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TURAS green roof design guidelines: Maximising ecosystem service provision through regional design for biodiversity
Posted on: 20 November 2013
By: mackene
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Transitioning Towards Urban Resilience and Sustainability (TURAS) is a European-wide research and development programme. The “TURAS” project aims to bring together urban communities, researchers, local authorities and small and medium sized enterprises to research, develop, demonstrate and disseminate transition strategies and scenarios to enable European cities and their rural interfaces to build vitally-needed resilience in the face of significant sustainability challenges. This report represents a dissemination tool from Work Package 2 (WP2) of TURAS, Greening Public and Private Urban Infrastructure. The aim of WP2 is to develop new visions, feasibility strategies, spatial scenarios and guidance tools to enhance the biodiversity and ecosystem service benefits of urban green infrastructure. This report represents an overview of the green roof design research carried out as part of TURAS to investigate the effect on ecosystem service provision of designing green roofs for regional biodiversity.
CIB 2013 World Building Congress, Construction and Society. Brisbane, 5-9 May 2013
Posted on: 20 November 2013
By: mackene
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These are the 13 Proceedings from papers from the designated sessions that took place as part of the CIB World Building Congress, in Brisbane on 5-9 May 2013, under the responsibility of various CIB Task Groups and Commissions. For one event, several groups decided to merge together under the title “Architectural Management & IDDS; Improving Societal Performance of Architectural Design through Better Collaboration and Integration with the Aid of Information Technology and Knowledge Management.” This stream of the congress was organised on behalf of the following CIB Commissions: CIB W078 – Information Technology for Construction; CIB W096 – Architectural Management; CIB W102 – Information & Knowledge Management in Building; CIB’s priority theme Integrated Design and Delivery Solutions (IDDS). Other proceedings are available for: Disasters and the built environment; Energy and the built environment; Construction industry economics; Organisation and management of construction; Facilities management and maintenance; Education in the built environment; Procurement systems; Safety and health in construction; Construction in developing countries; Law and dispute resolution; Smart and sustainable built environments; Clients and users in construction.
Approved Document L – Conservation of fuel and power
Posted on: 19 November 2013
By: mackene
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The Department for Communities and Local Government has published new 2013 versions of ADL1A, ADL2A, and Domestic and Non Domestic Compliance Guides. It has also published a circular which sets out and explains the approval and publication of the: new 2013 Approved Documents L1A and L2A; amendments to the 2010 Approved Documents L1B and L2B; new domestic building services compliance guide; and new non-domestic building services compliance guide. The changes in the approved documents and compliance guides comes into effect as of 6 April 2014.
Financing for energy efficiency in buildings in China and Germany: a scoping study
Posted on: 14 November 2013
By: mackene
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This paper describes policies for financing energy efficiency in buildings in China and Germany. In both countries energy consumption of the building sector constitutes a large share of the overall energy consumption. While the situation in regard to the size and age of the existing building stock and the construction rate of new buildings differs in China and Germany, there are nevertheless some similar challenges where sharing of experiences could be helpful.
Guidance for making the case for climate change adaptation in the built environment
Posted on: 13 November 2013
By: mackene
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Difficulty in making the financial or economic argument for investing in adaptation measures has been highlighted as one of the main barriers to climate change adaptation in the UK built environment sector, reflected in a recent survey of built environment professionals. This guidance is for those working in the built environment sector, including planners, developers and designers. It provides guidance and information sources on: how to begin to assess and communicate the business case for climate change adaption in the built environment; and how to realise developments which are resilient to the effects of a changing climate. It includes recommended reading and web-based resources.
Position Paper on EC Consultation on Sustainable Buildings
Posted on: 11 November 2013
By: mackene
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This paper presents the views of the Europe Regional Network on the European Commission’s consultation on sustainable buildings.
Methodology to calculate embodied carbon in a building’s construction life cycle
Posted on: 7 November 2013
By: mackene
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The RICS has issued a final draft of a guidance note (to update a previous information paper) to provide a methodology on a how to calculate embodied carbon through the lifecycle stages of construction projects. This Guidance Note will be part of the Black Book Suite of guidance issued by the QS & Construction Professional Group Board. Comments are requested by 29 November 2013.
Multiple benefits of investing in energy efficient renovation of buildings: Impact on public finances
Posted on: 4 November 2013
By: mackene
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This report demonstrates how energy efficient renovation has the potential to create up to two million jobs and kick start the European economy, save the equivalent of 4 billion barrels of oil imports per year, reduce energy bills and CO2 emissions and increase comfort and well-being. The Energy Efficiency Directive requires every EU country to establish a long-term strategy for mobilising investment in the energy efficient renovation of their building stock, by 30 April 2014.
Methodology to calculate embodied carbon in a building’s construction life cycle
Posted on: 1 November 2013
By: mackene
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This paper builds on RICS’ Methodology to calculate embodied carbon of materials Information Paper, published in July 2012, and widens its scope by 1) turning this Information Paper’s UK recommendations into global recommendations and 2) extend the measurement methodology in order to cover whole carbon accounting across the life cycle of a building. The different stages of the building’s life cycle will be broken down as follows: design; materials and product manufacture; distribution; assembly on site; and carbon sequestration. The main aim is to provide a framework of practical guidance for quantity surveyors on how to calculate embodied carbon emissions associated with their projects. Additionally, some good practice carbon reduction solutions have been listed. This presents an opportunity for the QS to offer this advice as part of the standard cost planning service. This guidance should help the project teams and clients make decisions about embodied carbon. RICS expects BIM (Building Information Modelling) to have a major impact in carbon quantification and mitigation in future, however, there will always be a need for early feasibility studies. This guidance note is not intended to replace any of the guides that already exist (e.g. PAS 2050, Green House Gas Protocol), but to make carbon calculation more accessible to the QS community. Comments are requested by 29 November 2013.
Realising sustainability in the tropics. Singapore, 9-10 September 2013
Posted on: 28 October 2013
By: mackene
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The conference showcased built projects, on-going research and governance models that specifically address life in the tropics, paradigms, processes and tools that can help designers, developers and policymakers understand the exchange between people and buildings, buildings and neighbourhoods, cities and their surroundings, man and nature. These topics presented by industry leaders, top universities and leading research institutes also reflected diverse aspects of sustainable urbanism, regenerative design, socio-cultural vectors, life cycle assessment and materials reuse. Presentations and papers are available online.
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