As the end of another year draws in, I’d like to reflect on the positive aspects of 2005. Just looking through this larger than normal issue of BFF will give you a good idea of how successful green building is becoming in the UK. Almost everyone in the industry is now coming up against sustainability in their everyday work. Some still have yet to engage with it but they will soon come around. People do like to have examples to follow and there are now plenty of high quality, sustainably sound and economically successful projects as standard bearers and these projects span all building types.
Boatemah Walk (cover story) in Angelltown, Lambeth is the second phase of a long term, carefully planned regeneration scheme which has evolved from listening to the tenants and following strict environmental criteria. It has delivered a high quality, visually appealing neighbourhood that residents are proud of and where people want to live. What better example can there be for housing associations everywhere.

Wind power special feature
Controversy is quite easy to find nowadays. Take future power needs for instance. Few are agreed on which strategies or technologies would be the best options; i.e. the wind lobby are pushing for wind, the solar lobby say solar, the nuclear lobby are back larger than life and so on and so on. But who is right? However, as I write this (mid November) it has just been announced that the price of wholesale gas has doubled in the course of just one week. Not unexpected, as it had been predicted for some time but it is certain to concentrate a few minds on real alternative energy sources for our businesses and homes.

Our special wind power feature offers three opinions (not necessarily opposing) on the prospects for the widespread uptake of roof mounted wind turbines as a means of generating power. As you will read, Nick Martin is voicing serious concerns about some claimed outputs that are circulating in the tabloids at present (and he is not a lone voice). So the warning is - don’t believe all that you read in the press.

Wind aside, this issue is jammed solid with lots of other interesting and exciting content on a wide range of issues. We need to get the messages in this and future issues to a far wider audience so tell your friends and colleagues, or better still buy them their first year’s subscription as a Christmas present!

Unique to magazine publishing
We are trying out a new feature in this issue which may revolutionise publishing or flop like bread out of the oven too soon. We have talked virtually all our authors into participating in an internet feedback forum, specifically on the articles we have published in this issue. This is a great opportunity to give the authors your feedback and we should be able to discover which subjects you enjoy or hate and from your feedback we can plan future features and reports. This feature will need reader participation to succeed.

Green Building Bible - third edition
We are beginning to focus our attention on the third edition of the Green Building Bible which we hope to publish Summer 2006. The second edition has exceeded all expectations and is one of the best selling eco building books in the UK but we want the third edition to be even better. Like the magazine, the third edition will be more interactive with a new, unique website which will be launched prior to the publication of the paper edition. We are currently looking for feedback on the second edition. What do you think of the content? What subjects did we miss? What do we need to include in the third edition? Your comments, whatever they may be, will help us to plan for the new issue. Send me an e-mail or letter by post.

As with the second edition, we are again looking for authors and section editors so send me an e-mail if you want to be involved, or wish to pull together subject matter in any area where you have the relevant expertise.

We will keep you informed of progress in the next edition of BFF and in our popular and free e-mail newsletter. If you don’t already subscribe to this then go to www.newbuilder.co.uk/newsletter to subscribe.

All that’s left is to say - enjoy your Winter edition. A big thank you to all our authors, contributors and to the BFF team. We wish you a merry little Christmas and a contented new year. Here’s to a peaceful and healthy future for our planet and its inhabitants.
Regards Keith Hall