The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) has today (Wednesday 11 February) launched its 2015 General Election campaign, #BuildaBetterBritain. All parliamentary candidates will be called upon to focus on the built environment issues that are important in most constituencies – building more good quality homes; ensuring we have well-planned places; developing flood-proof communities; delivering energy efficient buildings and retrofitting those that are not; providing a good quality built environment to accommodate our ageing population and encourage a healthier population; and addressing the dilapidation of our school buildings. RIBA’s network of more than 35,000 UK-based members are being encouraged to get involved with the campaign, engage with other constituents and lobby their candidates to sign-up at www.architecture.com/BuildaBetterBritain to the pledge: ‘I promise to champion a better built environment for every community in my constituency to #BuildaBetterBritain’ The #BuildaBetterBritain campaign calls for: Better Homes TodayThe next Government must respond to the desperate need to build homes and make sure that we build homes that people want to live in and that enhance their lives. We built just 107,000 new homes in 2012/13 but need to be building 300,000 every year; in the next parliamentary term we need to build 1.5 million new homes. Happy Healthy PlacesThe next Government must look at ways to adapt to the needs of an ageing society, and promote healthier lifestyles. This means creating homes that are right for older people so downsizing is a desirable option and encouraging healthier transport options with a focus on active travel such as cycling and walking Creative Inspiring SchoolsSchools need to be fit for purpose and able to meet Britain’s sustained population boom – 256,000 extra school places were needed in England for the 2014 school year alone. We need to build creative and inspiring schools by taking advantage of standardisation and economies of scale to help create timeless, but better value buildings. Smarter Greener BuildingsOver the coming years, investment in new, lower carbon energy sources will mean that energy bills will continue to rise. At the same time, many of the UK’s buildings are poorly maintained and expensive to heat. The impending UK energy crisis can be countered by smarter greener buildings. Flood Proof CommunitiesFlooding isn’t going to go away. 1 in 6 properties in England – around 5.2 million homes – are at risk of flooding (from all water sources: rivers, sea, surface water). The total value of assets under flood risk exceeds £200 billion – more than the current budget deficit. The next Government needs to build flood-proof communities by giving Local Authorities more power to block developments in areas vulnerable to flooding. RIBA has created a campaign website at www.architecture.com/buildabetterbritain enabling architects and constituents to find and make contact with their candidates. The #BuildaBetterBritain campaign is based on RIBA’s report and recommendations, Building a Better Britain: A vision for the next Government. RIBA President Stephen Hodder said: ‘The built environment is vital to the financial and social success of our communities and country and the health and wellbeing of its inhabitants. RIBA’s clear priorities for the next Government, set out in the Building a Better Britain report, is the basis for this campaign. Now is the time to talk about what that means locally and how every prospective MP can champion the built environment in their area.’ ENDS Notes to editors: 1. For further press information contact the RIBA Press Office: 020 7307 3662 pressoffice@riba.org 2. All UK voters can ask their parliamentary candidates to sign up to the RIBA #BuildaBetterBritain pledge at www.architecture.com/buildabetterbritain 3. RIBA’s Building a Better Britain: a vision for the next Government can be downloaded here: http://www.architecture.com/RIBA/Campaigns%20and%20issues/BuildingABetterBritain/BuildingABetterBritain.aspx 4. The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) champions better buildings, communities and the environment through architecture and our members www.architecture.com Follow us on Twitter for regular RIBA updates www.twitter.com/RIBA Posted on Wednesday 11th February 2015 Source link

Date, time and location 10 May 2016 through to 24 November 2016, 9:00am start and 12:30pm finish, multiple locations across England. Locations: Date Location Date Location 2016 10 May 2016 Birmingham 16 May 2016 Warrington 17 May 2016 Cambridge 17 May 2016 Bristol 18 May 2016 Gateshead 18 May 2016 Hook 24 May 2016 Melton Mowbray 26 May 2016 Sheffield 8 November 2016 Hook 9 November 2016 Cambridge 10 November 2016 Birmingham 14 November 2016 Warrington 15 November 2016 Sheffield 16 November 2016 Gateshead 17 November 2016 Bristol 24 November 2016 Melton Mowbray Event overview A half day seminar that gives health, safety and environmental co-ordinators, managers and directors everything you need to know to keep your business compliant and up to date with the latest trends and key issues across health, safety and environment. We cover key legislative developments and updates to industry standards and guidance – all with a focus on the practical implications to your business, so you know what to do and how to prepare. The briefings also cover key topical issues with a review of recent prosecutions and a ‘hot topic’ where we focus on best practice and discuss common challenges of the industry. Who should attend? Health, safety and environmental co-ordinators, Managers and directors and those responsible for these areas within their business Further information, programme and booking For further information, full programme and booking details visit the EEF HSCE briefings web page. Source link

16 March 2016 | Jamie Harris The BIFM has launched a Good Practice Guide to Asset Management Surveying Practice. The guide has been published to help FM professionals produce meaningful asset data which meets expectations of clients, adding value to facilities operations. Peter Brogan, research and information manager at BIFM, said: “Asset management is of major importance to FM professionals. At the most basic level better use of data enables FM to demonstrate its value across all business disciplines. “However, its potential is not limited to day-to-day operations as utilisation of asset management data is recognised as a catalyst to both BIM and soft landings. The asset management opportunities now available to FMs are a complex and sophisticated area of expertise and stretch across a wide range of professional disciplines and activities.” BIFM’s Asset Management Good Practice Guide includes specific guidance on: Applying key built environment industry standard models and principles to improve quality and quantity of asset data information.  This includes building information modelling (BIM), the industry foundation classes (IFC) and COBie, to implement robust survey disciplines Determining key survey goals and objectives Identifying customer expectations and stakeholder needs and defining project scope to ensure these are met Producing detailed specifications for the required asset surveys Setting up a mobilisation process to ensure asset data capture surveys are carried out in a professional, coordinated way Auditing, reporting and management of data asset files to ensure consistency and accuracy for data standards and compliance Maintaining and enhancing quantified and qualified data through analytics and information assessment   The guide is free to download to all BIFM members as part of their member benefits. It is priced at £19.99 for non-members and available to buy direct from BIFM along with other guides in the series.   Source link

Browser does not support script. Contact us The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) has responded to the results of the ‘Investigation into the Department of Energy & Climate Change’s loans to the Green Deal Finance Company’ by the National Audit Office. RIBA Sustainability Policy Advisor Emilia Plotka said: “We need to urgently address the pending energy trilemma – energy security, climate change and fuel poverty. The Government must stop cutting corners with its lacklustre efforts and instead play a leading role through ambitious national energy efficiency programmes. “The Green Deal and Energy Company Obligation suffered from a lack of political support and investment, and subsequently failed to offer a clear long-term vision for household energy efficiency while saving money. Reducing household energy demand remains the most cost-effective and permanent solution for saving money and meeting our legally binding commitment to reduce our carbon emissions.” ENDS Notes to editors: 1. For further press information, contact Howard Crosskey in the RIBA Press Office howard.crosskey@riba.org 0207 307 3761 2. The Investigation into the Department of Energy & Climate Change’s loans to the Green Deal Finance Company is available to read here: https://www.nao.org.uk/report/green-deal-and-energy-company-obligation/ 3. The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) champions better buildings, communities and the environment through architecture and our members. www.architecture.com 4. Follow @RIBA on Twitter for regular updates www.twitter.com/RIBA   Posted on Thursday 14th April 2016 Source link