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Welcome to the October edition of theNBS.com eNewsletter
This month, sustainable construction is on the agenda as we take a look at the Government’s approach to eco-towns and provide you with an exclusive extract from the Environmental Construction Handbook by Mike McEvoy and Anne Dye. NBS is running a series of seminars on this important topic in November. Our product showcase this month is NBS Perspective Project Edition – a free-of-charge document viewer. If you haven’t done so already, register for your free copy of RIBA Product Selector 2009. Finally, if you would like to become involved in the future direction of NBS products, consider joining the advisory panel.
Eco-towns update
A number of issues have recently given the Government cause for concern regarding eco-towns. A paper written by housing specialist PRP Architects, Urbed and lobby group Design for Homes entitled Eco-towns and beyond was recently released, arguing that eco-towns are sited in the wrong places, and publication of advice by leading lawyers in a joint law opinion argues that the Government's current approach to eco-town development is open to serious legal challenge. NBS Information Specialist Michael Smith takes a closer look.
NBS NBS Seminar Series
Three half day seminars on key issues in sustainable construction, detailing the latest regulations, offering expert guidance and providing valuable networking opportunities.
Implementing Greener Regulations for Construction, Tuesday 11th November 2008
Understanding new regulations and how they are affecting the everyday efforts of construction and design professionals.
Achieving Water Efficient Construction, Wednesday 19th November 2008
Outlining the new water efficiency regulations and summarising how designers should respond these developments.
Understanding Site Waste Management, Wednesday 26th November 2008
Explaining the current regulatory situation in site waste management and delivering sustainable solutions.
For further information about the NBS Seminar Series, including full seminar content and how to register, please click here.
Environmental construction: methods of assessing buildings
It seems at first that there are nearly as many methods of assessing a building as there are ways of defining sustainability or ways of constructing the building in the first place. The number of assessment tools is growing fast, as architects and other building consultants each devise a system which best suits their needs. The one thing they all have in common is that they measure the performance for a number of indicators, such as the sustainability indicators issued by the government, against benchmarks.
In this exclusive extract from Environmental Construction Handbook by Mike McEvoy and Anne Dye, we introduce environmental assessment methods for buildings.
View hundreds of document types with NBS Perspective
Now, you can look at and print over 250 document types without launching or incurring the cost of a license to the native software. This is great news for those in your office and wider project teams that only need to view and print these documents. They don't need to worry about having the right software or understanding how to use often complex software systems just to view and print documents.
It's also good news for you. You don't need to spend time converting files to other formats before issuing them. When you send documents in their original format from NBS Perspective, the recipient can access NBS Perspective Viewer too.
By downloading NBS Perspective Project Edition free of charge you and your colleagues can view documents in their original format with only one piece of software. To learn more about NBS Perspective and download NBS Perspective Project Edition free of charge please click here.
If your company subscribes to an NBS software product you will be eligible to at least one license for the Professional Edition of NBS Perspective. To unlock your free license call the NBS Customer Centre on 0845 456 9594.
Read more on NBS Perspective Project Edition >>
Free copies of RIBA Product Selector 2009
Save £125 on the cost of RIBA Product Selector 2009 by registering now for your free copy.
The three-volume directory is an authoritative and comprehensive desk-tool for construction industry professionals.
Thoroughly researched and updated by our in-house editorial team, your copy of RIBA Product Selector 2009 will feature over 7,800 manufacturers and suppliers, 24,000 trade names, 1,000 advisory organisations and 500 CPD providers.
Register yourself and your colleagues for free copies today to avoid missing out.
Contribute to product development along with your peers
Our Advisory Panel is a group of NBS subscribers who meet regularly with us to discuss current issues facing construction industry professionals and help shape our product development. As an Advisory Panel member you will have the opportunity to express your views and opinions regarding industry issues with other professionals and NBS staff and we will give you free of charge licences to our products for the duration of your membership.
We are currently recruiting a new panel which will contribute for the next two years. We are particularly interested in recruiting project managers, mechanical engineers and women working in the construction industry.
Recommended reading from RIBA Bookshops
Environmental Construction Handbook – Environmental Construction Handbook is an illustrated analysis of the various specific sustainability challenges presented by different building types. Based on rigorous research, it examines the consequences of contemporary construction methods and the ways in which their environmental impacts can be improved.
The Green Building Bible Volume 1 – The new edition of The Green Building Bible Volume 1 builds upon the great success of the previous edition and has been completely updated and extended to become the most comprehensive and practical introduction to green building ever.
Energy Manual: Sustainable Architecture – Following the proven model of earlier manuals in the series, the Energy Manual presents a comprehensive look at the constructional parameters of energy efficiency and sustainability. It offers an advance look at the legal regulations being planned by the EU, and – as a tool ready for immediate use by architects, engineers, and designers in their daily work – it points the way toward the efficient and sustainable construction and operation of buildings.
The Enemies of Progress: Dangers of Sustainability – This polemical book examines the concept of sustainability and presents a critical exploration of its influence on society. The author's core contention is that 'sustainability', manifested in several guises, represents a pernicious and corrosive doctrine that has survived primarily because there seems to be no alternative to its canon: in effect, he argues, its bi-partisan appeal has depressed critical engagement and neutered politics.
All books listed above are available to order from www.ribabookshops.com, from the mail order department: +44 (0) 207 256 7222 and from RIBA Bookshops in London, Birmingham, Manchester and Liverpool.
Most popular NBS articles - September
Find out what NBS website visitors are reading. This month, we round up the most popular technical articles from September on www.theNBS.com.
Environmental Permitting Regulations
The environmental permitting system for the first phase of the Environmental Permitting Regulations Programme (EPP1) came into force on April 6 2008.
Read more >>
BREEAM Assessment methods
BRE's Environmental Assessment Method (BREEAM) family is made up of a wide set of tools, developed to assist professionals when considering the environmental impacts of projects.
Read more >>
Part E: Resistance to the passage of sound: Floors
Shrinking levels of building land available for development and the Governments push to utilise brown-field and infill sites are driving the increase in town houses and domestic flats construction.
Read more >>
Recommended websites
Association for Environment Conscious Building (AECB)
UK association that seeks to encourage greater environmental awareness within the UK construction industry.
Centre for Alternative Technology (CAT)
CAT are an educational charity striving to achieve the best cooperation between the natural, technological and human worlds; key areas of work are renewable energy, environmental building, energy efficiency, organic growing and alternative sewage systems. The site includes information and a virtual tour of the centre.
EcoConstruction.org
Searchable database of recycled and reclaimed materials for construction in the UK. Also includes information on the need to recycle and the environmental impact of construction.
Low Carbon Buildings Programme
Site supporting the UK government's Low Carbon Buildings Programme (LCBP) Phase 1. This programme provides grants for the installation of microgeneration technologies in a range of buildings to include households, community organisations, public, private and the non-profit sectors. Includes details on microgeneration technologies, how to apply, information and resources, and news.
UK Green Building Council
The UK Green Building Council's mission is to dramatically improve the sustainability of the built environment by radically transforming the way it is planned, designed, constructed, maintained and operated. The site includes news and reports.
For more sustainability websites, see our Resources section.
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