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Sustainable construction roadshow success.
01/03/2010
Almost 1500 people attended a series of roadshows put on to give construction industry information about sustainable energy products and techniques.
Six events were held as part of the East Midlands New Technology Initiative’s Innovation in Sustainable Construction scheme funded by Learning and Skills Council. They were open to students, designers, specialist constructors, architects and builders who wanted to find out more about the products and technologies which are increasingly being used in domestic and commercial construction.
Under Innovation in Sustainable Construction six colleges, Chesterfield, West Nottinghamshire, Derby, Lincoln, Stephenson and Leicester, have developed a new role as a source of independent and specialist knowledge. Each college is focusing on one specific area and developing a bank of knowledge for businesses to access.
Project manager, Professor Roy Morledge of Nottingham Trent University said: “Our initial survey showed that businesses want to know more about the sustainable construction techniques and are being discouraged by a lack of information. The technology displayed at the roadshows is quickly moving from one-off installations to core construction specification requirements. The change is being driven by Government building regulations and environmentally conscious consumers but needs to be embraced by all in the building business. The roadshows were the chance to see first-hand what the technology can do and how it can be incorporated at the earliest stages of construction.”
Chesterfield College is researching water management products - including rainwater harvesting and greywater recycling; West Nottinghamshire College is focussing on renewables, electricity and energy and Derby College has a specialist advisor on modern methods of construction, including timber frame and pre cast reinforced concrete products. Lincoln College is collecting information on products and techniques. to maintain a comfortable internal environments during both hot and cold weather with thermal mass products in buildings; Stephenson College is specialising in renewable energy products, while Leicester College is focussing on weather compensating controls and ways of interlinking two or more heat sources such as solar power and electricity, into a heating system.
Specialist advisors will provide consultation, independent advice, and run awareness raising events to encourage small and medium sized businesses to adopt more innovative products and processes at early stages of project development.