News News in brief
New homes plans ‘dropped’ New research by the National Housing Federation (NHF) has found that the UK government’s decision to scrap regional house building targets has already resulted, directly or indirectly, in plans for around 160,000 homes being dropped. Tetlow King, which carried out the research for NHF, says it expects that figure to increase to at least 280,000 to 300,000 homes by this time next year.
AECOM in US Navy deal AECOM is one of four firms to be awarded a contract worth up to $60m for planning and engineering services at the US Navy and Marine Corps facilities worldwide. The multi-disciplinary consultant will provide planning and engineering services for shore infrastructure, base development, regional shore infrastructure, logistics and housing.
Staying in fashion Multi-disciplinary consultant Mott MacDonald has been appointed to monitor construction of the 38,000 sq m, $160m fashion Outlet Village on the outskirts of Moscow, in Russia. MottMac is already the project’s building services and structural designer.
Happold’s new venture Buro Happold has started a new business targeting international property clients. The service is expected to offer solutions to complex challenges, such as carbon reduction at an ‘organisational, workplace, portfolio and management level’. The venture was launched by Happold Consulting, the multi- disciplinary consultant’s strategic management arm.
The future of leisure King Abdullah’s International Gardens (KAIG) has won a second Cityscape Award for Architecture. The joint venture between British consultancies Barton Willmore and Buro Happold scooped the Leisure Future Award. The awards were held at the Grand Hyatt in Dubai last month. For all the winners, visit www.
cityscapeglobal.com/awards
Conservatives promise change for energy sector
n
The Conservative Party has made a commitment to
‘change the terms of trade’ for the energy sector, decentralising the industry and ‘smashing the glass ceiling’ it says was put in place by its predecessor. At the Conservative Party
Conference, held in Birmingham last month, the energy and climate change minister Greg Barker said: ‘We want to see decentralised energy competing alongside other sources, as a significant part of the energy mix. We have to smash the glass ceiling for decentralised energy that was put in place by the previous government.’ He added: ‘The government
will be looking at a range of measures to make it possible for community groups, companies and householders to participate in the energy market. We want to change the rules of the game. We want to bring in new entrants, we want to see energy efficiency compete alongside new power generation in forward capacity markets, and we want to encourage consumers to generate their own electricity. We have the chance to change the terms of trade.’
The initiative was welcomed
by Graham Meeks, director of the Combined Heat and Power Association. He said: ‘The potential of the energy services sector to become a major competitive force in the energy market is huge. ‘It’s not just about bringing new competition into the energy sector, but also delivering tangible CO2 and cost-savings for consumers and communities across the UK. It is clear that Greg Barker understands
the value it can deliver, and we welcome his commitment to unlocking its potential. ‘Consumers are important participants in the energy market, but they can become very much more than simply the funders of major new power generation projects. With a thriving energy services market, customers will see their contribution to decarbonisation rewarded in the form of lower energy bills.’
Refurb standard for Passivhaus due next year
Future of the moving stairway takes shape Architects and engineers could soon be able to design escalators in any shape they want, even freeform curves, according to researchers. A new style of engineering is claimed to have been developed by Jack Levy, Emeritus Professor of Mechanical Engineering at City University in London. The system can be arranged in any configuration – such as in DNA-like double helix within a science museum, for example. It is the first time the ‘moving stairway’ has been significantly developed since its invention in 1897, according to the academics.
A new version of the Passivhaus low-energy standard for use on building refurbishments is due to be launched next year. The standard is gaining in popularity, with more than 17,000 qualifying buildings worldwide, says the Passivhaus Institut. The development of the lower standard, called EnerPhit, requires that the energy used for space heating does not exceed 25 kWh/ sq m – a more relaxed condition but one that takes account of the fact that there is less flexibility in refurbishments, according to the recently published criteria. The retrofit standard is now undergoing testing and is expected to be launched officially next year. A number of UK architects are said to be preparing to become accredited, says the Institut.
www.passiv.de
12 CIBSE Journal November 2010
www.cibsejournal.com Greg Barker
pledged to commit to decentralised
energy during the conference
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