Cost of carbon

A good note to end the year on and a new perspective on the cost of carbon to start 2008 with was reported in the Guardian last Friday. (also picked up by fellow blogger Phil at Some Seasonal Cheer ). Effectively ministers will now have to include a cost for carbon emission on all [...]

Green fatigue?

The report in yesterdays Observer (Green Fatigue leads to fear over climate change backlash) highlights a growing concern over green issues and sustainability:
A backlash is now a real threat, said Phil Downing, head of environmental research for Ipsos Mori. ‘There’s cynicism because on the one hand we’re being told [the problem] is very serious and [...]

Seasons greetings

Whilst isite will continue posting issues of interest, many readers and subsribers will be finishing up today for the holiday period, so an opportunity to wish you all the best for a peaceful holiday and new year.
This isite project started just under one year ago, initial as a trial to see what all this blogging [...]

Links roundup

Building Schools for the Future - Low carbon schools Children’s Plan - web based presentation - cast from Andrew Thorne, Department for Children, Schools and Families and Ian Butters, Faithful+Gould available here
Pink is Green -  from Green Girls Global
New M and E sustainability website a  “single source of topical and technical information for mechanical and [...]

Whats wrong with Code level 6?

My post on Code level 6 has drawn a mixed reaction. Fellow blogger Mark over at House 2.0 makes an excellent response. In my opinion this is what blogs are for - to inform, debate and cut through the rhectoric and greenwash we see today.
My point on Code 6 remains the same - we have [...]

Arup pick up greenwasher of the year award

Arup and the Dongtan project has received much ranting on the Ethical Corporation (EC) website over the year so no surprises that they pick up the EC Greenwasher of the Year award .  This for the … long announced, but never started, ‘eco-city’ in Dongtan, an island of pristine wetlands just outside the teeming [...]

Is code level 6 enough?

Am I missing something here.
I was encouraged by the inclusion of what I took to be a stretch target - level 6 in the Sustainability Code. Yes a stretch target for 2016, one that would drive innovation and improvement in construction, design, micro generation, energy suppliers and all the other necessary components. And [...]

Carbon off setting not permissable on zero carbon projects

Been looking at site that mention Hanham Hall - the first Zero Carbon Challenge project recently let to Barratts.  The local BBC Bristol  site contains these wonderful comments from English Partnerships:
Unlike carbon neutral developments, there can be no conscience-clearing carbon off-setting on a zero-carbon project. 
No carbon footprint must be left at the site whatsoever [...]

Zero carbon schools

Ed Balls,  Education Secretary wants all new school buildings to be zero-carbon by 2016, at a cost of about £110m over the next three years.  (Guardian)
How this sits with Building Schools for the Future (which arguable should include carbon zero approaches, which after all will be the schools of the future) and what happens after [...]

Code level 6 builder announced for eco village number one

From the Communities and Local Governmnet website:
Housing and Planning Minister Yvette Cooper today announced details of the housebuilder who will build England’s first eco-village.  Barratt Developments PLC has been selected by English Partnerships, the Government’s National Regeneration Agency, as the preferred developer to create a new community at the site of the former Hanham Hall [...]