06 December 2007 , 1730 - 2030

The Swansea Institute, Mount Pleasant campus

Free of Charge

The event will hold three presentations;
Interior Landscapes - Speaker, Dr David Skidmore, Director of Research and Development at the Welsh College of Horticulture and Project Director for the Knowledge Exploitation Fund’s Sustainable Constructed Environments project.
Interior landscaping is often a neglected area of construction and design. However, it not only provides an aesthetic workplace in which productivity is raised but also improves the health of employees and enhances the image of the property and businesses that inhabit them.

Green Roofs - Speaker, David Stanley, Area Manager, Alumasc Exterior Building Products Limited
Previously roofs have been regarding primarily as an element of the building weatherproofing envelope, whereas now, aspects such as rainwater attenuation, sustainability, biodiversity, pollution reduction, amenity provision and visual enhancement are becoming regular considerations of client, planner, designer and builder when selecting appropriate roof-types.

Sustainable Communities - Speaker, Gordon L. Gibson, Urban Designer and Chartered Surveyor
Some 90% of people in the UK experience our urban environment on a daily basis. Current research has developed from the growing need to deliver the UK Government's sustainable development strategy. The design of the urban environment is not just about infrastructure and buildings, it is more about producing a healthy environment and in doing so key areas such as air quality, layout, communication, water quality and the natural ecology of the environment need to be carefully researched.

If you would like to attend the event please contact Emma Georgiades stating your intention to attend, name and company BY NO LATER THAN 1500 ON WEDNESDAY 05 DECEMBER 2007.

www.rics.org

Labels: conference, sustainable construction

National Exhibition

7th March 2008 - Trade/Professionals Only
8th-9th March 2008 - Public Days
Royal Welsh Showground, Builth Wells

Promotional leaflet for you to download and distribute.

The exhibition is being actively promoted to sustainable construction companies in Wales, but if you are interested in exhibiting and have not been contacted details are available from: Jacinta Macdermot

Labels: greener homes and buildings, sustainable construction, trade exhibition

BOOKING DEADLINE 30 November

UNDERSTANDING ENERGY IN BUILDINGS
4th December 2007
Armada House, Telephone Avenue, Bristol BS1 4BQ

Trying to deliver to the higher levels of the Code for Sustainable Homes?

Wondering why energy and emissions from buildings in use are higher than
expectations?

Keen to deliver genuinely low energy, low carbon buildings?

A course for architects, architectural technicians, builders, developers and anyone who is involved with the design and construction of buildings and needs to enhance their understanding of:

How buildings work as systems particularly with respect to energy and environment
New and traditional building technologies available for managing energy in buildings
How to design buildings as a complete energy system to deliver low energy standards such as those in the higher levels of the Code for Sustainable Homes
The cost to attend this course (CPD) is:

£352.50 inc VAT per person (AECB member)
£470 inc VAT per person (non-AECB member)
Further information can be found on our website www.carbonlite.org.uk.

Labels: design, events, housing

DRASTIC funding cuts for environmentally-friendly energy sources, like home wind turbines, are harming Wales’ green credentials, it was claimed recently.

New figures show the amount of grant money awarded to Welsh households to place turbines or solar panels on their houses, has fallen by nearly a third since April.

Western Mail article

Labels: funding

The Welsh Assembly Government has announced £5.1m in funding for the all-Wales Low Carbon Research Institute that will co-ordinate research on clean energy technologies and their implementation in Wales.

More details

Labels: housing, public sector

G24i has now opened its 187,000 square foot facility in Wentloog, Cardiff, producing dye-sensitised thin film cells. Initially aimed at the mobile phone market, these cells are thin, lightweight and durable.

Speaking at the 187,000 sq ft facility the chairman of G24i, Mr Hertzberg, told the Western Mail of his ambitious plans to create a centre for sustainable technology development in Wales.
He said a cluster of green technology businesses could be created in South Wales, with G24i at its heart.

Western Mail article
G24i website

Labels: PV, solar

A Welsh solar panel provider is doing most of its work in England because of lack of demand in its home country, it has emerged. PV Systems, of Taff’s Well, near Cardiff, can supply panels for any type of building. But 99% of the orders it gets from businesses come from over the border.

In 1998 26 solar panels were installed at the Ford engine factory in Bridgend, at a cost of £1.5m, but since then there has been a dearth of major orders from the private sector in Wales.

Bruce Cross, managing director of PV Systems, said, “The commercial work tends to be in the south east of England – 99% is in England. “That’s just how it works out. I would love to have more closer to home.”

He said planners could set a minimum of renewable energy to be generated by each new building. “The requirement in many boroughs in England is 10% renewables. In London boroughs it’s 20% to get your planning consent.”

Bob Croydon, of property consultants King Sturge in Wales, said higher commercial rents in England paid for solar panels. “Commercial property values are much higher the other side of the river than in Wales. There’s an issue of quality. Solar panelling is perceived as an add-on. It makes the development even more marginal. It’s like buying organic food. In Hampstead, it’s relatively more affordable than if you’re on the dole in the South Wales Valleys.”

Full text article in Green Building magazine

What do blog readers think? Leave your comments on this item.

Labels: planning, PV, solar

A project to refurbish six rural bungalows, incorporating the latest energy efficiency technology to reduce carbon emissions, warm homes and reduce fuel bills for Conwy council tenants in Cerrigydrudion has been shortlisted for a national award.

Denbighshire Free Press article

Labels: awards, housing, solar

Fuelling Our Future
Royal Welsh Showground, International Pavilion
Tuesday, 13 November

Speakers will include:

Llyr Jones, Corwen sheep farmer and a director of BML Biofuels Ltd, who aims to establish one of Wales' first on-farm bio-fuel enterprises.

Graham Redman, Research Economist working with biomass, anaerobic digestion, and bio diesel.

John Cook , consultant on production of biogas and electricity generation from anaerobic digestion of farm and food wastes.

Details: Geraint Hughes, 01758 612621 or 07740 721109.

Labels: anaerobic digestion, biomass, energyfromwaste, events

LABC CYMRU , THE CHALLENGE FOR WALES, CONFERENCE AND EXHIBITION

The Quality Hotel, Cardiff on Friday 30th November 2007.

• One day Conference and Exhibition hosted by LABC CYMRU (representing the 22 Local Authority Building Control departments in Wales), in partnership with the Welsh Assembly Government.
• Aimed at all sectors of our industry involved in meeting the important and topical subject areas of climate change, achieving sustainability, inclusivity in design, and fire safety standards.

The Conference programme for the day will focus on these issues through a forum of expert speakers including a keynote address from Jane Davidson AM Minister for Environment Sustainability and Housing, and provides the not to be missed opportunity for delegates to confer with both experts and fellow professionals within the construction industry. In addition a comprehensive representation from the trade sector will be available to enable delegates to keep abreast of up to date products and technology.

Return your completed booking form no later than 15th November 2007.

Labels: climate change, downloads, public sector