Making use of carbon emissions in the built environment

Posted on: 16 November 2012
By: mackene
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The need to reduce global anthropogenic carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions in order to tackle climate change has led to much attention on carbon capture and storage (CCS) as a potential method to mitigate the CO2 emissions from the continued use of fossil fuels. An alternative and complementary approach is carbon capture and use (CCU), where captured CO2 is converted into commercially useful products and materials rather than being stored underground. There is increasing commercial interest in CCU and a number of potential applications have been piloted, some of which are showing promise for widespread use within the built environment. These include uses in cementitious materials, aggregates, fill materials, soil enhancers, contaminated soil treatment, polymers and fuels. The aim of this Information Paper is to provide a brief overview of some CCU technologies and to highlight their potential applications and uses within the built environment. The paper is intended for any reader with a general interest in the built environment, but will be of particular significance to policy makers, construction material manufacturers, energy companies and those specifying products and materials for the built environment. [Price £9.50]

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Neighbourhood Planning Hub

Posted on: 16 November 2012
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Locality, the UK’s leading network of community and social enterprises, has launched a new free guide and website to help communities produce neighbourhood plans.

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The Housing Report: The coalition’s mid-term review

Posted on: 15 November 2012
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In their third Housing Report the National Housing Federation, Shelter and The Chartered Institute of Housing say overcrowding, homelessness, housing costs and affordability in the private rental market are all getting worse, reflecting the rising numbers of people struggling to keep a roof over their head. The report adds that in four other areas including housing supply, planning and homeownership the government has made ‘no progress’. Despite a stream of initiatives aimed at getting the housing market moving house building remains at historic lows.

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London 2012: from vision to reality

Posted on: 15 November 2012
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The Commission for a Sustainable London 2012’s assessment of the games found that a target to produce zero landfill waste and to recycle 70 per cent of this were on track. It also found that the transport system delivered an “excellent” service, thanks to effective planning. However, the report argued that the London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games missed an opportunity to maximize the potential reduction in carbon emissions.

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After the party: UK Hotels Forecast 2013

Posted on: 15 November 2012
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This report from PricewaterhouseCoopers looks at the impact of the London Olympics on the London and UK hotel markets and at the prospects for the UK hotel market in 2013.

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Infrastructure services post-2012

Posted on: 15 November 2012
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Given the previous neglect of the importance of infrastructure for economic growth and human development, it will be important to consider whether and how infrastructure should be incorporated into the post-2015 goal framework. This paper reviews progress towards infrastructure targets under the Millenium Development Goals, trends in access to infrastructure services and key issues for infrastructure in achieving the post-2015 goals.

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Overseas travel and tourism: September 2012

Posted on: 15 November 2012
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The publication of the September 2012 tourist figures by the Office for National Statistics helps to show the impact of the Olympics and Paralympics on UK inbound tourism.

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Post-2015: The road ahead

Posted on: 15 November 2012
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This paper, published by the Overseas Development Institute, looks first at progress on the current Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) to draw some lessons on how a new agreement should aim to finish the job started in 2000.  Expanding the poverty agenda beyond the current MDGs, to include new areas of equal concern to poor people is a second option discussed, followed by the implications of expanding the agenda beyond extreme poverty to include some new global objectives such as environmental sustainability.

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Main streets across the world 2012/13

Posted on: 15 November 2012
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This publication from Cushman & Wakefield provides a global barometer of the retail sector, tracking rents in the world’s top 326 shopping locations across 62 countries. The main league table is drawn up by taking the most expensive location in each of the countries monitored. Register for free to access the document.

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Household Waste Recycling Centre (HWRC) Guide

Posted on: 15 November 2012
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Opportunities to improve performance in the management of household waste and recycling centres (HWRCs) have been highlighted in new guidance published by WRAP. The guidance is aimed at all those involved in the management of HWRCs, including local authority officers, waste management companies and third sector re-use partners.

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