Latest products, projects stories, news and comments from Buildingtalk Editor, Howard Chapman

Northcot Brick factory in the Cotswolds

“I recently visited the UK’s most historic brickworks to see why their business is booming. Northcot Brick use nearby Jurassic clay from the Cotswolds to make beautiful traditional bricks. Some were used to build the original Battersea Power Station which is now the focus of a major regeneration project on the south bank of the Thames near my home in London. Great to see master brickmakers successfully combining craftsmanship with new technologies.

I was also invited to the Foamglas manufacturing facility in Belgium to see why this fascinating cellular glass insulation, made mainly from recycled glass, is increasingly specified as a sustainable insulation system for the complete building envelope. You can make your own factory visit via the video with this story.

Last week’s FABRIC FIRST event at the NEC was an opportunity for me to get away from ‘EcoBling’ and get back to the basics of what will truly impact buildings, both new and refurbished, to deliver significant energy efficiencies. My report below includes just a few of the highlights plus a link to all the presentations

Finally, a warning about women. New research shows that they make 93% of purchasing decisions, including on home improvements – ignore them at your peril”.

Link to TOP 10 stories in latest BUILDINGTALK NEWSLETTER

Link to VIDEO OF THE WEEK

Links to TWEETS OF THE WEEK

First football stadium LED floodlighting in Europe at Southampton FC who were 1st with full floodlighting 64 yrs ago

UK’s largest sustainable commercial building to be built, Uni of East Anglia’s new Enterprise Centre

See league tables of top Contractors in London

Public health risks from shale gas extraction will be low if operations are properly run, see final report

Difficult decisions ahead on infrastructure says ICE & new report blames problems on Government cuts

Women: ignore them at your peril. 93% of UK women make purchasing decisions in their family including on home improvements 

Is new £150m Govt funding to help finance plots for custom build [Self Build] housing good news for house building industry – yes/no?

Infrastructure must become more resilient to extreme weather conditions according to new report