AECB annual Conference 2006
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Welcome to the resource page for this years AECB annual conference held at the Genesis Project, Taunton.
Here you will find documents relating to the conference, including presentations given during workshops.
Resources from this year's Workshops
The AECB Gold and Silver Standards
David Olivier
Responding to the need for improved building standards for thermal efficiency and reducing carbon emissions the AECB has developed a range of standards this workshop will look at the technical details of the AECB Gold & Silver Standards.
Improving energy efficiency in older traditional buildings
Richard Oxley
This workshop highlights the advantages of older traditional buildings and how to improve their energy efficiency in appropriate and effective ways; so that the building, the occupants and the environment can all benefit.
Breathing Structures & Airtightness. Having your cake and eating it
Peter Warm
As the thermal efficiency of buildings improve, more and more time must be spent designing and installing details that will make it airtight. Whist close attention to insulation and airtightness clearly has a huge impact on the efficiency and quality of the building does this demand affect the concept of so called “Breathing Structures” or can the two work together and if so how?
Is more than the minimum insulation under floor a waste of money
Mike George, Andrew Geens and Max Graham, University of Glamorgan
Following on from 2 thought provoking articles in Building For A Future a chance to look at and discuss the results of Glamorgans research into underfloor insulation.
Successfully using Lime
Rob Buckley Dorset Rural Skills Centre
While Lime is much loved by the green building sector do people really know how and where to use it and why do they have problems with it. Rob will look at how to specify and use this popular alternative to cement based products.
Micro Generation Green energy for the people?
Nick Martin, Hockerton Housing Assoc To be Confirmed
Local micro generation with wind turbines is being sold a major way of reducing carbon emissions. Fitting a turbine to your roof is the latest “green signpost” while a well placed turbine correctly installed can be an efficient and cost effective way of producing electricity is it a serious option for the mass housing market or just a cynical marketing exercise.
Part L In practice and beyond
Professor Bob Lowe
The new part L has been running for 3 months what is its impact and has it proved an effective way of improving the efficiency of buildings. Or has the system proved to complex for professionals in clients alike. Undoubtedly there will be new regulations in future, what is the best way of improving the standards on in the future.
The Green Electricity Illusion
Cath Hassell & David Olivier
Following their article in BFF Cath Hassell and David Olivier explain why electric space heating is such a bad environmental choice and the options for designers, whether on or off the gas network
Building a market for sustainable houses
Charles Couzens, Somerset Trust For Sustainable Development
Julian Brookes, Green moves.
Research shows that house buyers are prepared pay extra for more efficient buildings but housing developers are still failing produce houses that exceed basic building regulations. A fake “Shaker Style Kitchen” is still seen more sellable than extra insulation or solar panels. How do we stimulate a market for sustainable housing, What are the stumbling points What do purchasers really want and what are the cost implications for the developer.
Light weight / Heavy weight
Damian Horton, Max Fordnam LLP
Explore the old chestnut, heavyweight versus lightweight construction. Can timber buildings stay cool in a warming climate? When does thermal mass save energy and when does it waste it? Are phase change materials the answer or an unnecessary complication? Bill will give a brief outline of the relationship between mass, insulation and thermal gains and will provide some rules of thumb and warn of common pitfalls.
The AECB Any Questions Panel Discussion
The 2006 panel included:
Professor Bob Lowe , a physicist with a broad interest in the field of buildings, energy and sustainability. Until last month he was Head of the Buildings and Sustainability Group at Leeds Metropolitan University where he directed numerous laboratory, field and desk studies relating to climate change and the energy and environmental performance of housing. These included the Stamford Brook project (funded by DTI, National Trust and the construction industry), which is trialling an enhanced energy performance standard for new housing. He is a member of the FMNectar Consortium which is supporting the ODPM in the development of UK building performance standards. In March 2006 he joined The Bartlett School of Graduate Studies at University College London, as Professor of Energy and Building Science.
Bill Watts, senior partner at Max Fordham LLP , a practice of Consulting Building Services and Environmental engineers. He did a degree in Zoology before joining the practice as a trainee engineer in 1980. He has been applying the principles of the biological world to the built one for the past 26 years. He has been developing and implementing innovative environmental solutions to a variety of building types including schools, houses, offices, galleries and swimming pools. His involvement in "zero carbon" projects gives him an insight into what are the real problems in delivering them and talks candidly about successes and more importantly, failures. From working on zero carbon buildings he has developed an interest in a zero carbon UK which has led to forthright opinions on how it should be done.
Suzy Edwards , a freelance sustainability consultant and BRE Associate with over 9 years experience in life cycle assessment and building materials. She also has extensive experience of environmental campaigning, e.g. launching the Alliance Against Urban 4x4s and with the Sustainable Development Foundation and recently orchestrated a campaign on Part L and the Code for Sustainable Building . They are now exploring how an effective environmental campaign could change people's perception of buildings and climate change. In addition to that, she is planning to establish an environmental space in London with her company, Beautiful Contradiction. Suzy is the vice-chair of the Camden LA21 group and is working to improve the council performance on climate change through action across their remit.
Dr David Strong, Managing Director, BRE Environment graduated from Bath University in 1976 with a degree in Environmental Engineering. He was subsequently awarded a Doctorate by Oxford University for the development of a domestic gas fired heat pump. In 1980 David was responsible for licensing and importing the first gas condensing boiler to be marketed in the UK . In 1982 David moved to Switzerland to develop geo-thermal power generation. Upon his return to the UK he worked for W.S. Atkins as an energy consultant and as Sales and Marketing Director of the Shell Contract Energy Management Company, Emstar. In 1992 he became a Director of the Electricity Research Centre, E.A. Technology, Capenhurst, and in 1998 joined the Building Research Establishment as Managing Director of the Energy Division. In 2004 BRE Environment was formed and now employs about 250 specialists working on all aspects of the built environment. David is also a Visiting Professor at the School of the Built Environment, Nottingham University .
