NEWS
LEARNING THE ART OF BIM
Birmingham City University is adopting a building information modelling (BIM) approach to the design of its planned campus within the city centre. The fi rst phase of construction will be for a new home for the Birmingham Institute of Art and Design, depicted here. The university says it will also adopt the principles of the BSRIA Soft Landings framework. (See BIM story on page 9.)
Zero carbon defi nition ‘closer’
● New proposals issued for achieving ‘allowable solutions’ for dwellings
The industry is moving closer to achieving a defi nition of ‘zero carbon’, according to an independent advisory body that has published a new report on the issue. The Zero Carbon Hub has produced a new ‘framework’ document on delivering ‘allowable solutions’, which relate to a range of energy-saving measures on and off site. ‘The proposed framework
shows how developers will be able to reach the zero carbon standard set for 2016,’ the Hub said. ‘At present the government has yet to defi ne
are making allowable solutions payments, encourages innovation and fair competition and, crucially, gives the option for local choice in the projects that are funded.’ Hywel Davies, CIBSE technical director, said
‘ The framework shows how developers can reach the zero carbon standard’
what will constitute an Allowable Solution, however on-site, near-site and off-site carbon- saving projects are expected to be available. The framework sets out the mechanism by which affordable, verifi able carbon savings projects might be funded and how they might be delivered in a way that encourages additional investment, limits the impact on those who
www.cibsejournal.com
the report clarifi ed the mechanisms for delivering allowable solutions, and added: ‘There needs to be more work done to develop the list of options. For near-site solutions there seems to be limited scope to refurbish existing buildings, which is currently limited to communal buildings. This really needs to encompass a wider range of refurbishment buildings.’ The Hub said that it had
produced the report in response
to the government’s call for the industry to work together to produce a workable approach to allowable solutions. Ministers were accused of ‘watering down’ the zero carbon policy in March after the announcement that carbon savings would not have to be made from plug-in electrical appliances.
For more information visit:
www.zerocarbonhub.org
NUCLEAR WHITE PAPER SETS OUT RENEWABLES ‘ROADMAP’
The government has set out a ‘Renewables Roadmap’ as part of a White Paper committing the UK to nuclear power. The document says: ‘Renewables will
be a key part of the decarbonisation of the energy sector necessary by 2030, alongside nuclear, carbon capture and storage, and improvements in energy effi ciency.’ It focuses primarily on eight technologies
that have the greatest potential to make a difference by 2020 and in the following decades. These are onshore and offshore wind, marine energy, biomass electricity and heat, ground and air source heat pumps, and renewable transport. Energy Secretary Chris Huhne said:
‘Taking the actions outlined in the White Paper will not only help drive deployment across the UK, but will also be key to reducing the costs of renewables, enabling technologies to mature so that over the medium to long term they no longer need additional support to compete on a level playing fi elds against other low carbon technologies.’
www.decc.gov.uk
August 2011 CIBSE Journal
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