Timber skyscrapers getting a boost in Canada

British Columbia has doubled height limits allowed for timber towers – and countries around the world are following suit. Vancouver is planning for a 40-storey tower that would be the world’s tallest wooden building. Leyland Cecco explains latest developments in an article in The Guardian. Canadian cities take wooden skyscrapers to new heights British … Continue reading Timber skyscrapers getting a boost in Canada →

Skyscrapers are major emitters of GHG emissions

There are many studies that show the potential for existing buildings to reduce GHG emissions and we know what their overall impact on emissions is. It is good to see an article in The Times by Louisa Clarence-Smith about the impact of some of Britain’s best-known skyscrapers. CO2 challenge that towers over tall buildings Six … Continue reading Skyscrapers are major emitters of GHG emissions →

Understanding the real energy revolution in our homes

Darren Miller, chief executive officer of the Australian Renewable Energy Agency, explains about the next energy revolution that is happening quietly in our homes in an article on the Renew Economy website. The real energy revolution is happening in our homes The next energy revolution is already happening quietly in our homes. If we … Continue reading Understanding the real energy revolution in our homes →

Blog from Catrin Maby – Minimum energy efficiency standards for homes now? Time is running out…

The urgency of action on climate change seems at last to be widely accepted – and we know we have to take radical action now, and consistently into the future. One of the many challenges we face is decarbonising the housing stock: while new homes can and must be built to much higher energy and … Continue reading Blog from Catrin Maby – Minimum energy efficiency standards for homes now? Time is running out… →

New ideas on new and improved low-energy ways to cool buildings

It is always good to be introduced to new ideas. Some work, some don’t. Bagus Putra Muljadi, Assistant Professor of Chemical and Environmental Engineering at the University of Nottingham wants us to mimic termite nests as a way to cool buildings without using more energy. This article comes from The Conversation website. Let’s mimic … Continue reading New ideas on new and improved low-energy ways to cool buildings →

Analysing Britain’s Energy Performance Certificates

An Everest study analyses 15,623,536 home Energy Performance Certificates (EPC) across the country to reveal the best and worst rated areas for energy efficiency. It is explained in an article on the Open Access Government website. Revealed: The best and worst areas for energy efficiency Britain’s houses are some of the oldest and coldest … Continue reading Analysing Britain’s Energy Performance Certificates →

Scotland challenged to meet its target for improving energy performance of its buildings

Around 66,000 homes in Scotland will require major retrofitting work every year over the next two decades if the Scottish Government is to meet a key target. Chris McCall discusses latest developments in an article on The Scotsman website. 1.8 million homes in Scotland failing to meet energy efficiency target Homeowners in Scotland may … Continue reading Scotland challenged to meet its target for improving energy performance of its buildings →

The impact of energy performance certificates

What is your experience with EPCs? Ten years after their introduction DECs and EPCs provide a fascinating snapshot of the state of the UK’s building stock even if compliance is still far from perfect. Andrew Warren, chairman of the British Energy Efficiency Federation, explains in an article in the April 2019 issue of Energy in … Continue reading The impact of energy performance certificates →

Over two-fifths of Brits said they would pay more for an energy efficient home

Research in the UK shows that buyers aged 25 to 34 appear happy to sacrifice a garage, garden and larger property to own their first home - but environmental concerns seem just as important as schools and local amenities. Property expert Phil Spencer explains in an article on the Time & Star website. Forget the … Continue reading Over two-fifths of Brits said they would pay more for an energy efficient home →

It is amazing where we learn our lessons how to build more sustainable buildings

“We think humans are the best designers, but this is not really true,” a researcher said. JoAnna Klein writes in the New York Times about what termites can teach us about cooling buildings. What Termites Can Teach Us About Cooling Our Buildings In the capital of Zimbabwe, a building called Eastgate Centre holds nearly … Continue reading It is amazing where we learn our lessons how to build more sustainable buildings →