White Paper Review: the Government Energy White Paper commits to 60% carbon dioxide savings by 2050, but is it all just spin? - Mark Gorgolewski

Off-site fabrication: is prefabrication the answer to introducing waste minimalisation in the construction industry?

Power plants: How houseplants purify the air… An extract from ‘Eco-friendly Houseplants’… Bill Wolverton

The BIG Timber Debate: timber has a vital role to play in environment- conscious building, yet it is clear that the timber industry is having a devastating effect on the environment. So, how can we ensure that we build with and specify timber as sustainably as possible?

One million sustainable homes!: recent ecological footprinting techniques have shown that sustainable living would require a considerable reduction in present levels of consumption, which currently exceed sustainable levels by one third globally. If everyone on the planet were to live as we do in the UK, three planets would be needed to sustain us. The Worldwide Fund for Nature (WWF), tired of waiting for the industry to sort out its problems, intervenes on our behalf.

Local and organic building: this project highlights teamwork - Cherry Orchards is a residential care home for adults with mental health problems. It is situated on a 17 acre organic farm on the northerly slope of a beautiful wooded valley on the edge of Bristol. The organic farm is a vital part of the community, with full organic certification, providing food for the community, and a place to work, learn and heal for the residents - Adele Mills of Simmonds Mills Architects.

A Tinker in the woods!: the old house had been plonked down in the middle of a 1/3 acre plot, and the edge of the garden planted up with a variety of largely ornamental trees. It ignored the views, it ignored the sun, it was cold, damp and dark throughout the day. Mark Tinker explains how he sorted it...

Holywell Mead: the building associated with this open-air swimming pool was constructed during the 1950s, and is now operated in the summer season by Wycombe Leisure Ltd, on behalf of Wycombe District Council. The new Environment Centre brings the original pool cafe building back into beneficial use, after twenty years of vacancy. The architects for the project, Rickaby Thompson Associates, tell us more...
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