We are in the grip of a global emergency. The science is clear, and thousands of lives have already been lost. The public are demanding firm and bold leadership, but a laissez-faire attitude on the part of western governments has delayed and watered down our response, with calamitous consequences.
Flat-pack furniture has become a fixture of modern living, but what happens when the same concept is applied to housing – and when the client is an architect seeking to build to passive house and nearly zero energy building levels?
Stirling Work - The passive social housing scheme that won British architecture’s top award
Written by Peter Rickaby
Early in October, Norwich City Council’s Goldsmith Street development become both the first passive house and the first social housing project to win the Stirling Prize, British architecture’s most coveted award, with the judges calling it “high-quality architecture in its purest, most environmentally and socially conscious form”. Leading building energy expert Dr Peter Rickaby visited the scheme for Passive House Plus to see this ground-breaking project for himself.
Are you sexist? Creating a building site culture where we can all thrive
Written by Em Appleton
What forms does sexism take in the construction industry, asks builder Em Appleton, and what can we do about it?
Mies en Scéne - Iconic Dublin offices get deep green treatment
Written by John Cradden
The deep and comprehensive refurbishment of the Miesian Plaza complex on Dublin’s Baggot Street provides a radical blueprint for how to transform mid-20th century city office buildings into comfortable, healthy and super low energy spaces that support sustainable transport and working patterns.
Green concrete breakthrough with waste wood & recycled concrete
Written by News Desk
Researchers at the Institute of Industrial Science at the University of Tokyo have developed a new procedure for recycling concrete with the addition of discarded wood.
RIBA has published a new in-depth guide to the Enerphit Standard, the Passive House Institute’s benchmark for retrofit projects.
Irish Green Building Council business development manager Marion Jammet reports on work by the IGBC to help make rollout of deep retrofit a reality.
What are the consequences for the built environment, and the climate, of the lack of communication between research and industry, asks Dr Peter Rickaby – and what can be done about it?
In the latest instalment of his series on the development of energy efficiency and renewable energy in the 20th century, Dr Marc Ó Riain reports on the seismic impact caused by the 1973 oil crisis.
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Partel launches recycled PET structural thermal break
Written by News Desk
Leading sustainable building product supplier Partel has a launched a new 100% recycled thermal break product. ALMA THERM is a hi-performance panel for structural insulation, and meets the highest technical and ecological standard for reducing thermal bridges, according to the company.
Don’t see MVHR as a heating or cooling system — CVC Direct
Written by News Desk