Getting results with building LCA

  As described in the earlier article Why building LCA?, BREEAM New Construction 2018 requires building LCA to be carried out for the new Mat 01 issue. The requirements in Mat 01 focus on rewarding good quality building LCA through comparison with a benchmark and options appraisal. Starting with the project brief/requirements, designers use building … Continue reading “Getting results with building LCA”

BREEAM – Why building LCA?

  Life cycle assessment (LCA) is used to total up the environmental impact of a product’s supply chain. Providing sufficient data is available on the product’s composition and supply chain, LCA can be used to work out the environmental impact of almost anything from a can of baked beans to a car. The results of … Continue reading “BREEAM – Why building LCA?”

Inspiring places: Brighton Waste House- a living laboratory for ecological architectural design

The Brighton Waste House features the installation of 20,000 toothbrushes, 2 tonnes of denim jeans and 4,000 DVD cases and is one of the first permanent public buildings in Europe to be constructed from nearly 90% waste. 300 students studying construction trades, architecture and design had the opportunity to work on the project and experience … Continue reading “Inspiring places: Brighton Waste House- a living laboratory for ecological architectural design”

Fellowship opportunity at BRE Centre for Innovative Construction Materials at University of Bath

The BRE Centre for Innovative Construction and the at the University of Bath is currently seeking to recruit a new academic staff position (Prize Fellow) for an early career researcher in Innovative Construction Materials. The position will lead to a permanent academic staff position. This new position comes as the Department of Architecture & Civil … Continue reading “Fellowship opportunity at BRE Centre for Innovative Construction Materials at University of Bath”

Materials for 3D Printing Using Drones – PhD Opportunity

This exciting PhD studentship will develop materials specifically for 3D printing civil engineering structures using autonomous drones.  Based at the University of Bath the candidate will form part of an interdisciplinary team of researchers at Imperial College London and University College London contributing to the objectives of the EPSRC Autonomous manufacturing grant ‘Aerial Additive Building … Continue reading “Materials for 3D Printing Using Drones – PhD Opportunity”

Route map for low carbon concrete

Approximately 5% of the global carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions caused by humans currently arise from cement production. As a consequence, there is commercial interest in developing low-carbon cements and related binders suitable for use ‘at scale’ in concrete production. One variety of these is known as ‘alkali-activated binders’ or ‘AA binders’. Alkali-activated binders and concretes … Continue reading “Route map for low carbon concrete”

Sustainable refurbishment – how to better understand, measure and reduce the embodied impacts

Around 10% of UK emissions are associated with the manufacture and transport of construction materials, and the construction process; and refurbishment projects make up a significant percentage of activities in the built environment. The UK is committed to reducing carbon emissions by 80% by 2050; savings linked to refurbishment will have an important part to play in meeting this target. … Continue reading “Sustainable refurbishment – how to better understand, measure and reduce the embodied impacts”

BRE introduces new test programme and guidance for low carbon cements

BRE is now offering testing services related to new performance standard PAS 8820, which has been developed for manufacturers, specifiers and designers of concrete containing alkali-activated cementitious material (ACCM*). Designed to encourage the use of AACMs in the construction industry because of their low carbon and improved fire resistance properties and resistance to chemicals and … Continue reading “BRE introduces new test programme and guidance for low carbon cements”