News & Press Archive
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Awakening the Refurbishment Giant
May 10, 2011 , by J Blackburn
We are now familiar with the mantra that Meeting the carbon emissions targets for 2050 cannot be achieved by new buildings achieving zero or low carbon emissions. In fact, the vast majority of the domestic and non-domestic building stock...
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New EPC Regulations Revealed
April 13, 2011 , by S. Pascoe
The Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) have today announced the scope of the changes to the Energy Performance of Buildings (Certificates and Inspections) (England and Wales) Regulations 2007 (The EPB...
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The Renewable Heat Incentive – Hot air or substance?
March 30, 2011 , by J Balckburn
The Coalition Government has announced that the long awaited Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) which offers incentives for producing heat energy from renewable heat sources , will commence from July 2011. However, this will only apply to...
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Government u-turn for first time home buyers. A White elephant for the future?
March 29, 2011 , by J Blackburn
The governments’ plans to help first time home buyers pay for the historically high deposits needed to secure a mortgage, are very similar to the now defunct Homebuy Direct scheme which was launched by the Labour Government and subsequently...
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Building Regs for Caravans and Holiday Homes? -The Pressure is Building to reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions.
March 18, 2011 , by J blackburn
Currently the Caravan Holiday Home industry is bound by British and European Standards. BS EN1647 is the basis for compliance in the manufacture of caravans and holiday homes and BS 3632 for Park Homes. Both of these standards...
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New Government Policy for Renewables? Focusing on the Benefits Not the Blots!
February 16, 2011 , by J Blackburn
So, without much surprise the Government target for the UK to produce 10% of its energy through renewable energy sources by 2010 has not been met. Infact, various estimates suggest that we have achieved anything from 2.3% to...
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Economic Slow Down Results in Lower Greenhouse Gas Emissions
February 7, 2011 , by S. Pascoe
The final estimates of UK 2009 greenhouse gas emissions were published today by DECC. An overall reduction of 8.7% over 2008 levels has been observed although this is primarily due to the contraction of the economy rather than the...
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The Part L Changes 2010 and the Impact of Fabric Energy Efficency (FEE) – No pain No gain?
February 1, 2011 , by J Blackburn
After the Part L changes in 2006, the building industry had an expectation that new building projects with full length glazing would no longer be specified by architects as they would not comply with Part L. This seems not to have been...
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The Sustainable Stick and Organic Carrot approach to Future Development. Can you tell the difference yet?
December 20, 2010 , by J Blackburn
Arguing the case for better designed, more efficient buildings and developments is easy for an energy consultant like me, but persuading others in the design process that this will bring ultimate benefits, up to now, has remained an uphill...
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Mansell to secure 381 jobs for Rok employees
November 19, 2010 , by J Blackburn
Mansell, the subsidiary of Bealfour Beatty which is buying part of the failed building firm Rok, has confirmed through Rok’s administrators PwC, that 381 employees will remain in their positions. Jeremy Webb,...
