Sustainability Focus – Page 16
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FeaturesBowller: Get the thermals out
The Bowller Group was established over 20 years ago and now employs 57 people across six sites in the south of England, reaching from Cambridge to Reading. As well as its specialist contracting division, the firm also includes Bowller Environmental Systems, which specialises in the installation of solar energy ...
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FeaturesBest of BREEAM
As BREEAM sets forth across the world, assessors have been kept busy at home – and increasingly in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland
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FeaturesSweden's leading light
Lighting has a critical role to play in the sustainability of our buildings. One Swedish firm, though, hasn’t forgotten the aesthetic side …
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FeaturesProduct placement: Wolseley Sustainable Building Center
Wolseley has decided that the best way to market its sustainable products is to build a showroom out of them. But how well does the idea stand up?
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FeaturesWayne Hemingway on eco-towns: Ready to rumble
The shortlist for England’s 10 eco-towns is out but now the real contest begins. With the winners due to be announced by the end of the year we brought eco-town supporter Wayne Hemingway and eco-town protester Myles Pollock together to slug it out. Emily Wright referees. Portraits by Julian Anderson
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FeaturesRotunda redux
Glenn Howells used advanced technology to convert a famous Birmingham landmark into flats – and secure a piece of modern heritage in the process
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FeaturesRob Hopkins: Eco Worrier
The era of cheap oil is over and our economic system is doomed, believes environmentalist Rob Hopkins. So is he gloomy? Not a bit of it. It’s such a tremendous opportunity.
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FeaturesReducing heat loads: Testing the water at the University of Cambridge
Sustainability and innovation - When the architectural department at the University of Cambridge demanded a sustainable, lightweight building for its students, the designers had to overcome the problem of overheating
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What it costs: BREEAM – how to get good grades
Many schools must now have a ‘very good’ BREEAM rating to meet regulations. Peter Mayer of Building LifePlans outlines the ways to get credits and the associated costs
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FeaturesSolar thermal heating
Evinox has supplied a renewable energy solution for the rhinos at Whipsnade zoo. Hot water for the rhinos’ showers, the heating of their pool and the heating of the air-handling unit for their enclosure is being generated by a vacuum tube solar thermal system.
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Timed flow taps
Temposoft is a range of easy-to-operate, “soft-touch”, timed-flow push basin taps and mixers from Douglas Delabie.
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Cork wall coverings
Urbane Living has expanded its range of eco wallpaper to include the texture of cork.
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Smart metering
PRI has launched the Scroller XP, a device for displaying on the computer screens of office staff the amount of electricity being used by an organisation.
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Hardwood substitutes
Against a background of dwindling tropical forests, Vecowood has been developed as an alternative to hardwoods. The timber is formed from fast-growing plantation timber and uses the Veco organic wood modification process that changes the characteristics of plantation timber to mimic those of hardwood. In the process, a non-toxic, water-based ...
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Recyclable roofing
Corus has launched Colorcoat Urban, a roofing product that is suitable for refurbishment projects that the company says is 100% recyclable, inherently airtight and, being lightweight, easy to handle on site. Colorcoat Urban has passed stringent testing to BS 6920 Suitability of Non-metallic Products for Use in Contact with Water ...
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FeaturesPeter Bonfield: The BRE's speed merchant
Peter Bonfield is a man in a hurry, whether he’s pedalling furiously on his 36-mile round trip to work or plotting grandiose five-year plans. The question is, can BRE keep up with its energetic leader? Thomas Lane went to find out
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FeaturesWhitelee wind farm: Putting the wind up
You might think the biggest difficulty in building a wind farm would be the wind itself, but on the moor outside Glasgow the rain, snow and liquid peat are just as bad. Thomas Lane donned his souwester to take a look at the construction of Europe’s largest onshore wind farm.
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FeaturesWindow pains: Different ways windows can fail
Peter Mayer of Building LifePlans analyses the different ways windows can fail and how to prevent them doing so. For a full guide to suppliers, log on to www.building.co.uk/specifier
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FeaturesMaking BREEAM robust
For too long, designers have been able to get top BREEAM ratings by adding recycling space and bike racks. Now the green assessment tool is toughening up its act with mandatory levels for energy and water use – and a new rank above ‘excellent’.
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FeaturesThe Middle East green building challenge
Special report: Now that the ruler of Dubai wants the city to be at the forefront of sustainable design, how will developers respond? Katie Puckett went to the United Arab Emirates to find out if the region really can have it all. With sustainable case studies.