Category Archives: events

Fringe climate events at conservative conference, Blackpool

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There is an impressive series of fringe events being organised by Climate Clinic along side the conference next week in Blackpool. Of note is the Ask an Architect event on Monday and Tuesday, hosted by the RIBA, billed as

Get advice from some of Britain’s best green architects on creating new, environmentally friendly buildings or improving the energy performance of existing buildings. Understand the science of climate change and get advice from the science experts – Met Office Sustainable Energy Advice – learn about easy steps you can take to be more energy efficient – Energy Saving Trust

I am hoping to get to some of these events and will feedback through here.

Updated -comments here: conservatives, blackpool and the built environment

Details at Climate Clinic

Carbon Accounting for the Construction Industry

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Noticed this (free) Envirowise event in Loughborough on 30th Oct.   Delighted to see David Hampton (Carbon Coach) is one of the speakers. I plan to attend and report back through here, and hopefully track down that elusive Construction Carbon Calculator.

For Lancashire Best Practice Club members – this is the type of event we need to host here in Lancs.  I will investigate.

Construction Knowledge Exchange

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I am delighted that isite, fairsnape and CKE are now working together to bring news of CKE’s events and projects (focusing on the North West activities) through this blog.  We also welcome Andrea Pye, CKE, as a guest blogger and contributor.   Welcome to the blogosphere!

The newly created CKE page to this blog will carry more details of the events, news, and project case sudies.  In addition we are working on thecreation of a similar relationship and dedicated blog space for the Women in Construction project currently under way as part of the CKE programme.

Project Management – yesterday today and tomorrow

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Last night I presented to the NW CIOB Students meeting at UCLAN on the topic of project management, modern methods – subtitled OM yesterday today and tomorrow.  The slides in pdf format are available over on the events page.

LBPC Event 20 September – demo projects…

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A reminder that the Lancashire Best Practice Club demonstration project event is scheduled for this Thursday – details on the events page.

There is one change to the published programme in that Phil Wright, Managing Director, will be speaking on behalf of Birse Coastal in lieu of Andrew Mason.

Measuring carbon savings in existing buildings

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It has long been recognised within the blogosphere at least that the biggest contribution the built environment can make to national and global carbon reductions is through existing building stock, not only through the drive for zero carbon homes by 2016 for example.

And in case we need reminding why existing buildings are key, Cyril Sweett estimate that by 2050, 60% of UK buildings will still predate 2006 Building Regs, with corresponding high fuel consumption and carbon emissions. Barring a massive technological improvement in electricity generation at source, our only option is to address existing stock. (Elemental)

Today is the start of the CIBSE 100 days of carbon clean up.

It is good to see programmes like this that address the existing building stock. Signing up to this programme will give you the guidance and tools to reduce energy and carbons within your buildings, including TM22 – the CIBSE guide to measuring carbon savings. For example are you aware of the following carbon emission factors?

  • Natural Gas: 0.194kg CO2/kWh
  • LPG: 0.235kg CO2/kWh
  • Oil: 0.265kg CO2/kWh
  • Biomass: 0.025kg CO2/kWh
  • Electricity: 0.422kg CO2/kWh

Bit of a difference there between electricity and biomass!
Check out the CIBSE programme and make a saving and contribution today.

Making refurbishment a green opportunity

In addition CIBSE are hosting the Great Refurbishment Event

or refurbishment of commercial buildings both on client or consultancy side, then the Great Refurbishment Event held at The Royal Society, London on the 24 October 2007 is a must attend event for you. Experts throughout the building services world will share with you their strategies and techniques to take you from the planning stage through to integrating your refurbishment into improving your energy performance.

Second Life – the space between real worlds?

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I (or my Avatar) took a look around the Second Life exhibition that illustrates what architects and designers are doing within second life.

Fascinating stuff.

The exhibition, called Portal The Space Between Real and the Other Real, opened within second life yesterday and runs until Nov 4th. Organised by Odyssey and introduced as:

In the past, architects and designers have used the virtual world as a workspace in which to experiment and develop prototypes for real world projects. In recent years we’ve seen the growth of networked 3D environments in which users socialise, play games, establish businesses and even fall in love. With millions of registered users of these environments worldwide, the Virtual World is no longer simply the sweatshop for the Real World; it’s fast becoming the Other Real World.

This exhibition is a portal to the virtual architectures of Second Life, a 3D online community where people can fly, and the laws of physics generally don’t apply. While a virtual building doesn’t provide much in the way of shelter, it still functions as a stage for interaction and an effective way to signify identity. As a consequence, there are plenty of fantasy palaces and Barbie mansions in Second Life, but there are also other sites where architects have been able to rethink the possibilities of human interaction with the built environment.”

This is a good opportunity for exploring design and the built environment within second life.

If you can handle SLurls (Second Life urls) the location is here

If you would like a guided tour to this event, and other areas in second life, contact my avatar Brand Woodin, who would be happy to meet you, within Second Life, and help with getting around and other aspects of this ‘other real world’

Demonstration Event – 20th Sept

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The next Lancashire Best Practice club event will be held on the 20th Sept at Leyland and will look at coastal demonstration projects at Cleveleys and Morecambe.  Demonstration projects aim to showcase best practice within the industry .

More details, flyers and registration forms available on the events page.


Green breakfast in Lancashire 12 Sept

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Lancashire Economic Partnership (LEP) are hosting a free green breakfast networking event, Profit the Environment and your Business, aimed at construction and manufacturing businesses on 12 Sept.  From the LEP website:

– Are you taking effective measures to reduce your carbon footprint?
– Is your competitiveness stalling on environmental performance?
– Are you buying energy at the best time and price?
– Are your green credentials strong enough to win new business?
– Is your business exposed to energy risk?
– Are you in full control of your water supply and wastewater?
– How much profit are you throwing out with the waste?
– Are you ready for new environmental legislation coming your way?

more info and registration at the LEP website

North of England Innovation

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Following on from our Best Practice Club Innovation event: I have received details of the North of England Excellence Innovation event on the 25th July at Haddock Park Racecourse

The circular states:

This promises to be a lively and stimulating event. Led by Paul Sloane of the BQF and Destination Innovation the evening will include a talk on Innovation and Leadership followed by some thought provoking and interactive group working. This will be aimed at showing delegates a number of creative problem solving techniques. Continue reading →