buildings sector can lead to major cuts in greenhouse gas emissions The EEA briefing, ‘Cutting greenhouse … Continue reading New EEA briefing on benefits through circular economy actions in the buildings sector
Northern Ireland’s unique context, particularly in energy, will require further innovation and a strategic joined up approach to improve energy performance of its buildings
While decarbonisation of the heat network remains one the toughest challenges, an energy efficient building fabric is needed to be both effective in cost savings and emissions reductions. Patrice Cairns discusses the situation in Northern Ireland in an article on The Irish News website. Overhaul of energy performance in existing housing stock essential Under … Continue reading Northern Ireland’s unique context, particularly in energy, will require further innovation and a strategic joined up approach to improve energy performance of its buildings
The challenge for architects to integrate all design requirements including improving energy performance but also coping now with the 100-year viral pandemic
We have developed complex codes, regulations and guidelines to achieve goals such as structural safety, fire safety, adequate ventilation and energy efficiency, and to anticipate extreme scenarios such as 100-year floods. The question for architects now is whether and how the 100-year viral pandemic will change architectural design and building operations. This is the challenge … Continue reading The challenge for architects to integrate all design requirements including improving energy performance but also coping now with the 100-year viral pandemic
Housing retrofits must be the ‘number one investment priority’ for the UK’s post-Covid-19 recovery, as lockdown confines Britons to overheating homes
Madeleine Cuff writes about the vulnerability of British homes but the same can be said for many countries. What are your views? Lockdown has revealed 'vulnerability' of UK homes to climate threat, government advisers say As the country bakes under a heatwave, the Government’s climate advisers have warned British homes are ill-prepared to cope … Continue reading Housing retrofits must be the ‘number one investment priority’ for the UK’s post-Covid-19 recovery, as lockdown confines Britons to overheating homes
The environmental benefits of using timber in the construction of tall buildings are compelling
Three years ago, the fire at the Grenfell Tower in London led to the deaths of 72 and the disruption of lives of many more. A ban on constructing with timber is one of the more misguided responses to Grenfell according to Rowan Moore in an article on The Guardian website. What are your views? … Continue reading The environmental benefits of using timber in the construction of tall buildings are compelling
Over the past decade, the trust that owns the Empire State Building has invested more than $30 million to make it more energy efficient
Steve Hanley writes on the CleanTechnica website about what has happened to improve the energy performance of the Iconic Empire State Building in New York City.. What are your views? Empire State Building Slashes Carbon Emissions By 40% With Energy Saving Upgrades Construction of the Empire State Building in New York City couldn’t have … Continue reading Over the past decade, the trust that owns the Empire State Building has invested more than $30 million to make it more energy efficient
EIB partners to accelerate energy efficiency projects in Spain and Portugal
It is good to see the European Investment Bank getting involved in important investments in Portugal and Spain. The latest developments are in a news item on the Renewable Energy Magazine website. EIB and Unión de Créditos Inmobiliarios Join Forces to Boost Energy Efficiency in Spain and Portugal The European Investment Bank and Unión … Continue reading EIB partners to accelerate energy efficiency projects in Spain and Portugal
Need to “think bigger and focus on designing or redeveloping entire communities that are zero energy”
Charles F. Kutscher, Fellow and Senior Research Associate, Renewable & Sustainable Energy Institute at the University of Colorado Boulder writes on The Conversation website about the need to take an entirely different approach to reduce emissions from the building sector to zero. What are your views? Buildings consume lots of energy – here’s how … Continue reading Need to “think bigger and focus on designing or redeveloping entire communities that are zero energy”
Efforts to preserve historic buildings have greatly hampered their ability to be retrofitted with energy-efficient solutions
Academics find that preservation policies preventing historic buildings from being fitted with energy-efficient measures added £5.6 billion to energy bills across an eight-year period in England. These costs ought to be weighed against any benefits of preservation. Chris Lines explains in an article on the City, University of London website. The energy costs of … Continue reading Efforts to preserve historic buildings have greatly hampered their ability to be retrofitted with energy-efficient solutions
