World-first whole-house retrofit success + Google smart homes

World-first whole-house retrofit success Google smart homes

Effective city-wide urban retrofit is still the Holy Grail for a truly sustainable future. It is a big challenge and needs research-based solutions and perhaps some ‘blue-sky thinking’. Saint-Gobain’s support for a ‘world-first’ whole-house retrofit research project at Salford University is featured below. It is already demonstrating an impressive 63% energy saving via the installation of a range of their products.

Check-out our Twitter links to UK Green Building Council top 8 urban retrofit solutions and how Google are getting into the smart homes business.

Events news includes Solid Wood Solutions, a day on engineered timber innovations; and a European loft conversion design competition with great prizes!

With the recent Buildingtalk focus on improving safety in the industry, our VIDEO OF THE WEEK features a very simple and cost-effective way to produce Health & Safety documents online in just a few minutes.

And finally, latest economic news includes rising rents in the commercial sector with London having its best year since 2007; UK infrastructure investment will create 150,000 jobs; BarbourABI report contract values up 25% year on year; and profits are growing with Travis Perkins sales up 12.7% in Q1.

TOP 10 STORIES

Saint-Gobain systems success in a world-first whole-house retrofit research project

FAKRO announce 3rd European loft conversion design competition

Solid Wood Solutions event announces great speaker line-up

Tender applications must involve prior research of targeted company

Timber frame system enhances performance for framed construction

New steel windows for listed Art Deco restoration project at Norwich City Hall

New Elta residential ventilation product achieves top BRE test results

Silka large format blocks from Xella laid up to 4x faster

Internal window blinds offer a safe solution without cords or chains

Polyethylene pipe range provides resistance to slow crack growth

VIDEO OF THE WEEK

Online construction industry Health & Safety documents made easy

LATEST PROJECTS & OTHER STORIES

Benoy internal architecture revealed at new Marks & Spencer store in York

Fast steel construction for sustainable substructures with pre-panelised Metframe system

Impressive rise in recycling of plasterboard waste by UK manufacturers

Techdek aluminium open grille system provides cladding for new Glasgow substation

COINS wins Queen’s Award for International Trade

 Protan SE membrane helps create insulated roofs for Amazon depots in Poland

Secondary glazing installed at library to improve acoustic insulation

Kalwall system provides diffused daylighting at Canadian mausoleum

RonaDeck Resin Bound Surfacing for paths & entrance to new community hospital

TWEETS OF THE WEEK

Life cycle eTool helps UK development reduce 60% greenhouse gas emissions

Retrofitting UK Cities to 2050 – 8 actions for effective city-wide urban retrofit

Great prizes in 3rd European loft conversion design competition

London’s commercial market best year since 2007 rents rising

New £50m funding to unlock locally-led housing developments

UK infrastructure investment to create 150,000 jobs

UK renewable energy investment booms with £12bn of private investment

UK building upturn boosts Travis Perkins sales by 12.7% in Q1 2014

£5.2b contracts in March ( 7.2% on Feb) and 25% year-on-year

London accounts for 26.2% of the total construction contracts in March

UK construction sectors set to grow by 18% in 2014

Google to sell smart home products like alarms

Hitachi to build ‘world’s fastest’ lift  – 72km/h (45mph)