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BBC Wales studio achieves BREEAM Outstanding rating

2012-02-21 17:03:14

Roath Lock studios at Porth Teigr, Cardiff has achieved the first ever BREEAM Outstanding certificate for an industrial building post-construction in the UK.

Porth Teigr, which is a joint venture between igloo (an Aviva Investors fund) and the Welsh Government is a 38-acre area development project in Cardiff Bay, which is currently being transformed into a vibrant, mixed-use and environmentally-sustainable neighbourhood.

BBC Cymru Walesâ€™ purpose-built Roath Lock studios is the new home for flagship shows such as Doctor Who, Casualty, Upstairs Downstairs, and Pobol y Cwm.

Richard Jones, Aviva Investorsâ€™ Real Estate UK managing director and head of sustainability says: â€œAs well as benefiting the environment, we believe sustainable projects add value for our investors as they are more attractive to both occupiers and future purchasers.â€

Environmental sustainability measures introduced on site during the build included minimising site waste by developing a Site Waste Management Plan (SWMP) in line with WRAP (Waste and Resources Action Programme). This led to achievements such as 96% of waste being diverted from landfill, and a 123m x 7m â€˜living wallâ€™ being constructed entirely from recycled materials.
Welsh Business Minister Edwina Hart welcomed the news and described it as a significant achievement. She said: â€œPorth Teigr is the last remaining undeveloped waterfront site in Cardiff Bay and a strategically important site that is set to become a vibrant new commercial and residential community. It is therefore excellent news that the very first building on site has been given a BREEAM Outstanding rating.

â€œThis sets the standard for the transformation of Porth Teigr from disused dockland into an environmentally sustainable development with tremendous potential to become a vibrant business and residential location.â€

BeeBox to create buzz for Wildflower Turf

2012-02-21 16:28:10

The UKâ€™s leading supplier of wildflower turf products will be displaying their product range at EcoBuild, from 20th to 22nd March.

Wildflower Turf will demonstrate the significant biodiversity benefits of wildflower turf through the use of a BeeBox from Operation Pollinator, a five year biodiversity scheme to boost the number of pollinating insects on commercial farms.

The BeeBox contains one square meter of wildflower turf containing thirty-one native flowering species and three native grasses, together with fifty Buff-tailed Bumble Bees.

In addition to the BeeBox, Wildflower Turf will be exhibiting samples on the stand for visitors to see the wide range of landscaping projects where the turf has been used.

Visitors to the stand will also be able to register for Wildflower Turf Open Days. Managing director James Hewetson-Brown will be on the stand to help explain how fast and easy wildflower turf is to install and maintain.

The products will be on show at stand S2250 in the Biodiversity Pavilion.

The Green Deal and the US

2012-02-21 16:00:39

The Green Dealâ€™s economic and environmental benefits were discussed by government and business leaders during the Renewable Energy World 2012 conference. The panel focused on how government policies act as core drivers to develop a clean energy economy and create global business opportunities.

â€œThe UKâ€™s aggressive policy framework has created a dynamic business environment that fosters innovation, catalyzes the shift toward sustainable business thinking and spurs the adoption of low-carbon practices,â€ said Dan Monzani, deputy director of the Green Deal, Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC).

He added: â€œPolicies like these are helping to drive growth of our own domestic low-carbon economy while also opening new business opportunities with overseas companies like the ones we are meeting at Renewable Energy World.â€

The government has set a national goal of reducing carbon emissions by 80% by 2050. One quarter of emissions come from the energy used in homes.

Britainâ€™s energy efficiency retrofit market, worth an estimated Â£3bn a year, is attracting attention from US entrepreneurs. Tim Donovan, CEO of Day One Energy Solutions, explained why he chose to establish his energy efficiency consulting business in Great Britain.

He said: â€œThe UK is driving its transition to a low-carbon economy by enacting some of the most forward-thinking policies in the world, making it an attractive location for companies like mine. The long-term British policies and incentives put in place to meet the low-carbon objectives give businesses the needed confidence for the future.â€

Examples of UK-US partnerships include UK-based engineers ARUP and sustainable architects Fosters + Partners, which have been tapped to help develop Appleâ€™s new solar-powered Silicon Valley headquarters. Conversely, US-based companies like Silver Spring Networks and EnerNOC are helping to address the UKâ€™s ramp up of 47 million smart meters by 2020, another policy-driven energy efficiency measure by the UK government.

UK Trade & Investment vice consul and USA clean technology head Michael Rosenfeld said: â€œThe US is the largest market in the world for low-carbon environmental goods and services â€“ both as suppliers and consumers. Thatâ€™s why businesses engaged with green building and energy efficiency services and products are expected to become important partners as Great Britain prepares to launch the Green Deal in October.

â€œAs the rest of the world expands their own clean energy economies, there is a strong recognition that the technical know-how and ambitious policy approaches of the UK are affording strong opportunities for business collaboration, particularly in energy efficiency,â€ he added.

DECCâ€™s Monzani and the four UK companies â€“ Wolseley, Kingfisher Building, Travis Perkins and Dow Building Solutions â€“ will visit Boston on February 24 to discuss the Green Deal and expand business relationships.

Intelli Heat to exhibit at Greenbuild Expo

2012-02-21 15:00:32

Specialist electric heating manufacturer Intelli Heat will be at Greenbuild Expo in Manchester from 9th-10th May.

The company offers a number of energy management choices, ranging from MY NEEDO, which can split a home into zones and control them individually on a pre-set seven day schedule, to systems capable of managing the energy consumption of multi-occupancy dwellings.

Intelli Heat will be joined by representatives from D2D Construction, the head builders responsible for 'putting it right' on TV show Cowboy Builders. D2D expert builder John Russell will be at Greenbuild Expo.

He said: â€œOur recently launched Total Care Package is aimed at the social housing sector. Essentially, we are offering to â€˜hold the handsâ€™ of social housing providers wishing to upgrade their old heating systems with full technical support, tariff advice and changeover, installation training for preferred contractors and heating system training for tenants. Itâ€™s a radical approach and one we think will prove very successful.â€

For more information, telephone 01842 338089, e-mail info@intelligentheat.co.uk or visit www.intelligentheat.co.uk

Intelli Heat will be at Greenbuild Expo stand F38

UK children eco aware

2012-02-17 10:46:23

A quarter of British parents now say that their kids know more about energy efficiency measures than they do, a new survey has revealed.

This increased awareness means that carrying out green jobs around the home has become a regular part of the whole familyâ€™s day-to-day housework routine.

The survey, by Pilkington energiKare, found that turning off lights and recycling waste top the list of jobs, with 60% of households regularly performing these tasks. An average home now recycles five glass bottles, five tin cans, up to 15 plastic containers as well as more than 30 pieces of paper or cardboard each week.

34% of households do not leave appliance on standby while 33% focus on reducing their water consumption, for example by boiling a kettle with only as much water as needed. Only three per cent admitted not doing anything.Unlike with other chores, the jobs seem evenly divided between the sexes, with 69 per cent of women and 71 per cent of men taking responsibility for them.

The results highlight how much making green changes have become the norm in the UK. Architect and TV presenter George Clarke said: â€œI think itâ€™s heartening to see how seriously UK families, in particular children and young people, are taking energy efficiency. I spend time talking to my two boys about ways to help save the planet and Iâ€™m pleased that many other households are doing the same. This survey highlights how much of a difference even relatively small changes can make.â€

Biomass district heating for Stockport Homes

2012-02-17 09:39:08

Stockport Homes has upgraded one of its district heating systems from a gas-fired to a biomass boiler.

The system will provide heating and hot water to 487 flats at Lancashire Hill, Heaton Norris. The 999kW biomass boiler will also deliver carbon savings of around 1,400 tonnes per annum (a reduction of 75%).

The 34-year-old gas boilers at Lancashire Hill were removed and replaced with a biomass boiler, as well as other low-carbon improvements such as heating control upgrades and solar thermal.

The project received funding from British Gas under its obligations to the Community Energy Saving Programme (CESP) totalling Â£750k, along with European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) funding of Â£617k.

Further schemes are planned for Stockport Homes' district heated sites during 2012. Mark Hudson, director of technical services, said: â€œThis project shows that Stockport Homes is about much more than bricks and mortar. We have taken a very positive move to develop this innovative scheme to move from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources like biomass.â€

Shorts launches biomass supply and maintenance package

2012-02-16 11:20:22

Shorts Environmental is offering a new biomass package: a one-stop shop for the supply, installation and on-going maintenance of biomass boilers. It aims to enable the non-domestic sector to take advantage of the cash benefits offered by the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) scheme.

Shorts estimates, over an operating life of 20 years, a biomass boiler can potentially generate a cash benefit of more than Â£500,000. This calculation is based on a 500kW biomass boiler running eight hours per day for five days per week for six months of the year.

Â£75,000 of this amount would be saved by using wood chips instead of gas while the RHI tariff would generate Â£684,000 over 20 years. The Â£250,000 initial capital outlay would be paid back in 8 years.

National sales manager Mike Wheeler said: â€œBiomass is certainly not a fit and forget option as it needs good planning at design stageâ€¦ a planned maintenance programme is essential over the lifetime of the equipment to ensure efficiency and a cost effective system.â€

RHI offers financial support scheme for biomass, solar thermal, ground source heat pumps and biomethane. A total of Â£860 million will be available for the period up to 2014/2015, with guaranteed tariff levels for 20 years.

Mitsubishi launches CO2 heat pump

2012-02-15 11:30:00

Mitsubishi has launched an air-to-water CO2 heat pump aimed at commercial markets. The pump uses a compressor to heat water to 90Â°C and works even when outdoor temperatures fall to -25Â°C. The Q-Ton is able to reach 90Â°C without additional energy from a conventional boiler, reducing running costs and environmental impact.

The Q-Ton has a high efficiency two-stage combined scroll-rotary compressor and uses natural R744 (CO2) refrigerant, which has zero Ozone Depletion Potential.

The model cuts running costs by 58% and lowers carbon emissions by 44% compared to a gas boiler. It consumes 76% less energy than an electric water heater and boats the lowest possible Global Warming Potential, scoring one, as R744 is a naturally occurring gas.

It has a high Coefficient of Performance of up to 4.3 when the outdoor temperature is above 7Â°C and almost 2.0 when -25Â°C. A single Q-Ton 30 kW unit weighs in at 365kg â€“ the lightest in the industry.

The Q-Ton features a touch screen operations panel and a user-friendly graphic display indicating production and availability of hot water. A precise controller senses need, preventing heating water constantly.

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) sales manager Des Franklin said: "MHI is accurately assessing future needs with the launch of the Q-Ton. The Q-Ton is revolutionary as it allows businesses to supply hot water far more efficiently, which is cost-effective and eco-friendly."

MHI estimates that the capital investment will be less than an equivalent output gas boiler and on-going costs will decrease year on year.

For more information, visit www.mitsubishichillers.eu

Boris retrofit to reach one hundred

2012-02-10 17:16:28

One hundred of Londonâ€™s public sector buildings will be retrofitted by May under Mayor Boris Johnsonâ€™s RE:FIT programme.

Nearly 86 buildings have already been retrofitted. It is estimated this will save Â£1.3m of taxpayers' cash through reduced energy bills each year. Performance of buildings and energy conservation measures are taken before and after installation and will be monitored throughout the agreement using sub-meters and calculation.

Londonâ€™s buildings - responsible for 80% of the capital's carbon emissions - are being fitted with technologies such as photovoltaic solar panels, low-energy lighting systems and new, efficient boilers.

Organisations using RE:FIT can cut the red tape and associated costs that would normally accompany any major building works in the public sector. They can choose a contractor from a pre-vetted list of 12 that will offer a guaranteed energy saving upfront and pay back costs using predicted fuel bill savings.

Johnson said: â€œRetrofitting London is a win-win, not only does it make perfect economic and common sense by cutting energy costs but it also reduces carbon emissions and stimulates the capitals burgeoning low carbon economy, creating jobs and boosting skills.â€

It is estimated that low-carbon goods and services will equate to Â£40bn of investment by 2025 and could create 200,000 jobs.

RE:FIT was trialled on 42 buildings in the Greater London Authority group, including fire stations, police stations and Transport for London offices. Energy efficiency improved in some buildings by as much as 40%. The programme follows an audit to decide which energy efficiency measures are most appropriate. Savings are guaranteed by whichever energy saving company (ESCo) works on the retrofit. This way, savings are calculated in advance of work starting. Behavioural change is not included in the scheme, although some organisations and suppliers are working together on this issue by choice.

Measures to cut carbon at Newham University Hospital NHS Trust included the installation of a more efficient ventilation system using heat recovery and free cooling, which will enable the hospital to save Â£50,000 a year on its energy bills.

Capital design project manager at the hospital Kai Kin Lee said: 'The key benefit, for us, was that we only paid once weâ€™d seen returns. The project exceeded the investment requirements set out in the RE:FIT scheme, and delivered additional operational benefits over and above energy and carbon reductions.'

For more information, visit www.lda.gov.uk/projects/refit

Rise in data centre energy management

2012-02-10 08:39:31

The number of data centres adopting energy management policies has risen sharply. The growth is thought to be a result of the government's Carbon Reduction Commitment (CRC) Energy Efficiency Scheme.

John Hatcher, conference director of Data Centre World, which carried out the research, said: â€œ2010 saw by far the biggest increase in energy management policy adoption rates, over three times that of the previous year. In fact, going back four years ago just 10% had an energy management policy in place. Today that figure stands at 71%.â€

Supporting this trend, almost half (44%) of those surveyed believe that the introduction of the governmentâ€™s CRC legislation has led directly to greater efficiency in their data centre, with 71% replacing inefficient equipment.

Extra date added to Green Deal roadshow

2012-02-08 11:39:52

Due to popular demand, an extra date has been added to the Green Deal Connections calendar of events organised by the Green Deal Skills Alliance. The second date, 21st February, gives organisations interested in becoming Green Deal installers or assessors an extra chance to find out more about the skills required to improve the energy efficiency of UK homes and businesses.

The Green Deal roadshow events are free, half-day sessions that will benefit those currently working in the installation and maintenance of renewable environmental technologies, or organisations who are interested in expanding their business into these areas. They also cover the skills needs for Green Deal energy advisors and building fabric/insulation installers.

The Green Deal Connections roadshow is also visiting Glasgow on 15th February and Manchester on 7th March.

Online registration is available on the Asset Skills website.

New guides to help win work

2012-02-07 11:27:58

The National Skills Academy for Environmental Technologies has produced two new guides designed to help building services contractors get ahead in an increasingly competitive market.

The complete support portfolio for completing a pre-qualification questionnaire (PQQ) and Tendering: an overview are available to purchase from the academy's website.

The Developing new business streams PQQ pack is a portfolio for gathering, collating and presenting essential specified information in order to qualify to sell services to contractors. It aims to familiarise small businesses with questions that are found in a typical pre-qualification questionnaire, explains the type of information that is being requested and why it is required, and lists the specific detail that should be presented in a PQQ.

Focusing on formal tenders, the guide [provides essential information to help small businesses gain a competitive edge when tendering for specific work. It provides guidance on where to look for contracts, and what to include in a tender for the best chance of success.

Apart from assisting businesses in winning work, these guides are also useful for organisations looking for suppliers - the information included can be used to point service providers towards qualifying criteria.

"We have developed these products to help small businesses take advantage of low carbon business opportunities," said executive director of the Skills Academy Cathryn Hickey.

She added: "Having the right qualifications and skills in renewables opens up a number of new business streams for companies. The comprehensive information on pre-qualifying and tendering will allow them to go further, developing their business."

The tendering guide is available free when purchased with the PQQ support portfolio at Â£24.99, or is available separately at Â£5.99, both from www.nsaet.org.uk/products.

The National Skills Academy for Environmental Technologies is a network of low carbon and renewables training. Consisting of 20 hubs, supported by a further 100 providers located nationwide.

UK needs to increase resilience to climate change

2012-02-03 09:12:05

A report released by Defra shows that the UK needs to adapt to the threats posed by climate change.

The Climate Change Risk Assessment (CCRA) highlights the top 100 challenges to the UK and its economy and provides evidence of the need to increase resilience. In order to provide a baseline for decisions by government, local authorities and businesses, the research does not take into account any future policies or plans. However, a government report published alongside the CCRA does highlight the current and future policies already in place that will address some of the risks identified.

Speaking at the launch of the CCRA, environment secretary Caroline Spelman said: â€œThis world class research provides the most comprehensive case yet on why we need to take action to adapt the UK and our economy to the impacts of climate change. It shows what life could be like if we stopped our preparations now, and the consequences such a decision would mean for our economic stability."

Among the key risks the report identifies, in the event the UK took no further action against climate change, are hotter summers with an increase in premature deaths, an increased demand for energy to cool buildings, increased risk of drought affecting timber yields and an increased risk of flooding.

To read the full report visit Defra's website.

Guide to sustainable leisure buildings

2012-02-01 14:52:57

Chris Norburn provides advice on how companies in the leisure sector can increase energy efficiency and reduce costs.

The leisure sector is an energy-hungry industry. The demand for well heated, comfortable premises, often with 24-hour access, means the sector uses high volumes of gas, electricity and water.

All leisure organisations want to reduce the amount of energy they use, but itâ€™s imperative that their customers also enjoy the experience of being there. Whether itâ€™s a golf club, health centre or entertainment complex, energy managers must strike the right balance between saving energy and optimising the experience of the customer.

Fortunately, there are a number of steps that can be taken to effectively manage the energy thatâ€™s used without it having a negative impact on the enjoyment of the customer. Centralised, open-platform controls â€“ or building management systems (BMS) â€“ of all heating, ventilating, air conditioning, water and lighting systems will reduce energy when appropriately managed.

Where energy is wasted

Swimming pools

Typically, pools need to maintain a minimum temperature 24/7. As such, ambient pool areas can be no more than 1Â°C above or below this temperature. Consequently, the ventilation in the pool area also needs to run seven days a week. Large heating boilers are required to maintain this constant load, with fans being designed to handle peak load requirements.

Manual or automated liquid pool covers can be used to reduce heat loss during non-occupancy periods, as this will lessen the demand on the boilers heating the pool. Using these liquid pool covers will also allow vent controls to be â€˜backed offâ€™ due to the reduced heat from the pool. It also means that the air flow speed of fans can be reduced through the fitting of variable speed driver and controlled via demand controls.

As pools require constant heating, combined heat and power (CHP) engines can be installed to reduce costs. These can have a large upfront cost, but the paybacks can be achieved very quickly, due to the self-generating electricity reducing the need for supply. Other benefits of such a system include the generation of free heat from the process being fed into the boiler system to reduce gas usage. All of these steps can be monitored and controlled from the centralised BMS system.

Lighting

Lighting is generally enabled on staff arrival and disabled when staff leave, which can be anything up to 16 hours a day. Similarly, while aerobic studios only have a handful of classes per day (approximately 45 minutes each), rooms are often ventilated, air conditioned and lit throughout the day. The same can be said of offices, plant rooms, changing rooms and conference rooms.

Leisure managers should investigate if lighting in general areas can be reduced and still meet health and safety requirements. The same can also apply to offices, plant rooms and restaurants. Do all the lights need to be on, or can partial lighting be used â€“ under specific criteria â€“ at certain times of the day and night? Lighting controls, such as occupancy and lux sensors, can also be used in partially occupied common rooms and these sensors can control the air conditioning in the same room.

Using the most efficient lighting systems and types of light fittings â€“ including dimmable lights, LEDs and at least T5 low wattage fittings â€“ should also be considered as a way of reducing long-term spending on energy.

In addition, managers should consider that most modern facilities are built with large amounts of glazing, which allow natural daylight into a site. Often, this isnâ€™t used in conjunction with lighting systems, but it could and should be. If a site has high amounts of glazing, window solar shade should also be installed, as this will reduce heat gain and glare from outside conditions.

Water

Due to the large number of water outlets within a leisure complex (taps, showers, toilets and urinals, etc), a huge amount of water is used â€“ and wasted â€“ every day.

Showers and taps may drip, or even be â€˜allowedâ€™ to be left partially on, which can add up to being a real drain on resources. All buildings are susceptible to leaks and if these occur onsite, they can prove very costly. Itâ€™s important that water is automatically metered to monitor for this and alert the leisure manager to the need for instant repair.

All taps and showers should be aerated, meaning that flow rates are reduced, but feel the same as appliances with a high flow rate. If all taps are push-type models, or are sensor controlled, this can typically save between 30 and 60% of the water thatâ€™s used on one site.

Urinals should also have sensor controls fitted to boost efficiency and, where feasible, WCs should have cistern bags fitted. In addition, itâ€™s advisable that paper towels are removed and replaced with hand driers â€“ a saving of approximately Â£1,200 can be made per year for each drier thatâ€™s fitted.

What next?

The first step for any company thatâ€™s considering an energy management solution is for an energy survey to be carried out. These surveys will analyse where energy is being wasted, where it can be optimised and propose solutions that will reduce the amount of energy thatâ€™s used and the money spent on it. Fees may be charged for these surveys, but in some cases, they could be free.

With rising energy costs and the introduction of new legislation, the hospitality and leisure industries should seriously consider energy management systems if they have not previously. They can be installed with the minimum of disruption and enable leisure organisations to develop as a sector and keep their customers happy.

Top tips for the leisure sector

Adopt an energy policy for all staff
Implement automated meter reading systems to report on energy usage on at least a daily basis
Ensure large appliances only run where there is a demand for them
Automatically control the lighting, heating, ventilating and air conditioning in partially occupied general areas
Install controls in all studios that will reduce wastage when rooms are unoccupied
Report and fix any dripping appliances and/or leaks as soon as possible
Ensure that swimming pools have a manual pool cover as a minimum
Implement an effective maintenance regime and an in-house engineer
All members of the maintenance team to leave unoccupied areas with systems turned off
Fit thermostatic valves to radiators.

Chris Norburn is managing director of NCS â€“ a Manchester-based energy management company.

This article appeared in the January/February 2012 issue of Greenbuild magazine. For a free subscription click here.

Home green home â€“ newbuild housing and sustainability

2012-01-31 10:55:45

Come the bleak midwinter, itâ€™s not easy building houses. Nevertheless the Church Hall Gardens eco-development weâ€™ve been building in Grendon, Warwickshire, has now been completed and we have delivered on our promise of true eco-homes.

The walls, extra thick insulation and windows are fitted to exceptional standards, preventing heat loss, the kitchens are fully fitted with minimum A-rated appliances, even down to the eco-taps with their water-saving mechanism. There is underfloor heating downstairs, which is more efficient than traditional radiators. Thereâ€™s even the promised bike shed and rotary washing line in the gardens to promote the green concept.

The three main big-ticket items (or the â€˜eco-blingâ€™, as I call it) for our project are the photovoltaic panels, the air source heat pump and the rainwater harvesting system. Itâ€™s important to point out that these things alone do not an eco-home make - itâ€™s all the other tiny details that make the build what it is. It doesnâ€™t help there are a few misconceptions about the way these things work: for instance, PV panels require daylight to work, not sunlight. The air source heat pump works like a fridge in reverse and works even at outside temperatures of -20C and the rainwater harvesting system has some filtrations and is used as flushing water, thus saving on water bills.

There were a few hitches in putting all these elements together on site and it was clear to see, as we came up to the point of fitting with missing or wrong parts and so on, that the industry is still taking baby steps in this area. Itâ€™s not surprising given the enormity of the accompanying kit for each item of green equipment. Obviously as the technology becomes more widely used, it will all become a lot slicker in the process, but right now it pays to have an eagle eye and a fair piece of knowledge on what youâ€™re doing when it comes to the fitting.
As mentioned in the previous diary entry, itâ€™s not only the build technology thatâ€™s been new and exciting.

Weâ€™re marketing in a completely different way and â€“ as well as taking cyberspace by storm â€“ weâ€™ve been putting out interviews on local radio, something we wouldnâ€™t have thought of doing before. Normally newbuild housing wouldnâ€™t attract much interest, but add the prefix â€˜ecoâ€™ and suddenly theyâ€™re ready to talk. It hasnâ€™t even been that difficult to attract interest from the media â€“ and even the nationals have been sniffing around, so weâ€™re clearly doing something of note. Weâ€™d even go so far as to say, with the latest marketing blitz, we had above-average interest pre-Christmas, which isnâ€™t the kindest time of year to those in the building trade.

One of our marketing mainstays is that, although these eco-homes have been more expensive to build, we have been careful to price them at no more than a standard equivalent newbuild. Weâ€™ve have been rigorous in keeping the cost as low as possible while maintaining the absolute highest of standards. However, itâ€™s fair to say that the main difficulty in this whole project was the bringing together of the materials, the technology, the build quality and the people all together under one roof. Iâ€™m glad to say we feel weâ€™ve succeeded â€“ and hopefully given the green light to anyone else contemplating the same.

For more details visit ukecohomes.co.uk or email info@ukecohomes.co.uk

This article appeared in the January/February 2012 issue of Greenbuild. For a free subscription, click here.