last
updated 26th January 06
By 4ecotips.com
BRE conferences
for the professionals
The UK Building Research Establishment
has several pertinent one-day conferences
coming up for professionals, two of
them are on flooding and small scale
wind power.
Over 2 million properties in England
and Wales are at risk from flooding.
A startling figure, but one that will
grow as severe weather patterns increase
and climate change strengthens.
For housing providers and the construction
industry, the implications are immense.
As well as creating widespread human
suffering and destruction of local
economies, flooding wastes valuable
natural resources and undermines the
confidence of those who fund, insure
and provide housing.
A one-day BRE conference brings the
key parties together to debate and
identify what further action can be
taken to make the UK housing stock
more flood resilient. Looking at both
new build and existing stock, discussions
will focus on providing technical
solutions and integrated approaches
to design and planning, to reduce
the incidents of ingress, increase
the robustness of materials and set
standards for construction workmanship.
The other one-day conference recognises
that the UK's renewable energy target
for 2010 will mostly be met through
large scale renewable energy projects.
However, small scale installations
will also have an important role to
play. Renewable energy is an indispensable
factor in developing sustainable communities
and smallscale production is an effective
way for a community to produce its
own electricity. At the right scale,
and on appropriate sites, wind energy
is one of the most economic and rapid
means of reducing carbon dioxide emissions.
The last few years have seen many
developments in the technology of
smallscale wind generators and the
number in use has risen as a result
of the wish of a growing number of
people and organisations to have their
own source of green energy. There
are a range of different technologies
being developed suitable for the built
environment. They can generate varying
percentages of a building's energy
consumption, depending on the option
chosen and the wind speed characteristics
of the site.
Speakers from the sector will give
presentations on a range of issues
including: available technologies;
grid connection and metering; government
policy; grant schemes and planning
Delegates will gain knowledge of
what technologies are available, and
how they can be incorporated into
building developments.
More information from Caroline McGill
events@bre.co.uk
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