Apr 01
Green Building Materials

Posted by in Products |

There are so many criteria to consider when attempting to select a material for a sustainable build. Is the material manufactured in a clean and efficient manner, how far and how energy efficient is the transportation of the raw materials and finished product, is the material mined or collected in a sustainable and non-polluting way and how […]

Oct 29
How To Brighten Up Your Home Before Christmas Day

Posted by in Products | Tagged , , |

Christmas is undoubtedly one of the most creative times of the year, and whilst it is traditional to decorate the inside of your house, it is also the perfect time to turn your attention to the outside areas of your home. With advances in LED lighting and solar powered decorations, there are now more options […]

Brighton’s iconic “building of the future” is turning to people power to give it a new lease of life

Posted by in Campaigns, Education Buildings | Tagged , , , , |

The crowdfunding campaign aims to raise £20,000 for the vital upgrade of the building’s renewable energy and water systems. The campaign can be found here: www.lowcarbon.co.uk/earthship-brighton The Save Earthship Brighton crowdfunding campaign has so far passed the £3,000 mark. The money raised will allow the installation of a new ultraviolet, chemical-free filtration system to purify […]

May 11
The Sustainable Workplace – what do Occupiers want?

Posted by in Energy Efficiency, Non Residential Property | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , |

Rebecca Pearce, our EMEA Head of Sustainability explains that occupiers are now becoming more sophisticated about their approach to sustainability. Sustainability is more important than ever for the built environment. The pace of new legislation is increasing, prompted by public debate, scientific evidence and gatherings such as the critical UN Climate Change Conference in Paris […]

The Cost of Green Construction

Posted by in Energy Efficiency, Government, Grants, Incentives & Schemes, Non Residential Property | Tagged , , , , , |

What impact does cost have on decisions about sustainability? Andrew Smith, Director in our Cost Consultancy team examines the cost of going green and looks at the incentives. Almost every part of a new building can be designed and built more sustainably, but there is, more often than not, a cost premium of doing so. […]

Designing Sustainable Office Space

Posted by in Design Principles & Certifications, Non Residential Property | Tagged , , , , , |

Shell and core vs Cat A office fit out? Are there are any alternatives that are more sustainable? Matt Wilderspin, Head of Project Management explores current trends in office space design and fit out and how these could improve environmental impacts. Over the past 20 years of my career, I have seen the trend of […]

A Sustainable Approach to Reinstatement

Posted by in Non Residential Property, Property Market, Waste Management | Tagged , , , , |

The dilapidations process can lead to wasteful or unnecessary refurbishment work by a tenant obliged to reinstate a building at the end of a lease. Simon Brown, Director in our Dilapidations team discusses alternative approaches that could achieve a more sustainable approach to the reinstatement and refurbishment cycle. A few years ago, I managed a […]

Apr 11
The Benefits of BREEAM

Posted by in Design Principles & Certifications, Non Residential Property | Tagged , , , , , |

Neelum Mohammed, Senior Consultant in our Sustainable Engineering team discusses the BREEAM fit out and refurbishment methodology released in autumn 2014. The long awaited BREEAM non-domestic refurbishment scheme was published in October 2014. This new tool assesses the environmental impact of refurbishing or fitting out existing commercial buildings. In order to provide flexibility and accommodate […]

Apr 02
Going Green is Getting Easier

Posted by in Energy Efficiency, Experts, Government, Grants, Incentives & Schemes, Microgeneration | Tagged , , , |

In the last decade numerous programs have been rolled out to make green home ownership a reality instead of a pipe dream. The debate of over need and viability has been finished for years and real steps have been taken to transition from concepts and ideals to plans and implementation. Now instead of “artist’s concept” […]

Fix up your garden – the green way

Posted by in Energy Efficiency, Microgeneration | Tagged , , , |

You’ve got mega plans for your garden. Water features, lavish lawns, major renovations and remarkable reworkings – but can you make your improvements a green dream? Indeed, keeping your carbon footprint low while renovating your home can be a major struggle. But it can, and must, be done. Global warming, if eco-warriors like Naomi Klein […]

Mar 21
Save Water Save Money for National Water Saving Week (22-29 March)

Posted by in Campaigns, Events, Offers, Water Management | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , |

Water efficiency experts, Save Water Save Money, are pleased to announce the launch of an innovative tree planting scheme to help raise awareness of National Water Saving Week which takes place on 22 – 29 March 2015. Save Water Save Money has teamed up with WeForest, a charity which has planted nearly 6 million trees […]

Jan 14
Make it Cheaper and Eco-Nomics announce Energy Partnership

Posted by in News, Partnerships, Suppliers & Service Providers | Tagged , , , , , , , , |

Make it Cheaper one of the UK’s most successful SME energy brokers and Eco-Nomics, a leading UK energy efficiency consultancy, have today announced the formation of a strategic partnership to offer a complete energy service to Britain’s businesses. While wholesale energy prices have recently fallen, business energy costs have continued to rise – and these increases […]

Jan 10
Shades Of Green – What Makes a Green Home?

Posted by in Design Principles & Certifications, Energy Efficiency, Microgeneration | Tagged , , , , , , , |

There is a lot of debate about what qualifies as a green home. While some would say if a house has a wind turbine or a few solar panels to supplement the energy used with natural renewable energy then it is a green home others might argue that even lacking any renewable energy sources a […]

Sep 15
Sustainable construction: an opportunity for youth?

Posted by in Campaigns, Education, Property Market | Tagged , , , , , , , , , |

Green Homes are just one aspect of sustainable construction, which looks to reduce the impact of buildings for the full cycle of their lives. When it comes to buildings that people live in, there are usually a few extra considerations that come into play. However, the aim of sustainable construction remains the same across the […]

Jul 09
Solar House wins top regional building award

Posted by in Awards, Microgeneration | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

An innovative eco-house built by Caplin Homes has won the top accolade at the LABC East Midlands Building Excellence Awards. The Solar House in Leicestershire saw off strong competition from buildings across the region to be named Best Individual New Home, before securing the evening’s overall prize, the Chairman’s Award. Chosen from the winners of […]

Jul 01
Retrofitting Your Home Green

Posted by in Blog, Energy Efficiency, Suppliers & Service Providers | Tagged , , , , |

Just because you are looking at a vintage home rather than a brand new home built with the latest sustainable building technologies and green additions does not mean you cannot have a home that showcases the latest energy efficiencies and green designs. In fact, since it is not practical to think that the entire architectural […]

May 21
Get Living London celebrates first anniversary by winning a RESI Award

Posted by in Agents & Developers, Awards | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

The residential owner and management company behind East Village, Get Living London has been named the Property Newcomer of the Year at last night’s RESI awards. Established in May 2013, Get Living London launched with an aim to make renting in London a better experience and to meet the city’s growing demand for high quality […]

May 13
FAQs rainwater harvesting: installation advice for installers

Posted by in Suppliers & Service Providers, Technology, Water Management | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , |

By Brian Pickworth, Technical Manager at Kingspan Klargester, and Chair of the UK Rainwater Harvesting Association. To find out more about rainwater harvesting, or to discuss any aspect of installation including BPEC training courses, email sustainablewater@kingspanenviro.com 1. How are rainwater harvesting systems installed? Installing a rainwater harvesting system is relatively simple, but it requires various […]

Safe and effective installation of rainwater harvesting systems

Posted by in Suppliers & Service Providers, Technology, Water Management | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , |

After the wettest winter since records began resulting in extensive flooding across the country, there is little doubt that we need to find better ways of managing water resources. Climate change has dramatically altered our weather patterns, causing warmer, wetter winters and hotter, drier summers. This in turn has locked the country into drought/flood cycles, […]

May 06
Integrated Heating Systems

Posted by in Microgeneration, News, Products, Suppliers & Service Providers | Tagged , , , , , |

Integrated heating systems are increasingly common, across both domestic homes and commercial premises. In this type of system, renewable heat (microgeneration) technologies integrate fully with traditional heating systems such as gas boilers etc. The two energy sources complement each other well and an integrated or bivalent system can offer significant financial and environmental benefits to […]