updated
September 9, 2005
 (September
05) 4EEH (For Energy & Efficiency in Homes)
4EEH (For Energy & Efficiency in Homes) is
a new bimonthly publication for housebuilding
industry professionals, which is soon to be published.
It aims to cover all aspects of sustainable new
build and refurbishment across the entire spectrum
of private and social sector housing in the UK.
The magazine will also have a dedicated website.
Andrew Leech also writes for the following:
House Builder magazine
Progress Magazine
Local newspapers on DIY subjects
NHIC
www.bucks4biz.co.uk
(August
05) EDITOR IN TESCO PROTEST
 4ecotips
editor, Andrew Leech, (seen here looking straight
into the camera) was part of a major demonstration
in the Buckinghamshire village of Gerrards Cross
against the Tesco supermarket chain.
With Tesco retail outlets peppering this part
of South Bucks another store in this particular
location was, from the outset, considered totally
unnecessary. But in their infinite wisdom the
company went ahead with the store construction
on a new tunnel built over the main Marylebone
to Birmingham railway line.
However, Tesco’s chickens have come home
to roost. In June the tunnel collapsed narrowly
avoiding a major disaster which could have entombed
a whole train-load of commuters.
Subsequently the railway line was closed for
several weeks while the track was reinstated and,
consequently, commuters suffered considerable
inconvenience.
A full Health & Safety Executive report is
still awaited on the state of the tunnel and why
it collapsed. In the meantime work is suspended
on constructing the store and local people are
suggesting that Tesco should take the honourable
way out, save their bacon and fall on their sword.
The fact of the matter is who will want to use
the store if it does ever get built? Who will
trust the construction methods? Who will disappear
onto the railway line at sometime in the future
if another collapse occurs?
There are so many imponderables lying ahead for
this doomed project that Tesco are far better
off packing their trollies and moving off the
Gerrard’s Cross site altogether. It makes
sense!
Photo from Bucks Advertiser.
(May
05) EDITOR INVITED TO resource05 CONFERENCE
Andrew Leech 4ecotips’ editor has been
invited to resource05 the Low Carbon Technologies
conference and exhibition at the UK’s Building
Research Establishment headquarters from 13-15
September 2005. This is an important and timely
event that will examine the increasing concern
about the momentum of climate change, together
with new regulations on the energy and environmental
performance of buildings.
He will report on the three-day programme of
seminars that will illustrate, via case studies,
demonstrations and visits, how the construction
industry can meet the demands set by EU and UK
policies on energy efficiency and low carbon technology.
Each day the programme will address a different
sector: housing; non-domestic buildings; and communities.
Leading practitioners from across the industry
will talk about the latest approaches being used
to reduce the environmental impact of both new
build and refurbishment projects.
(November
04) MILLIONS OF NON-DECENT HOMES IN THE UK
The National Home Improvement Council with which
4ecotips.com is closely associated has presented
its prestigious 2004 Annual Awards. This year
the number of submissions from local authorities
and housing associations was the highest for over
a decade confirming that the Awards are as popular
and highly regarded as ever.
At the Awards ceremony, NHIC President Lord Ezra
drew attention to the last English Homes Condition
Survey, published earlier this year, which, he
acknowledged, was “more encouraging than
at first we anticipated” but there were
still far too many households having to tolerate
the poor conditions “you would only associate
with a century ago”.
He said: “The fact remains that seven million
homes are still classified as non-decent. We still
have a long way to go to bring all social housing
up to a decent, energy efficient standard by the
Government’s target year of 2010.
“So an even greater commitment is necessary
especially in areas of fuel poverty, energy efficiency,
insulation and neighbourhood enhancement.”
A significant disappointment emphasised by Lord
Ezra, was that despite “favourable economic
conditions” improvements in the private
housing sector “were unsatisfactory”.
He pointed out that nearly 50% of the private
rented sector housing stock was classed as non-decent
and so too was nearly 30% of the owner/occupier
sector.
He commented: “The Government’s approach
to the private sector has so far been limited
with measures only targeted at those classed as
vulnerable households and the support for equity
release schemes. Without a greater commitment
this legacy of decaying housing stock will not
be solved.”
(September
04) FORGET TERRORISM!
Weekly up date on current ways and means
The greatest threat to humankind is not terrorism,
wars amongst nations or localised civil disputes!
It's GLOBAL WARMING and its consequences for generations
to come if we don't act now.
So with the pace of change hotting up, 4ecotips.com
is to provide valuable weekly updates on ways
and means to control our worst enemy - climate
change.
(August
04) UK HOME IMPROVEMENT AWARDS
Editor of 4ecotips.com, Andrew Leech, is amongst
the panel of judges for the UK's most prestigious
housing awards run by the National Home Improvement
Council. Judging takes place in September and
the winners are announced at a special luncheon
in The Gladstone Library, One Whitehall Place,
London.
There are 12 categories sponsored by leading
UK organisations and international companies closely
involved in home improvements and energy saving
to reduce carbon emissions.
One of the Award Scheme's principal objectives
is to raise the profile of most facets of renovation
and urban renewal. This is achieve by raising
media awareness and promoting closer relationships
with public and private sector housing, private
landlords, the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister,
Department of Trade and Industry, The Department
for the Environment, Farming and Rural Affairs,
the Treasury and countless other with a specific
interest.
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