NEWS In brief
KING CROWNED BY ROYAL ACADEMY Doug King has been made a fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering (RAE) for his dedication to integrated engineering design for high performance buildings, and his career-long commitment to sustainable design. King is the principal of Doug King Consulting, chief science and engineering advisor to the BRE and visiting professor of Building Engineering Physics at the University of Bath.
KIER MOVES INTO BIOGAS Kier has invested £24.4m in British food waste-to-energy business Biogen. The 50/50 joint venture with Biogen’s parent company Bedfordia Group is designed to complement the Pure recycling business that Kier acquired in 2010. Bedfordshire-based Biogen designs, builds and operates large-scale anaerobic digestion (AD) plants to process food waste and produce renewable energy.
HOME ENERGY GUIDANCE Guidance to help local authorities improve the energy effi ciency of their housing stock has been published as part of the Home Energy Conservation Act (HECA). This requires all local authorities to publish their plans to improve energy effi ciency by 31 March 2013.
All the latest news from around the building industry BIM ON TRACK
Crossrail has opened a BIM Academy to train contractors on the latest software. Bentley Systems is running the initiative from its offi ces near Bank station and will capture, develop and share best practice with Crossrail’s supply chain. Andrew Wolstenholme, Crossrail’s chief executive said: ‘The training received at the academy will help contractors use the knowledge and skill gained here on other major projects such as HS2.’
VAT confusion as Brussels proposes lower rates for green construction
The European Commission has caused confusion among policy makers and manufacturers by proposing a cut in VAT to boost low-energy construction
The proposal comes as the EC threatens to take the UK government to court for not increasing VAT on energy saving products from 5% to 20%. In June the EC said the UK must change legislation to bring rates on energy saving measures into line with VAT levels across Europe.
Despite this, the EC published an action plan
entitled Construction: unleashing the potential of low energy buildings to restore growth that proposed stimulating the renovation of buildings and infrastructure by reducing VAT rates. It stated that ‘fi nancial support measures such as reduced VAT rates are needed to support investment.’
CIBSE technical director Hywel Davies said the plan contradicted the action being taken against the UK. He said: ‘The action plan seems to make the argument against the UK on VAT quite futile. ‘If they are talking about fi scal incentives I’m struggling to understand what Brussels are doing targeting UK VAT.’
This month the government announced it would contest the Commission ruling, which could result in an appearance in the European Court. There is widespread industry concern that an increase in VAT could wreck the Green Deal, the government’s grant scheme aimed at improving the energy effi ciency of existing homes. The fear is that higher VAT on green measures could break the Golden Rule, which states that the cost of work must be less than energy savings. Cabinet minister Oliver Letwin was urged to oppose the EU on the issue in a letter signed by 18 industry bodies – a move supported by CIBSE.
in partnership with Follow us on Twitter/RenewablesShow PARTNERS: HHIC HEATING & HOTWATER INDUSTRY COUNCIL MCS a new brand; a new HVCA SPONSORS: a company EXHIBITORS:
* Green Deal Theatre, Commercial Theatre (CPD points), Domestic Theatre, Solar Theatre, Training Theatre, Water Effi ciency Theatre, Installer Theatre
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