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The Digest

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Here's a round-up the most significant sustainability news I've picked up in the last week:

• Valuing sustainability - Last Friday saw a group (gaggle? pride?) of surveyors gather in Vancouver to discuss the link between sustainability and building values, reports Property Week. The story is for subscribers only - I'll follow it up this week
• Curve your enthusiasm - Apparently if you arch the blade of a wind turbine it makes them 5-10% more efficient. Maria Energia (great name) reports on this on her blog
• Micro-renewables farce - Channel 4 News highlighted the fact that the Government's monthly fund for household micro-renewables is running out within hours of it being offered to the general public. The Ends Report also has coverage on the Low Carbon Buildings Programme.

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BREEAM feedback

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An exciting landmark for me. Two new comments in response to my Westminster Watch posting last week. They're both in response to how industry environmental standard BREEAM is aimed at particular markets. I'm off to the BRE, who run the certification scheme, later this week so will be much clearer on developments there. Watch this space.

Could do better

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The construction supply chain has a long way to to get to grips with the buying and subsequent disposal of materials. Two reports out this week underline the point powerfully. One from the WWF finds that the UK is the third largest importer of illegal timber in the work, around £712m a year. It reckons 65% of this, a cool £462m, is in construction.

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And new figures from website Netregs, which gives advice to firms on waste regulations, claims that two thirds of contractor don't have a site waste management plan and 60% do not realise not having one is illegal.