Archive for the ‘Technology news’ Category
BMW technology tested for use on low-energy housing
Vehicle manufacturer’s elastic skin technology is hoped to prove viable as a building material
Technology used by vehicle manufacturer BMW is being tested for use on a new cost-effective, low-energy house design.
The project, which is being undertaken by students at Harvard University Graduate School of Design and funded by architect RMJM, is investigating the use of BMW’s elastic skin technology, which was used on a recent show vehicle. Unlike conventional sheet metal, the innovative surface is flexible, of lighter weight, and uses less energy to manufacture.
Cemex defies downturn with new concrete plants
Materials producer opens replacement plants costing £3.4m in east London and Birmingham
Cemex has opened two new concrete plants, bucking the downturn in the building and housing markets. The new plants, one in Stepney, east London, and the other in Oldbury, Birmingham, replace existing plants and represent a total investment of £3.4m.
Travis Perkins reports trading on track
Materials firm says results will be in line with recent forecasts
Building materials supplier Travis Perkins has said that trading across its trade and retail divisions has been broadly in line with its last assessment in October.
In a brief statement to the stock exchange, the UK-based company said its performance has reflected the continuing difficult conditions in the construction market.
Steel workers seek pay cut to save jobs
Unions representing 25,000 Corus staff put proposal to management
Workers at steel giant Corus have offered to take a 10% pay cut to safeguard their jobs, according to reports.
According to the Financial Times, unions representing up to 25,000 staff have put forward the plan for workers to take less pay for six months. It is unknown if the proposals will be accepted by management.
Quintain starts recycling revolution at Wembley City
Envac waste recycling system sucks rubbish from homes to central collection point via underground tubes
The UK’s first automated waste collection system where rubbish is sucked from homes via underground pipes to a central collection point has been switched on today.
Profit warning at world’s largest solar cell maker
Q-Cells cuts 2008 profit forecast amid credit crisis and crashing oil price
A “flood” of cancelled and delayed renewable power projects has led the world’s largest solar panel maker to slash profit forecasts.
German firm Q-Cells is halting production at its manufacturing facility over Christmas to clear stock.
World’s first Accoya road bridge set to open
Use of modified wood enables Dutch bridge builders to dispense with protective cladding
The world’s first road bridge to be made out of the modified wood Accoya is now in place and ready to open early next year. The 50m-span bridge provides the gateway into the city of Sneek in the Netherlands and can support loads of up to 100 tonnes.
UKGBC seeks views on new non-domestic sustainability code
Green body consults on the best way forward for legislating sustainable new buildings
The UK Green Building Council is seeking views on a planned Code for Sustainable Buildings, new legislation that would cover new non-domestic buildings.
The body is running an online consultation to seek views on a new standard, which would be a follow-up to the Code for Sustainable Homes. The three-week consultation will feed into three working groups on a) technical issues b) policy/regulation issues c) ‘business case’/value issues who in turn feed into the main core task group.
Corus boss to seek financial help from prime minister
Steel firm is among several companies meeting world leaders to discuss state aid
Steel giant Corus is among the latest wave of firms meeting prime minister Gordon Brown over the possibility of receiving state aid.
Philippe Varin, chief executive of the group owned by Tata Steel, is among business leaders meeting Brown this afternoon to seek financial help from the taxpayer.
Spaniards turn to cemetery for renewable energy
Lack of sunny, open space prompts decision to put solar panels on graves
A town in Spain has covered the local cemetery in solar panels in a bid to cut its carbon emissions.
Santa Coloma de Gramanet, near Barcelona, has put 462 panels over the mausoleums in its graveyard at a cost of £608,000 and plans to increase the number.
SAP calcs leading to chilly, costly houses: green building group
AECB claims UK tools use outmoded standards from the 80s.
House builders are unwittingly designing homes which are too cold, according to a leading sustainable building organisation.
The standard assessment procedure (SAP) - which underlies the code for sustainable homes – overestimates the amount of heat in the average home, because it is based on calculations from a typical 80’s house where incandescent light bulbs and other appliances were more prevalent.
Report calls for 34% carbon cut by 2020
Government committee says renewable power and energy efficiency can keep costs below 1% of GDP
The UK must cut carbon emissions by more than one-third by 2020, the committee that advises the government on global warming has urged.
The Committee on Climate Change, chaired by Adair Turner, said that greenhouse gas emissions should be reduced by at least 34% in the next 11 years, in a report out yesterday.
London heating standards in pipeline
CHP connectivity and a “fair deal” could be lasting Olympic legacy
The Greater London Authority (GLA) will develop a technical standard for district and combined heat and power (CHP) in the capital as well as rules to ensure customers get a “fair deal” for heat.
Giant Welsh wind farm gets green light
Gwynt y Mor scheme with power for 500,000 homes could be running 2012
The newly created Department for Energy and Climate Change has given the go-ahead for construction of one of the world’s largest wind farms off the Welsh coast.
The 750MW Gwynt y Mor development, to be built 13km off the Conwy coast, will include 250 turbines and generate enough electricity for up to 500,000 UK homes.
BRE warns: Don’t misuse Green Guide
The BRE has warned that misuse of its green products selection guide could lead to a generation of badly performing buildings.
Concerns had been raised after Milton Keynes council made it mandatory for all new buildings to use materials with high ratings from the online tool, called the Green Guide.
New aerial images reveal progress at Olympic park
Construction work is well under way on the 2012 venues, as the latest images show
The latest set of aerial images of the work at Stratford show the stadium progressing rapidly, with the steel framework for the south stand already in place.
Next to the site of the Olympic village, on the other side of Stratford international station, can be seen the new Stratford City shopping centre.
Engineer prosecuted over Buncefield oil explosion
Four other firms also face criminal charges over massive site blast in 2005
A Dorset-based engineering firm is one of five companies to be prosecuted over the massive oil explosion at Buncefield which rocked the site in 2005.
The Environment Agency confirmed that criminal proceedings have begun against TAV Engineering, Total UK, Hertfordshire Oil Storage, the British Pipeline Agency and Motherwell Control Systems 2003.