Green and Sustainable Building

Everyday we read in the press about our need to reduce our CO2 emissions. Here are some facts about the building industry:
 

• 50% of all materials produced annually around the World are used in construction
• 45% of all energy is used in buildings
• 40% of all water is used in buildings
• 46% of all CO2  emissions (the main cause of global warming) come from buildings

Measuring the environmental impact of materials can be divided into three areas:

• The energy required to extract the raw material from source, engineer the material to produce the final product and transportation to end user.
• The amount of toxins & CO2  emissions generated during extraction, manufacture, use & disposal
• Impact on resource depletion; potential for re-usability/recycling; biodegradability.

The amount of energy used by the product in its life cycle of production, use & disposal/reuse is known as embodied energy.

The government is encouraging us to increase the insulation in all buildings both commercial and residential. This will enable us to reduce our energy consumption, thus conserving valuable resources and cutting carbon emissions.

You may wish to visit the Eco Zone at The Building Centre in Store Street WC1E 7BT. It is dedicated to the promotion of ecologically sound technologies. A variety fo sustainable products, from thermal insulation, wind turbines, air & ground source heat pumps, flood resistant paving, rainwater collection and recycling, energy efficient boilers, solar water heaters and photovoltaics are showcased here.

To support the products on show, The Building Centre has many sustainable product manufactures’ technical brochures available in hardcopy or electronic format on this website.

You may wish to purchase our Essential Guide entitled ‘Green Building’ which gives you vital information on products to include in an eco-friendly home. Most alternative energy technologies are included, as well as ideas for water saving and natural and recycled products.

Green and Sustainable Building News

Construction sector lifted by new work Published: 09/03/2010 13:53:09   " Construction firms are still facing a tough trading environment, but the latest figures from the Office of National Statistics (ONS) provided some rea... "

Poor insulation costs £500m Published: 05/03/2010 17:27:14   " British homes could have saved £500 million last year if their homes had been better insulated. Government figures released this morning... "

Construction sector shows signs of stability Published: 03/03/2010 14:04:41   " Britain's construction firms are still having a tough time as a result of the wider economic conditions, but there were some reasons to be positive th... "

Sustainable building event kicks off in London Published: 01/03/2010 13:05:44   " Green and sustainable building practices will be showcased at a... "

Solar panels cut bills for logistics firm Published: 01/03/2010 13:04:48   " A Gloucestershire-based logistics firm says it will cut its energy bills and its carbon footprint after securing the use of a state-of-the-art sustain... "