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INFORM Built Environment
SHOWCASE
These are the first homes to
meet Level 4 of the Code for
Sustainable Homes in Wales.
The houses in Bangor, which
were designed by the archi-
tect PRP, have been created
on behalf of charitable hous-
ing association Cymdeithas
Tai Eryri.
The four-bedroom homes
each have ground source
heat pumps and solar ther-
mal collectors to generate
space and water heating.
Each house exceeds the
internal potable water con-
sumption target within Code
Level 4 with the inclusion of
fittings and rainwater recy-
cling that consume only 86
litres as opposed to the
required 105 litres per per-
son per day.
Each unit has also
achieved over 70% reduc-
tion in CO
2
compared with
conventional housing.
REVIEW INNOVATION
The Government has commis-
sioned a review of the con-
Mixing up an eco-friendly cement
struction industry to ensure it
is “fit for purpose” for deliver- A UK company says that it has Novacem is a spinout from the
ing a low carbon future. developed a technology that Imperial Innovations group,
The review will assess the transforms cement from an which brings together technology
strengths of and opportunities emitter into an absorber of transfer, incubation and
for the UK construction industry carbon dioxide. investment to get new innova-
in a low-carbon economy and Novacem has raised more than tions to market.
consider how the UK can be a £1M in equity to bring its carbon- The £1M investment in
world leader in this sector. negative cement to market. Novacem comes from a
It will be led by the chief con- The new cement, which emits syndicate of investors which
struction adviser, who will be no pollutants and has the ability includes the London Technology
appointed in November, and to absorb carbon, has been devel- Fund, and the Royal Society
will be undertaken by a mix of oped in conjunction with research From emitter to absorber: cement Enterprise Fund.
industry experts and those with carried out by the civil and envi-
could be transformed
Novacem has also received
wider business experience. ronmental engineering depart- financial help from the UK gov-
Keith Clarke, CEO of Atkins ment at Imperial College London. an initial pilot plant before the ernment, which made a £20M
and CIC Chairman has agreed The company hopes to use the end of 2009 and accelerate devel- investment last year in 21
to chair the Construction IGT in newly raised funds to expand its opment and commercialisation.” different projects that are devel-
the interim. research team and market the The annual production of over oping cleantech-related manufac-
In the report, New Industry, product to the building industry. 2.5 billion tonnes of Portland turing processes.
New Jobs, the Government set “We are delighted to welcome cement is already responsible for “If we are serious about using
out its intention to unlock our new shareholders,” said 5% of worldwide CO
2
emissions, the challenge of climate change to
potential in a number of specif- chairman, Stuart Evans. “They and cement volumes are expected create new businesses in the UK
ic growth areas – low carbon, will help us position the company to double by 2050. then we have to invest in and
the digital economy, life sci- as a dominant provider of carbon But Novacem says that for encourage companies like
ences and advanced manufac- negative cement to the construc- every tonne of ordinary cement Novacem and give them a realistic
turing. And it sees construction tion industry. replaced by Novacem cement, chance to deliver,” said Dr
as one of the key sectors that “We are assembling a world- 0.75 tonnes of CO
2
could be cap- Andrew Mackintosh, chief execu-
will deliver its ambitions. class team and these funds will tured and stored indefinitely in tive of the Royal Society
help us grow the team, complete construction products. Enterprise Fund.
COUNTRY FACTS IN SWEDEN, 44.7% OF HOMES HAVE JUST ONE PERSON LIVING IN THEM. IN PAKISTAN, TWO THIRDS OF HOMES HOUSE AT LEAST FIVE PEOPLE
Sustainable Business ❘ October 2009 7
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