The Reading Draughtbusters: - In December 2012 Transition Town Reading (TTR) was given a grant by Reading Borough Council to pay for materials for draught proofing the homes of some of the most disadvantaged people in the borough. The project commenced in January 2013 using volunteers form both TTR and The Rotary Club of Reading. Homes were visited on Friday and Saturday afternoons and the clients came from several sources, newspaper, radio and TV coverage, a local debt advice centre, via Reading BC Winter Watch Scheme and through other contacts, even via the clients themselves. Tony Cowling reports. ...
60% carbon reduction on renovationEric Fewster's new home was damp, dark, cold, and had an avocado bathroom suite – clearly renovation work was urgently needed! I had put an offer on the place in 2007 when I had had a 2 week window of time back in the UK between overseas assignments, so it wasn’t a thoroughly calculated decision, but I needed somewhere to call my own, and an old mid-terraced house in an unglamorous part of town was the best I could afford. Eric Fewster reports...
Lancaster Cohousing project - part 8: - In this 8th article in the series, we look at key results from the Technology Strategy Board Building Performance Evaluation project undertaken by the Lancaster Cohousing project in collaboration with The University of Sheffield, Leeds Metropolitan University and Closed Loops Projects. The six month research programme, completed in March 2013, consisted of a number of closely interrelated studies comparing design intentions against actual performance during the initial occupation stage of the development...
The 17th International Passivhaus Conference 2013: Frankfurt: Over the last six years, architect Mark Siddall has consistently attended the knowledge and experience sharing event known as the International Passivhaus Conference. In many respects it has changed relatively little. The conference draws upon the real life experiences of clients, architects, engineers, contractors and, of course, occupants. This commitment to enquiry and reflection upon the practical experiences of ultra low energy buildings consistently underscore the events; as do the investigations lead researchers, such as the Passivhaus Institute. With over 300,000 square metres of Passivhaus buildings in Frankfurt and more than 1000 Passivhaus experts from 50 countries attending the conference, there was a wealth of practical experience to draw upon. Mark Siddall reports...
Temperature, energy and C02 study: A study of two projects was undertaken to see if 'in use' energy saving interventions can be quantified and guide decision making in future projects. Two recently completed projects were chosen to compare ‘in use’ values with the ‘predicted’ values of the SAP and EIR ratings. Sue Beech reports...
Energy station showcases as a visitor centre: - The Apedale Energy Station, set in Staffordshire’s Apedale Community Country Park, is a visitor centre designed to showcase renewable energy technology and low carbon building techniques. Kevin Parslow, CEO of Evance Wind Turbines, and Adrian Sutherland of Staffordshire County Council tell the story of the building’s design and construction, and outline how its ongoing energy needs are supported by two small wind turbines
'Dot and Dab': -'Dot and dab' is a technique that was developed to replace traditional wet plastering and it is now frequently used in new buildings. It became prevalent in England during the late seventies and quickly gained in popularity due to its lower costs, faster installation, quicker drying time and ease of finishing. Walls finished in this way can be painted almost immediately. Dry lining, as the process is known, is widely used by builders and developers and is particularly useful because it can be used on both wooden and masonry internal partitions and ceilings, as well as the outside walls. Despite its benefits 'dot and dab' is not without problems, and we will have to live with the consequences of these for generations to come. Tony Cowling discusses the shortcomings of the method ...
Lordship Park Eco-hub wins Local Praise (cover story): - Lordship Recreation Ground is a well loved park, with an enthusiastic and committed group of friends who had already done lots of volunteering work - clearing the lake and planting trees. The Eco-hub, straw bale building was a key part of a lottery bid for furthering this community project. Fran Bradshaw and Junko Suetake report...
AECB Local Groups: - The AECB has a network of local groups across the UK. These provide a great opportunity to meet with fellow AECB members. For more details of dates and venues visit the AECB website (www.aecb.net) or contact debbie@aecb.net. The following reports from local group events give a flavour of some of the activities you could get involved with. Members are keen to share their knowledge and expertise on different aspects of sustainable building.
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