a transition view of the uk transition housing plan

A welcomed and important perspective on the UK Low Carbon Transition Plan was posted by Rob Hopkins on the Transition blog:

After many months of Ed Milliband putting himself out there are a Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change that actually gets climate change, finally his big Plan, the UK Low Carbon Transition Plan was unveiled [...]

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on passivhaus challenges

Su Butcher  has posted an excellent and very useful comment on PassivHaus  being about saving energy over on her blog, Just Practicing.  I did comment there in brief but here is a more detailed response.
Relationship with Code 6 and Carbon Definition  As was reported from the Zero Hub consultation Passiv Haus is the aspirational target of the UK [...]

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CBI low-carbon economy roadmap to 2020

For the first time the UK’s leading business group has set out its vision for a low-carbon economy in a series of climate change roadmaps.  The roadmaps, called ‘Going the Distance’, set out a timetable of action to ensure carbon emissions targets are met, and the measures that will be needed to put the UK in [...]

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musing on a carbon 1:5:200

Reading many items and articles on the carbon issues that the built environment faces in the coming years, I have jotted a number of random thoughts in google notebook, which may one day be useful ’spin’ for example:

…almost every building uses more energy than design calculations …… technology alone is not enough …… design 20%, [...]

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facilities carbon management

Indication that carbon management is becoming a key element of the facilities management role is evident through the Guardian article Cut and Run which focuses on UCLAN’s excellence performance in obtaining the Carbon Trust Standard.
The Carbon Trust says that universities and higher education institutes spend more than £200m each year on energy, and emit 3.2m tonnes of carbon [...]

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defining zero carbon

As a post on this blog noted at the end of last year, the definition of zero carbon buildings is currently under consultation by the Department for Communities and Local Government.
I am in full agreement with Casey over at Carbon Limited who blogs for a call to arms on this one, this consultation is so [...]

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on zero carbon britain

Reading zerocarbonbritain that details how Britain can eliminate emissions from fossil fuels in 20 years and break our dependence on imported energy.
In relation to buildings it requires …
“changes to the building stock that may initially be unpalatable to traditional thinkers and environmentalists alike, due to the scale of demolition, new build, and refurbishment required”
Report can [...]

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Community Solar Power

To illustrate that solar power can be effective in communities and in existing homes, and for inspiration in our (uk) developments,  take a look at this article over at greenbuildingelements
A community in Canada has an unusual form of solar power that can provide over 90% of the annual heating and hot water needs for the [...]

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on the zero carbon house

Barratt Developments has unveiled what it calls the first zero-carbon house developed by a volume housebuilder, built at the Buildings Research Establishment in Watford, packed with the latest technology, including solar panels, rainwater harvesting and an air source heat pump.
Its new kind of concrete walls and floors, combined with super insulation and triple-glazed windows, means [...]

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a guide to zero carbon homes

Zero carbon homes in 100 words.
The UK Green Building Council released a report this week defining what a zero-carbon house should be in practice. Download from here
Still to read in detail but on first read appears to be a welcomed, considered and helpful guide, with a time-line to help organisations on a route to zero.
There [...]

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