News
International News in Brief
Atkins cools underground Engineering group Atkins provided the low carbon cooling system in South Africa’s new underground railway that opened just in time for the World Cup. Cool night-time air is drawn through the tunnels and stations before being discharged through the station entrances and ventilation shafts at ground level, reducing carbon emissions by 69%.
US Mayors vote green The US Green Building Council has applauded the US Conference of Mayors for passing five resolutions to benefit the built environment, including financing mechanisms to pay for energy retrofits of existing buildings.
Arctic hit by ‘black carbon’ A study by the US Pew Center on Global Climate Change has found that black carbon (BC) may be responsible for more than 30% of recent warming in the Arctic. BC particles strongly absorb sunlight and give soot its black color. BC is produced both naturally and by the incomplete combustion of biomass, fossil fuel and biofuels.
www.pewclimate.org
Global work experience Students have the opportunity to take part in two-week work experience placements around the world to learn more about resources, mobility, wind, water, climate and solar, with building products manufacturer, Sika. Entrants need to answer a range of questions before being entered in a prize draw.
www.experience.sika.com
Appeal for donations Cavendish Engineers is appealing for donations to create a working well to pump 2,500 gallons of water per minute for the people of Haiti, following the earthquake in January. A two-tank system has been devised for drinking and washing water. Donations to
lizzie.phillips@
cavendishengineers.net
Welsh winners announced in RICS awards
The Welsh Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) awards have now been revealed. This year environment consultant ADAS helped its client, Llety Cynin Accommodation and Leisure, win the Design Award for Regeneration. The project saw a 150 year-old coach house in Carmarthenshire transformed into a luxury accommodation, leisure and conference complex.
www.rics.org/wales
Transparency in real time
Two government departments have begun displaying the energy used to heat and light their ministries in real time on the internet. The Department of Energy and
Climate Change and the Home Office have fulfilled a promise made by Prime Minister David Cameron to make the government greener and more transparent. The information is continually updated online in units of energy,
10 CIBSE Journal July 2010
cost and carbon. The move will be followed by all central government departments in coming months as part of the coalition government’s commitment to cut its carbon emissions by 10% in the next year. Energy and Climate Change
Secretary Chris Huhne said: ‘We’re opening up Whitehall’s electricity and gas meters to public scrutiny. There can be no hiding place for energy waste in central government.’
Affordable housing builds could fall by two-thirds
n
Construction of affordable housing could slow drastically
this year because of cuts and planning changes, according to the National Housing Federation. The NHF predicts that, because
of possible funding cuts and changes to the planning system, 65% fewer social homes could be built in 2010 – a total of just over 20,000. This would represent the lowest
number of affordable homes built since 1990-91 and would come as a ‘devastating blow’ to the 4.5m people on waiting lists, the federation warns. The government has already announced £100m will be cut from the National Affordable Housing Programme (NAHP), which was
meant to deliver 59,000 new social homes in 2010-11. The withdrawal of this funding will see plans for another 1,453 social homes axed. About 40% of all new affordable
homes are delivered through planning gain agreements, whereby private developers are given planning permission for new housing developments if they agree to build a set number of social homes on the site. But the government is thought to be considering scrapping these ‘section 106’ agreements to build affordable housing. NHF chief executive David Orr
said: ‘Given the scale of housing need across the country, we cannot wait for the building of affordable homes to effectively grind to a halt.
The Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister have repeatedly said that the public spending cuts will not disproportionately hit the most vulnerable, but if these measures go ahead the impact on housebuilding will be catastrophic.’ The news comes after a rapid slowdown of homebuilding following the general election. Construction information specialist Glenigan says that while Scotland and the north enjoyed a rise, the flow of projects in the south-east was ‘flat at best’.
Glenigan economist Allan Wilen
said: ‘The construction industry will be looking to the private sector as government-funded schemes come under increasing pressure in the coming months.’
CIBSE joins with electricals group to lobby government
The Electrical Contractors’ Association (ECA) and CIBSE have signed a formal ‘Partners in Excellence’ agreement. The move will enable the two
groups to work together to influence policymakers in government on engineering and sustainability issues. The two bodies will also
jointly look to help drive industry standards and good practice while also delivering enhanced benefits and information to members. CIBSE president Rob Manning
said: ‘Buildings account for 45 per cent of carbon emissions, yet innovative services design in partnership with competent implementation can deliver dramatic improvements in energy efficiency. ‘By collaborating this is just one
area where CIBSE and the ECA can share best practice. Being able to access the expertise of the electrical contracting community will also be of particularly great value to our members.’and ECA chief executive David Pollock.
www.eca.co.uk www.cibse.org
www.cibsejournal.com
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