Public exhibition on ecological issues

Yesterday, Phlorum staff attended a public exhibition for the master-planning proposals for St Bede’s, a large private school in East Sussex.
The school owns a major land resource in its rural location, many of which has important ecological and visual amenity value.
Phlorum has already undertaken a number of ecological assessments for the school, helping them gain planing approval for a number of new and updated educational facilities.
The aim of the exhibition was to consult with the local community in order to identify constraints and opportunities for St Bede’s future development and enhancement of its land resource. A report detailing the constraints and opportunities analysis for the school can be viewed here.
Feedback from the event was extremely positive, with most people appreciating the effort the school has put into engaging with its neighbours. On ecological issues, the effective management of invasive species such as Japanese knotweed was a recurring theme in the questions from attendees. Most minds being put at rest by the school’s inclusion of Japanese knotweed in its estate management plan.

Meeting targets to reduce carbon emissions by 2050

Carbon emissions from operating our buildings account for nearly half of the 550 MtCO₂ emitted annually in the UK, and must be tackled if we are to meet the target of an 80% reduction in emissions by 2050.  The mass roll-out of refurbishment measures is crucial in addressing emissions from existing stock, whilst the energy efficiency demands of new buildings are steadily increasing.  By 2016 for domestic properties and 2019 for others, all new buildings will be required to be ‘zero-carbon’ in operation.

Built to 2010 regulations, emissions from the construction of a typical masonry dwelling account for around 20% of associated carbon emissions over its life; by 2013 this will be more like 50%, and by 2016, all emissions associated with a dwelling will be embodied within the manufacture and transport to site of construction materials. It is crucial that we start assessing and taking action to minimise these emissions now.  At present, there is little legislation to promote the assessment of life-cycle emissions, although some guidance exists on methodology, most notably in the form of BS EN ISO14040/14044 and PAS2050.

Choosing Sustainable Materials

Assessment of the carbon embodied within a building project must occur both in the design and construction phases.  This is to allow feedback to practitioners on the accuracy of their predictions.  In design, a tool exists that can consider both simple and more complex designs, assessing an array of scenarios and making recommendations on how best to minimise embodied carbon.  Suggestions may include increased use of timber, waste product in cement production, or the sourcing of locally manufactured prefabricated components. It is clear that the use of renewable, recycled and local materials improves the environmental credentials of a development, but it is useful to quantify this benefit.  Life expectancies of different materials should also be accounted for.

Ideally, responsibility for data collection on-site would be allocated to an individual. However, all those involved in construction should be made aware of the process.  Keeping a record of materials delivered is standard site practice, but documentation should be widened to include information of the type of delivery vehicle and distance travelled.

There are well known tools for predicting emissions from operation of a building, including SAP and SBEM in the UK.  These may broadly estimate emissions from initial building services and design but they do not allow for changes in design and specification over a building’s life; it must be acknowledged, however, that this can be an extremely difficult thing to do.

Choice of materials and processes at the design stage will also impact on emissions at decommission.  Many materials can be reused or recycled, and practices such as use of lime-mortar, reduced use of paints and ‘design for deconstruction’ increases their potential. Constructing buildings with longer life expectancies and easily replaceable (yet durable) components reduces life-cycle impact.

Considering the Environment

Considering the environmental implications of materials and design over the life-cycle of a building can reduce emissions in all three phases of its life (i.e. construction, operation and decommission).  With zero-carbon targets fast approaching, such assessment is becoming vital. Developers who realise this will see benefits such as improved environmental credentials of bids for work, clear dedication to the sustainability of their projects, and crucially in the current climate, the ability to ‘outgreen’ their competitors.

Anthony Probert MSc AIEMA

Anthony Probert is Phlorum’s Sustainability Consultant and an expert in the sustainable design of buildings.  As well as a Code for Sustainable Homes assessor, Anthony undertakes SAP assessments, energy statements, renewable energy feasibility studies and life-cycle carbon assessments

On 30th November, Phlorum attended Manchester: A Certain Future Conference, where delegates joined together to help develop the city’s action plan on climate change.

Overcoming the snow, members of our team took this opportunity to hear more about Manchesters’ progressive planning policies; as well as visiting clients who wished to learn more about our innovative, Life-Cycle Carbon Footprinting Tool.

The conference was interesting. It was organised by the Stakeholder Steering Group, and was attended by a plethora of organisations, including members of the council, representatives from the football teams, construction companies, SMEs, multi-nationals, landlords and interested citizens. Hosted at the Museum of Science and Industry, the conference aimed to mix past accomplishments with potential future ones. The workshops encouraged everyone to get involved and share their views, whilst strategically placed information boards reminded us all of actions Manchester had already put in place.

The day ended with an inspiring speech from Mr Pekka Sauri, the Deputy Mayor of Helsinki who outlined the actions they had taken to reduce carbon emissions and enhance the environment in their city. Using a combined heat and power (CHP) district heating system, the city was able to reduce its carbon emissions by 40%. The system also works to provide cooling in the summer.

Manchester aims to become Britain’s greenest city, a charge which all attendees seemed to believe possible. Enthusiasm is obviously not in short supply – now the city needs to turn this into collaborative, forward thinking, and importantly, direct action. Phlorum actively support this and suggest attacking the carbon intensive sources first, combining the improvement and increase of public transport with a refurbishment program for the most inefficient building stock. The action starts… now!

WRAP - Halving Waste to Landfill

Leading environmental consultancy Phlorum Ltd has signed up to the WRAP’s (Waste & Resources Action Programme) Halving Waste to Landfill Commitment Construction Commitments: Halving Waste to Landfill. With significant parties involved in this commitment (including the Environment Agency); Phlorum is pleased to be amongst one of the first environmental consultancies to sign-up.

Halving Waste to Landfill has been widely embraced by the construction sector. Since its inception in October 2008, companies that have been closely involved with the programme have witnessed significant improvements in the re-use, recycling and reduction of construction, demolition and excavation waste arisings.

Signing up to the commitment builds upon Phlorum’s long-term services for sustainable building development practices. Involvement with WRAP’s commitment enhances Phlorum’s recent development (in collaboration with the University of Brighton) of a whole-life carbon foot-printing design tool. The tool estimates and makes recommendations to minimise embodied carbon. The tool can model the carbon emissions associated with a home over its whole lifetime; in construction, operation, and decommission.

John Holland, Key Account Manager Construction at WRAP commented:

“WRAP is delighted Phlorum have signed up to Halving Waste to Landfill. There are real cost savings to be made on a range of development projects by reducing the quantity of wastes being generated.

Paul Beckett, Director of Phlorum said:

“We already work for a lot of the companies that have signed-up to Halving Waste to Landfill and it makes enormous sense for Phlorum to align itself closely with the sustainable aims of our clients. Increasingly, these clients are looking for us to project manage part of the development process. As part of this responsibility we need to keep their waste disposal costs to a minimum. I think it’s great that the industry has really pulled together around this commitment to drive sustainability and save money in the process”.

Ron and Jane showed us the sights and some local bars and we got back to the house just in time for Paul to arrive in the early evening. Paul set off on Friday night by Bicycle from Newhaven, camped outside Dieppe and started pedalling early on Saturday morning; a good 70 miles! He was a bit worn out and damp, but seemed to have enjoyed it all the same! He arrived just in time for a spectacular French feast and lots of wine which I am sure made him feel a lot better.

After being thoroughly spoiled and having a fabulous time (and no doubt with the trousers a bit tighter that previously), it was time to set off for Old Blighty again on the Sunday afternoon, via the cheese and wine shop of course (Paul left early in the morning as he was pedalling again!!).

Simon

On a recent BBC Sussex radio appearance for the campaign, Dr. Paul Beckett claimed that if Japanese knotweed is brought under control by recently approved field trials to release a knotweed-sucking insect called Aphalara itadori then ”why not use it the same way people use other pot herbs and other native vegetation to cook with?“

Listen to the Show…
Paul Beckett on BBC Sussex knotweed

The inspiration for Phlorum’s knotweed eating campaign initially arose from the inspirational work of Bun Lai, the chef and owner of Mia Sushi restaurant

who has made incredible dishes with the plant and the sharing of imaginative recipes through social networks and shared with us by Kazuyoshi Nomachi http://twitter.com/im_yutaka

Described with a flavour between asparagus and rhubarb, Japanese knotweed shoots are ready for providing a delightful tang and riveting crunch around late spring each year. Best eaten when the plant is around 6 to 8 inches tall, the knotweed can be transformed via various cooking methods such as steaming, and simmering into delicious dishes such as soups, sauces, fruit compotes and even jam. Although the plants leaves should be discarded, the rind surrounding the stalk of the knotweed can also be used to make a delightful tangy marmalade. Furthermore, besides being a delicious ingredient for cooking, Japanese knotweed provides an excellent source of vitamin A and C, along with its cofactor, the antioxidant rutin.

The plant interestingly also contains potassium, phosphorus and zinc providing the components for a very healthy ingredient.

Following Phlorum’s recent BBC radio appearance, the Japanese knotweed professionals have also been working with the award-winning Brighton-based vegetarian restaurant Terre à Terre (http://www.terreaterre.co.uk/), in order to stir up some delicious recipes with the plant.

This collaboration will also be available for viewers to watch as on Wednesday the 21st of April, a BBC South film crew will be visiting Olivia, Terre à Terre’s Events, Marketing and Design Manager in order to film Japanese knotweed delights being prepared in the kitchen and then tasted at the restaurant. Along with a TV appearance, Phlorum will also be making a further radio appearance on the same day on BBC Sussex Radio station in order to take part in the breakfast show recording of Japanese knotweed being consumed live on air with the breakfast show host, Neil Pringle.

Bowles Leadership Training Course

Phlorum staff recently attended a leadership training course at the Bowles outdoor centre near Tunbridge Wells.

David Miliband meets Phlorum

An exciting day for us today at Phlorum’s southern office.

David Miliband, Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, popped by. He was here to meet with Elektromotive, a brilliant company that’s doing wonderful things with electric vehicle charging infrastructure.

However, we managed to spend some time with him to discuss our life cycle carbon assessment tool that’s currently being showcased at Ecobuild. David Miliband was impressed, which gives us greater confidence that the life cycle carbon assessment tool will be of use to those currently carrying out SAP, BREEAM and Code for Sustainable Homes assessments. Maybe he’ll even mention it to his brother, Ed, Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, which would be nice!

On Saturday 23rd January 2010 Paul married his fiance Felicity Ventom.
The couple were wed at St Joseph’s Catholic Church here in Brighton, before the groom whisked his bride off on his bicycle (5 stars for environmentality, 0 stars for common sense) to the stunning Royal Albion hotel for the reception, which was attended by 300 guests (Paul claimed to know about half). The festivities continued into the late evening and various members of Phlorum were spotted strutting their stuff on the dancefloor after a brief introductory lesson in highland dancing. Rumours of spots at the Edinburgh festival are at present unconfirmed. Paul and Flick are seen here ‘dancing’ for the first time as a married couple to the Smiths, which was a great song of choice. Everyone present had a great time, and Paul is now on his honeymoon staying in a tent in Wales, partly due to the financial toll of a wedding, and partly as he believes in giving Flick an insight into the realities of married life as soon as possible.

We all wish Paul and Flick the best of luck as husband and wife. Congratulations!

Bat surveys by Roy Cropper

If only Roy Cropper had asked Phlorum to do the bat survey for his society he wouldn’t have landed up in the canal by the hands of the murderer Tony Gordon. But the dramas of Coronation Street aside, Roy’s wife, Hayley,  is right in thinking that the bats should be hibernating by now and, consequently, it is still possible and necessary for bat surveys to be performed. Although bats do hibernate in the winter, if there is a spell of warm weather they will wake up and forage until it gets cold again.