Come and meet us
Opening times
Visit the School
Refurbishing Europe: An EU strategy for energy efficiency and climate action led by building refurbishment
Posted on: 1 March 2012
By: mackene
No Comments »
Filed under: News
The report identifies a range of barriers, political, structural, industrial and social, that presently prevent more rapid and beneficial action on energy efficiency, and highlights and discusses necessary actions to accelerate the rate of low-energy refurbishment of Europe’s buildings.
Green Deal opportunities for the construction industry: Training manuals
Posted on: 23 February 2012
By: mackene
No Comments »
Filed under: News
Training manuals designed to equip construction SMEs with the knowledge and skills they need to unlock the commercial opportunities around the Green Deal have been launched by CITB-ConstructionSkills. The series of six manuals have been developed by the Industry Training Board and Sector Skills Council as a resource for employers, training providers and construction workers, to enable them to prepare for the Government’s flagship home efficiency scheme, which is being rolled out in October 2012. The manuals incorporate expert industry guidance on how to perform different types of insulation installation including: loft, cavity, internal and external wall, roofing and draft proofing. They also give an overview of the scheme, what equipment and materials to use, any health and safety issues, customer care situations, and they direct readers to other sources of industry guidance, to provide a comprehensive range of information for potential Green Deal installers.
Principles for nearly zero-energy buildings: Paving the way for effective implementation of policy requirements
Posted on: 15 February 2012
By: mackene
No Comments »
Filed under: News
The re-cast Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) requires that from 2019 onwards ‘all the new buildings occupied and owned by public authorities are nearly zero-energy buildings’ (nZEB) and by the end of 2020 ‘all new buildings are nearly zero- energy buildings’. The European Member States ‘shall draw up national plans for increasing the number of nZEBs. Concepts and examples for nearly Zero-Energy or climate neutral buildings already exist in various countries and from different sources. However the views on how such buildings should be defined, and the means and techniques to achieve specific national targets show considerable differences across Europe. The definition of nZEB in the EPBD recast offers flexibility, but at the same time leaves uncertainties on the actual ambition level and CO2-emissions of such buildings.
Following its main mission to contribute to the improvement of the buildings’ energy performance across Europe, the Buildings Performance Institute Europe (BPIE) started in December 2010 a study to support the EPBD implementation by developing a well-founded opinion on principles for nearly Zero-Energy Buildings, based on the current status and on existing concepts for low energy buildings. The nZEB study is designed to lead to: a common understanding of the issue around nearly zero energy buildings; knowledge on possible solutions to pending questions; proposals for suitable definitions; a clear view on the effects of such definitions; and a comparison of the results and recommendations for the steps towards common understanding of this term throughout of the EU.
Presentations from the launch event, held in Brussels on 11 November 2011, are also available.
A field guide to renewable energy technologies
Posted on: 9 February 2012
By: mackene
No Comments »
Filed under: News
The Land Art Generator Initiative has issued this guide in order to provide a source of inspiration to all designers, homeowners, urban planners, students, artists, and anyone else interested in a clean energy future. The Land Art Generator Initiative brings together artists, architects, scientists, landscape architects, engineers, and others in a first of its kind collaboration. The goal of the Land Art Generator Initiative is to see to the design and construction of public art installations that uniquely combine aesthetics with utility-scale clean energy generation. This is the first edition. The second edition will include pros and cons, lifecycle carbon costs, and more detailed diagrams of the technologies. [loaded 9 February 2012]
Electricity transmission costing study
Posted on: 3 February 2012
By: isadm
No Comments »
Filed under: News
The Institution of Engineering and Technology has published the findings of research which analyses the whole life costs of installing and maintaining new high voltage transmission circuits under the ground, under the sea and over ground. The report’s remit purely relates to engineering costs. Although it does acknowledge the aesthetic, human and environmental impacts, it makes no analysis of these areas.
Wind farms distance from housing
Posted on: 1 February 2012
By: isadm
No Comments »
Filed under: News
This notes deals with the issue of a separation distance between wind farms and housing.
Local authority action for energy efficiency in housing stock: An analysis of energy efficiency data from the Decent Homes Standard Backlog programme bids
Posted on: 1 February 2012
By: isadm
No Comments »
Filed under: News
This paper from the Homes and Communities Agency presents the findings of analysis of energy efficiency data supplied by landlords with bids for funding from the Decent Homes Standard (DHS) Backlog programme administered by the Homes and Communities Agency. Data obtained demonstrates that energy efficiency programmes are integrated with DHS programmes; how work is funded; the scale of works; and attitudes towards the proposed Green Deal mechanism. It reveals landlords’ aspirations, the challenges they face, the drivers for energy efficiency at local authority level, and their achievements.
Energy management in the built environment: a review of best practice
Posted on: 1 February 2012
By: isadm
No Comments »
Filed under: News
ISBN 97818480623451 £35.00
This new report explains a step-by-step approach to energy management, together with the use of a matrix tool for implementing energy management initiatives in an organisation. The tool can help identify areas for improvement, prioritise energy management activities and maximise benefits. It also examines how data from sources such as BREEAM assessments, energy audits, energy performance certificates, display energy certificates and monitoring and targeting can underpin energy management, and addresses asset and operational performance and discusses how information from both is needed to adequately assess the energy performance of a building
Energy efficiency improvements in tenements in Bellshill
Posted on: 1 February 2012
By: isadm
No Comments »
Filed under: News
CIC Start Online is to hold a webinar on 9 February 2012 to consider a study carried out in Bellshill near Motherwell to explore the possibilities of improving the energy efficiency of the apartment’s fabric and energy for space and water heating. This feasibility study addressed options and elements in which the apartments can be thermally improved and to also explore the improvement of heating services which at present have become difficult to maintain and are costly for the tenant.
Feed-in Tariffs
Posted on: 27 January 2012
By: isadm
No Comments »
Filed under: News
This note from the House of Commons Library covers the topic of Feed-in Tariffs (FITs) which are part of the Government’s strategy for increasing renewable electricity generation. This is necessary because the UK has an EU target for renewable energy of 15% by 2020, a significant proportion of which is expected to come from electricity. The aim of FITs is to provide a simple system to incentivise small domestic and business renewables. A further note summarises details of Solar PV feed-in tariffs, including the second review of tariffs for solar which is the first part of a comprehensive review of feed-in tariffs to be completed by April 2012.
What’s new
What’s new and Events presentations archive
- December 2014
- November 2014
- October 2014
- September 2014
- August 2014
- July 2014
- June 2014
- May 2014
- April 2014
- March 2014
- February 2014
- January 2014
- December 2013
- November 2013
- October 2013
- September 2013
- August 2013
- July 2013
- June 2013
- May 2013
- April 2013
- March 2013
- February 2013
- January 2013
- December 2012
- November 2012
- October 2012
- September 2012
- August 2012
- July 2012
- June 2012
- May 2012
- April 2012
- March 2012
- February 2012
- January 2012
- December 2011
- November 2011
- October 2011
- September 2011
- August 2011
- July 2011