zerochampion

The Green Way

Back in 2003 when I was full-time at Building - yes those bygone print days - I got to know Mark Way pretty well. A thoroughly nice bloke he was at architect and engineer RMJM at the time as head of research. He'd dreamt up a simple yet great concept called Soft Landings, which I wrote an article on it back in 2003. As a typical hack I moved on to the next subject and have given the idea little thought in the intervening years. Until a piece I spotted in BSRIA's website came to my attention which promises to give Way's vision renewed momentum.

Swiss Re's disappearing natural ventilation

Here's a cautionary and probably typical tale for post-occupation. Swiss Re was dubbed "London's first ecological building" when it was completed back in 2003, which would lead to up to 50% less energy use than a traditional office. This was partly down to its natural ventilation system. Martin Spring's revisit in today's Building offers the reality - Richard Stead, the current property services director says such savings are "a bit over-ambitious" as now that the building is multi-lease only one occupant (Swiss Re itself) is using natural ventilation. Why so - maximum comfort, tenants that want confidentiality who put up partitions and a lack of financial incentive in energy savings for firms that are paying top dollar rents for grade-a space.

Letter from Brussels

EUSEW and So

Back from a very wet Brussels, dodging in and out of extraordinarily named buildings (Berlaymont, Breydel, Charlemagne) and each one down a different rainswept traffic-ridden street from a central roundabout, it was clear that the EU's Sustainable Energy Week would take more cracking than just one day. The requirements to show passports, remove outwear and pass through scanners whenever entering a building slowed the whole thing down somewhat and made me pine (extraordinarily) for the NEC. Getting into the enormous Berlaymont, where the Commissioners commission for a press briefing, involved registration of passport numbers and took about half an hour.

The Weekly Green Gauge

Just say POE

If there's anything we can learn from the "Princess Diana is Still Dead" court case (I presume it's a court case although it could quite easily be a strange dream someone had after eating too many Cheezy Wotsits) it is surely that hopes and reality - both ours and Diana's - are often sharply at variance. "Being a princess isn't all it's cracked up to be," she once said with some understatement.

Post occupation evaluation, the defence

Trust an engineer to perform a close reading of a House of Commons committee hearing. Iain Fraser, environmental engineer, from Chapman Bathurst has responded to my recent report that only 9% of Government buildings meet eco-standards saying that the thinks it most unlikely that the BRE will consent to a BREEAM-lite since it is so well-established and "as they see it fit for purpose." It was the suggestion of the committee head, Edward Leigh MP who had noted that smaller projects were more likely to lack BREEAM rating.

Witty Wicks

To the House of Commons last night for a birthday bash in honour of the Association for the Conservation of Energy, which is a quarter of a century old. Very well attended, not least by a barrage of politician keen to display their environmental credentials. I spotted quiet a few Liberal Dem MPs and Lords, deputy mayor Nicky Gavron and a sprinkling of Tories and former ministers, including former energy minister Elliott Morley. Guest of honour was current incumbent Malcolm Wicks, who's been having a rare old of time of it of late.

Property predictions

Today's Property Week offers a crystal ball on 2008. I've been thinking the sector would be completely obsessed with the credit crunch so could potentially lose interest in sustainability, but the experts writing in the magazine suggest otherwise. Four main predictions are made (the articles are subscriber only, I'm afraid):

Energy Performance Certificates update

Interesting online seminar held by Property Week yesterday on energy performance certificates (you can still download it on their site after a brief registration). here's some highlights:

• How much do they cost? - There was a general consensus from the expert panel of three that a certificate for a large building would costs in the region of £2-3,000. WSP Energy director Chris Stubbs pointed out the likelihood of a bottle-neck when the roll out out takes place next year when demand for them will reach sky high so the price may go up.

Widening the net

There's always the danger with discussions on sustainability that you end up discussing life, the universe and everything. It happened to me a few times this week. It can be slightly defeating as the detail and basics need to be right before you can start trying to change the world. But that shouldn't preclude a widening of discussions. Two disparate issues I considered with a couple of experts need much more thought - the law and IT.

The last 10% problem

I had a very interesting discussion with an experience project manager this morning. He voiced an endemic problem in the industry which he dubbed 'the last 10% problem'. This is being experienced at the extreme end of the industry on the biggest scheme of recent years, Terminal 5 - the team are in a bit of a panic to hit the March 2008 deadline according to Building. The problem is pretty simple - project teams lose enthusiasm near the end of the project, just when the need for effort and focus is at its greatest.

Sign of things to come

News reaches me via email of a tie-up over the in the States between the US Green Building Council and the International Facility Management Association (IFMA). They have signed a memorandum of understanding to work together on training and co-sponsoring events. Just the kind of joined-up thinking needed to get different sectors talking to each other. For too long FM has been a bit part player in sustainable discussions. Hopefully there are moves to follow this lead in the UK.