When Tottenham Hotspur was seeking a lighting supplier for the creation of its world class, 62,062 seater iconic new stadium, Zumtobel Lighting (a member of Zumtobel Group) took up the challenge, fielding a superb team and products that proved to be exactly the right match. Great consideration was given to
Energy management specialist TEAM has strengthened its software portfolio with the launch of its next generation Sigma Tenant Billing solution. The application enables organisations to accurately and efficiently apportion utility costs between tenants, cost centres or departments delivering transparent accountable billing. The flexible and reliable solution seamlessly integrates with existing
For many students, university marks the first time in their lives that they are truly independent. But with this newfound freedom comes a whole load of new responsibilities. Among these, ensuring that you budget appropriately for your student life is of paramount importance. The more you know about your finances
The content of the Chancellor’s Spring Statement washed over many in the property profession as the Brexit storm continued. But the decision by Philip Hammond to allow upwards extensions through Permitted Development (PD) Rights is significant news. The announcement, which forms part of a package of initiatives to breathe life
With environmentally friendly, recycle and green energy becoming a priority across the entire world, it’s no wonder that more and more architects and construction specialists are focusing on introducing eco-friendly building designs. Buildings are getting designed in a manner that considers their environmental impact from the start, and even the
Gira, one of the world’s leading full-range suppliers of intelligent system solutions for building management, ‘go green’ for Earth Hour 2019 and commit to 60 minutes of complete darkness… On Saturday 30th March 2019, Gira headquarters in Radevormwald, Germany turned out its lights. From 8:30 to 9:30pm, Gira switched off
Elmsbrook residents save £400 a year in energy bills as the NW Bicester scheme is confirmed as the UK’s first large-scale true zero-carbon development Elmsbrook, the initial exemplar phase of NW Bicester developed by A2Dominion, has had its status as the UK’s first large-scale true zero carbon1 development confirmed
Work has begun on the third phase of a multi-million pound business park in Leamington Spa, which will bring 180,000 sq ft of new industrial units to the town. Leading property developer Stoford Developments is building four units and has already signed up Liberty 920E, part of the prestigious Liberty
When it comes down to making a garden building more environmentally friendly, there are a couple of key things that need to be considered in order to make this a successful process. Throughout the construction phase, it is important to keep in mind the initial purpose of the building. If
Whether you love or loath IKEA, there is no denying the thrill of picking out furniture and seeing it in your home on the same day. More and more house builders are now taking a leaf out of Ikea’s book with housing estates being constructed using modular build practices.
When Tottenham Hotspur was seeking a lighting supplier for the creation of its world class, 62,062 seater iconic new stadium, Zumtobel Lighting (a member of Zumtobel Group) took up the challenge, fielding a superb team and products that proved to be exactly the right match. Great consideration was given to the needs of the stadium users when creating the lighting design, including the importance of both the vertical and horizontal illumination. The new 120,000 square metre stadium is not just for football – it has been designed to host National Football League (NFL) games, which meant meeting the requirements of a multi-purpose venue. As one of most intense and atmospheric places in the UK to watch football, the stadium boasts innovative premium and general admission spaces that include the longest bar in Europe, it’s very own micro-brewery, the `Tunnel Club` where fans can see the players preparing to go onto the field of play, a five storey atrium space, a skywalk and food outlets with menus created by Michelin-star chefs. Zumtobel came up with a design that was based on a comfortable and safe environment for players, employees and visitors to the stadium, providing the perfect illumination for the home changing room, players tunnel, hospitality areas, Media Café, Microbrewery, general admission concourses, Tottenham Experience retail space, NFL locker rooms and terrace safety lighting. The player’s wellbeing is of paramount importance. For the changing rooms, physio and relaxation spaces, considerable attention had to be given to circadian rhythms, catering for different times of the day when players use the facilities. Studies have confirmed the positive effects of using artificial lighting to support these natural circadian rhythms. These effects manifest themselves in improved concentration, better visibility and a general ‘uplift’ in how we feel. To achieve this, Zumtobel’s PANOS infinity has been installed, with a white-light range of 2700 K to 6500 K that offers the user a wealth of options to adjust the colour temperature to the respective application. SLOTLIGHT tunableWhite and RGBW LED Tape has also been utilised in this area. The players’ tunnel has been illuminated using Custom Active Light Wall, two huge stretch ceiling fittings that have been personalised in Zumtobel’s Dornbirn, Austria factory, in conjunction with SLOTLIGHT tuneableWhite. Elsewhere, 200 VIVO spotlights in a special Ocean Blue paint finish have been installed in the M Media Café to provide an ideal working environment for reporters. Black ONDARIA circular luminaires and VIVO spotlights illuminate the Tottenham Experience retail space, the largest football club retail space in Europe. Thanks to its distinct radius and soft contours, in addition to a subtle indirect component, ONDARIA almost seems to float in the air, making it particularly well-suited for prestigious areas. The luminaire allows for a fully flexible arrangement and blends perfectly into every room layout. VIVO LED spotlights from Zumtobel are a stand out solution due to their high colour rendering index and extremely uniform light distribution. Unique PiLED technology, pre-programmed colour points and premium lens systems pave the way for exclusive implementations. The all-important premium areas have been given a welcoming ambience with a wide variety of luminaires. Custom made CRAFT L LED, flicker-free high bay LED luminaires with a special colour temperature of 5700K, have been installed to provide the safety lighting for the terraces within the bowl and match the field of play lighting. CRAFT meets high requirements for colour rendering with values up to Ra > 90, whilst stroboscopic effects for rotating machines are also completely unknown to this luminaire, even in the dimmed state. Durable TRINOS IP65 continuous-row lighting system has been installed in the Microbrewery to combine the flexibility and functionality of a trunking system with the tough resistance of an IP65 luminaire, designed for environments that demand a higher degree of protection. Over 77,000 luminaires from the Zumtobel Group Lighting Brands, acdc, Thorn and Zumtobel have been installed throughout the stadium. These include acdc’s BLADE fixtures for the ‘halo’ and façade and FUSION in the seating bowl, Thorn’s STEALTH custom luminaire in the concourse circulation area, Zumtobel’s Black ONDARIA circular luminaires and VIVO spotlights in the Tottenham Experience retail space, PANOS infinity downlights and SLOTLIGHT tunableWhite and RGBW LED Tape in the changing rooms, physio and relaxation areas, Custom Active Light Wall and SLOTLIGHT tunableWhite in the players tunnel and VIVO spotlights in the M Media Cafe, custom made CRAFT L LED in the seating bowl and many other luminaires from the product portfolio of Zumtobel Group’s lighting brands are installed throughout the stadium. Zumtobel Group and Tottenham Hotspur, both leaders in their own fields, are working in partnership to ensure that the Tottenham Hotspur brand image is seen in the correct light, whilst saving energy and creating the best possible environment for staff and visitors alike. Alfred Felder, Zumtobel Group CEO, commented “We are proud to be partnering with Tottenham Hotspur, one of the world’s top football clubs, to provide lighting solutions for the new, iconic Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Translating the specifications and ideas of the architect and the light designer into tangible products was a major challenge but one we were able to meet thanks to our design expertise and product portfolio”. Matthew Collecott, Director of Operations, Tottenham Hotspur comments “We have sought to create a world-class stadium in every aspect and that includes sourcing an innovative solution to our lighting. This has been made possible through the Zumtobel Group and we have been extremely pleased with the results they have achieved as part of this iconic project.”
Energy management specialist TEAM has strengthened its software portfolio with the launch of its next generation Sigma Tenant Billing solution. The application enables organisations to accurately and efficiently apportion utility costs between tenants, cost centres or departments delivering transparent accountable billing. The flexible and reliable solution seamlessly integrates with existing energy management systems, delivering effective measurement and sophisticated bill calculation. Users have the added advantage of integrating the data into their accounting system through the Accounts Link interface, speeding-up the billing process. To ensure the software suits the specific needs of its users to deliver on their efficiency targets and economise the tenant billing process, TEAM worked in partnership with its customers on the design and functionality. Tom Anderton, Product and Service Development Manager, TEAM said: ”Tenant billing is the natural next step on the journey to ensuring we can meet the evolving needs of organisations across a wide range of industries. By working closely with our customers, we understand the unique challenges that can come with tenant billing. “This collaboration has led to the inclusion of enhanced functionality to address these issues, such as flexible charging methodologies, allowing users to define their own utility tariffs and use data from a variety of sources. As well as the ability to charge against multiple commodities and calorific value conversion, which ensures greater transparency when billing volumetric consumption.” Developed as part of its flagship energy management software, Sigma, users can manage, monitor and gain insights into their tenant’s energy consumption through one system. By tackling two energy management needs in one, the application offers more functionality than proprietary systems. The approach aligns with the organisation’s first-class ethos, to deliver solutions and services that exceed in addressing the challenges of modern energy management. In adopting Sigma Tenant Billing, customers will receive a dedicated deployment designed to meet their specific requirements, along with continued on-going support. Simon Miles, Chief Executive Officer, TEAM added: “At a time when organisations are feeling the pressures of economic and political uncertainty, we want to help businesses in using technology to support sustainable and efficient operations. “With Sigma Tenant Billing, businesses will see operational benefits and cash savings from day one, and with the built-in option to scale-up as the business grows, customers can expect to achieve added return on their investment.” The launch of Sigma Tenant Billing marks another milestone achievement in TEAM’s product and service roadmap, demonstrating its commitment to delivering innovative and robust solutions that meet the evolving needs of the energy industry. If you have any questions relating to Sigma Tenant Billing please get in touch on 01908 889 866 or email us on enquiries@teamenergy.com.
For many students, university marks the first time in their lives that they are truly independent. But with this newfound freedom comes a whole load of new responsibilities. Among these, ensuring that you budget appropriately for your student life is of paramount importance. The more you know about your finances beforehand, the easier it will be to work out an appropriate budget. It is therefore very helpful to know how much the essentials of your accommodation are going to cost. Here are some of the most important components of your student accommodation budget. Rent Unless you have some kind of private arrangement, rent is always going to account for the biggest accommodation-related expense. According to Save the Student, the average student rent is £406, with a further £47 being spent on bills. Of course, the amount you are willing to spend on rent, the better the accommodation you will be able to procure. Some students are able to get by with the absolute most basic and minimal accommodation, but for others this can be detrimental to their overall university experience. Upgrading If you are someone who requires more luxurious accommodation than the usual options, you should look to a specialist provider. For example, if you are looking for luxury student accommodation in Newcastle, check out Collegiate. They offer all-inclusive next-level student accommodation in convenient locations. One of their options, Plummer House, is located close to both Newcastle University and Northumbria University and boasts unique features such as a games room, a VIP bar and beautiful interior design throughout the property. This is the perfect option for the most discerning students. Food The amount you need to set aside to cover your food costs will depend on a number of factors, not least of all how much work you are willing to put into your meals. If you are willing to prepare your own meals from scratch, you will find that you can feed yourself for a lot less. If spending more on your accommodation is a priority for you, look for ways to keep your food bills down. Save The Student puts the average monthly food bill for students at £108, which works out at £27 every week. However, you can reduce this amount easily by cooking as much of your food from scratch as possible. It is worth investing in a student cookbook as these will be full of money-saving meal ideas. Other Factors to Consider While your choice of accommodation is obviously an important one in determining what your university experience is like, there are other important things to consider when establishing your budget. For example, you will want to ensure you have enough money left over for some rest and relaxation. Socialising is an important part of the university experience. Overall you will want to set aside at least £400 to cover the costs of your accommodation. However, prices can vary wildly from city to city and between different accommodation types. Make sure that you carefully research the city your university is in so you can get as good an idea as possible as to how much it will cost you to live there. Remember that student housing will be cheaper than the average rent price in the area.
The content of the Chancellor’s Spring Statement washed over many in the property profession as the Brexit storm continued. But the decision by Philip Hammond to allow upwards extensions through Permitted Development (PD) Rights is significant news. The announcement, which forms part of a package of initiatives to breathe life into the ailing high street, is set to go ahead via regulations due this autumn and followed an extremely contentious consultation earlier this year. In the absence of a planning process to scrutinise projects that will add to building heights, the issue of Rights of Light (ROL) becomes a very serious consideration, and one with significant consequences. ROL is a form of easement in Common Law which entitles property owners to benefit from a certain level of light, which can be measured (before and after construction) by technical ROL assessments. A ROL may be acquired by an aperture that has enjoyed a level of light uninterrupted for 20 years. There many other ways apertures can also enjoy this right. Because Daylight and Sunlight assessments are usually a component of a planning application, they are currently required at an early stage in the process. The planning system also necessitates that local residents are consulted on a planning application, allowing those with legitimate concerns to assert their point of view. With this step removed, developers could potentially proceed unaware of any objections – resulting in building works then being halted through an injunction either during the process or post-completion. So while developers might look set to gain from the opportunity to create additional storeys and in doing so, increase the net lettable areas of commercial properties, in reality the situation is precarious. Without the stringent procedures and ultimately the reassurance that the planning system offers, developers could potentially embark on building works and only on completion suffer significant consequences. This could be anything up to a year post development and in extreme cases up to 6 years. In fact, there is already precedent ordering new construction to be torn down in such circumstances. In 2010 the courts ordered the demolition of the top storeys of a building in the centre of Leeds because it obstructed a neighbour’s natural light. Needless to say, following this case there has been a significant increase in the public’s awareness of their rights. The likely result of this change in policy is that we will see an increase in the number of both investigations and claims. Although we anticipate that the permitted development rights will take into account issues including overlooking and overshadowing, it is unclear how this would be implemented. Strategically-minded developers may seek to prevent or extinguish Rights of Light from being acquired by issuing a Light Obstruction Notice (LON) for a period of 12 months prior to construction – after which, nullifies a claim for light if left unchallenged, thereby resetting the prescriptive 20 year clock. It is unsurprising that the number of professionals offering expertise in this area has grown considerably in the past years. Having worked for an ROL specialist for many years, I saw considerable benefit in joining Trident, which, as a multidisciplinary building consultancy, has the ability to advise both (would-be) developers and neighbours in the context of the bigger picture. As land values increase and buildings grow taller, ROL has become increasingly important. Combining PropTech, extensive theoretical and practical knowledge, and the support of its national network, Trident’s growing ROL team has the capacity and resources to meet the demands of all project sizes, in all locations. While permitted development rights offer some freedom, too much freedom can be dangerous: pushing risk further down the line only increases risk. So developers are advised to seek professional advice at an early stage to avoid the significant expense of having to pull down an extension and begin again. www.tridentbc.com
With environmentally friendly, recycle and green energy becoming a priority across the entire world, it’s no wonder that more and more architects and construction specialists are focusing on introducing eco-friendly building designs. Buildings are getting designed in a manner that considers their environmental impact from the start, and even the way they’re constructed places a distinct focus on eco-friendliness and sustainability. The way in which these buildings deal with their waste during their construction is hugely important, and that is why more and more buildings are utilising skip hire in Northampton and the rest of the UK which focuses on ethical and environmentally-friendly waste removal. The secrets behind Eco-Friendly Building Construction Green Waste Removal – Even though all your efforts to reduce as much waste as possible during a construction project is great for helping the environment and reduce costs, there will always be waste created from the process. When it comes to removing the waste from your building project in anywhere across the UK, you need to ensure that you are using ethical waste removal and disposal service. That is why you need to find a skip hire company that does its best to recycle as much of the waste it receives as possible and can offer extremely high rates of recycling success. Alternative Energy Solutions – Modern buildings today, tend to have solar panels directly included into their design as a clean and renewable energy source. They utilise the natural energy provided by the sun and can not only work to reduce the environmental impact of a building’s design but can even provide decreased energy bills over the building’s lifetime. There are several government grants, incentives and tax breaks which a huge bonus to those buildings can also be which include solar power in their designs. Using Sustainable Buildings Materials – If you’re aiming to construct a green building, then it’s a no-brainer to use environmental construction materials. Each and every part of your building needs to use responsibly made and eco-friendly components, from the roofing material to the insulation you choose, the materials chosen can have a major effect on the overall sustainability of your building. Popular eco-friendly building materials include reclaimed timber, recycled plastics, recycled glass and other natural building products such as bamboo, cork and linoleum made of renewable materials. Energy Efficient Windows – Double-glazed windows can be extremely effective when to comes to a building’s insulation properties and drastically reduce costs from heating over the building’s lifetime. This also makes complete financial sense, as any additional costs incurred by installing double-glazed windows is overturned by the savings that these windows will provide in the long run. In summary, these points suggest that Britain is going in the right direction and when considering an environmentally friendly construction project, then you need to plan the most effective strategy to manage your waste, with the help of an expert.
Gira, one of the world’s leading full-range suppliers of intelligent system solutions for building management, ‘go green’ for Earth Hour 2019 and commit to 60 minutes of complete darkness… On Saturday 30th March 2019, Gira headquarters in Radevormwald, Germany turned out its lights. From 8:30 to 9:30pm, Gira switched off its entire lighting system within the new Production, Development & Logistics center for one hour in a bid to help save the planet and participate in this year’s Earth Day. Not stopping there, Gira also switched off the four illuminated logos which adorn the facade of its high-bay warehouse to completely immerse itself in complete darkness for 60 minutes. For the first time, Gira played a part in ‘Earth Hour’: a global community action which is organized by the international nature and environmental organization World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF). Since 2007, participants around the world come together and power down lighting in the workplace for the purpose of ‘Earth Hour’. According to the WWF, the campaign should “motivate as many people around the globe as possible to live and act more environmentally friendly – far beyond the 60 minutes.” In 2018, results show that over 180 countries took part in Western Europe, made-up of the general public, entire communities, businesses and institutions. Last year saw Germany positively step up and support Earth Day with Cologne Cathedral, Hamburg City Hall, an entire skyline of high-rise buildings in downtown Frankfurt and the Town Hall in both Remscheid and Wuppertal-Barmen, all becoming dark for an hour. It is therefore no surprise that ‘Earth Hour’ is now considered one of the world’s largest community actions for environmental and climate protection. What are you doing to help? Earth Hour 2019 – 30th March 2019 Earth Day 2019 – 22nd April 2019
Elmsbrook residents save £400 a year in energy bills as the NW Bicester scheme is confirmed as the UK’s first large-scale true zero-carbon development Elmsbrook, the initial exemplar phase of NW Bicester developed by A2Dominion, has had its status as the UK’s first large-scale true zero carbon1 development confirmed by international sustainability charity, Bioregional. With savings of almost £400 per year2 compared to the average Bicester household, Elmsbrook residents are benefitting from super insulated fabric, more efficient appliances and renewable-energy generation. The combined impact of the eco-features incorporated into the homes, primary school and eco-business centre have ensured that the site as a whole is achieving true zero carbon. Elmsbrook is saving 300 tonnes of CO2 per year when compared with a new build development of a similar size. According to Bioregional’s monitoring results Elmsbrook residents used 57% less heating and hot water than their Bicester neighbours and 28% less electricity than the Bicester average, saving 1,189 KWh of electricity during the year. Bioregional co-founder and CEO Sue Riddlestone OBE said: “We are really proud to have worked with A2Dominion on this monitoring work, and to have worked in partnership with them for many years to help ensure that Elmsbrook achieves its zero-carbon ambitions while also being a great place to live. “Clearly there’s scope for further work to ensure that residents make the most of all the other opportunities to minimise their impact on the planet. But to succeed in preventing catastrophic climate change we need to see many more Elmsbrooks emerging across the country – and fast.” A2Dominion’s Head of Special Projects, Steve Hornblow said: “The successful findings of this report, coupled with the anecdotal feedback we are hearing from residents, is a huge milestone for the scheme. As a test bed, exemplar scheme, we are very proud of the achievements at Elmsbrook.” Monitoring proves eco-design a success To inform the annual monitoring of Elmsbrook’s sustainability performance, Bioregional has been capturing anonymised data through the meters within the homes at Elmsbrook, the public areas and resident surveys. This includes 86 homes from Phase One with 12 months of full data, and 32 homes from Phase Two with up to six months of data. The results of Bioregional’s sustainability monitoring report highlights the success A2Dominion has had in meeting the standards it set out during the design phase. Not only is the carbon footprint neutral, but residents are reaping the benefits of the innovative features across Elmsbrook. While 40% of residents purchased as a result of the eco town concept, almost half (47%) have said the most liked design features are eco related, including PV, better insulation, triple glazing and rainwater harvesting. Some 57% said the eco features were what they most liked about the development. Lifestyle and community emphasis delivers real value In addition to the specific eco credentials of the scheme, the lifestyle and community emphasis is delivering real value. Elmsbrook aims to make it easy for people to live happy, healthy and sustainable lives. The ample green spaces at Elmsbrook have also proved hugely popular, with half of residents making daily or weekly use of the green spaces and on average exercise 4.5 days per week. Some 81% of residents surveyed said they feel healthy or very healthy compared to the national average of 57.8%. Sustainable travel innovations include an electric car club, free Brompton bicycle rental, and free installation of electric vehicle charging points to residents who go electric within the first two years. While 48 residents have signed up to the electric car club so far, only 20% of residents are using the low-emission bus service each month. The research showed that more efforts are needed to develop further sustainable travel options and encourage people to adopt these low-carbon forms of transport. Elmsbrook residents surveyed said they say hello to more than 15 neighbours and a quarter are engaged in community governance activities like clubs and groups onsite. In the UK as a whole, a quarter of people don’t say hello to their neighbours. Notes 1 True zero carbon covers all household energy use, regulated and unregulated 2 This saving arises when maintenance, gas safety checks and eventual boiler replacement are factored in – included in standing chargers.
Work has begun on the third phase of a multi-million pound business park in Leamington Spa, which will bring 180,000 sq ft of new industrial units to the town. Leading property developer Stoford Developments is building four units and has already signed up Liberty 920E, part of the prestigious Liberty Vehicle Technologies, for a 50,000 sq ft unit at the park, which is located on Tachbrook Road. A further three units of 30,000 sq ft, 40,000 sq ft, and 60,000 sq ft, all with ancillary offices and suitable for advanced manufacturing and e-fulfilment and distribution uses (B1, B2 and B8 classes), will also be constructed. When it is fully operational, Liberty 920E’s state-of-the art, flagship 50,000 sq ft centre will become a global hub for its research and development and engineering expertise, housing house more than 100 technical professionals, including 40 new engineering posts. The company, which employs 5,000 people in the UK, is a Tier 1 supplier to major automotive manufacturers domestically and overseas. The centre, adjacent to its original plant, will also house Liberty’s Vehicle Technologies, 920Engineering (920E) and Shiftec businesses, which are internationally renowned for their advanced lightweight braking and control systems respectively. Contractor Benniman has been appointed to undertake the first tranche of phase three construction, which is due for completion in Q4 this year. Dan Gallagher, Joint Managing Director at Stoford Developments, which is developing the site jointly with leading asset management company BlackRock, said: “Starting on phase three of Spa Park is a key milestone in this significant development that could bring hundreds of jobs to the area. “We are pleased to have signed Liberty 920E for one of the larger units that we are delivering and we are also in talks with other prospective occupiers and hope to make further announcements soon. There is still huge demand for business units and warehouses of this size in the region, which has a long track record for advanced manufacturing and engineering industries.” Stoford is retaining a large portion of the site that will enable it to construct units ranging from 30,000 sq ft – 290,000 sq ft on a build-to-suit basis. Paul Tebbit at BlackRock said: “We are pleased to be on site in Leamington working in partnership with Stoford once more, following on from our recent project in Siskin Parkway West, Coventry, where we successfully built and let 310,000 sq ft in two buildings. Spa Park forms part of BlackRock’s strategy to build and own best in class, strategically located logistics assets within the BlackRock UK Property Fund, which now stands at nearly £3.5bn. Spa Park offers access to a strong skilled labour pool, good infrastructure and connections and importantly a significant power supply.” Anthony Blackwell, chief technical officer for Liberty Engineering, who is leading the development of the global technology centre, said: “This industry-leading new facility at Spa Park will play a pivotal role in our development of sophisticated components for the next generation of vehicles. “This site has nearly a century of heritage in automotive manufacturing and our new centre here will help us write an exciting new chapter in this success story.” Spa Park is ideally located, close to the A46 and junctions 14 and 15 of the M40. Leamington Spa train station is less than one mile away. Spa Park is already home to lingerie and swimwear brand Bravissimo, Detroit Electric and global medical company Smith + Nephew. For more details about Spa Park, visit www.spapark.co.uk Photo caption (l-r): Dan Gallagher, Joint Managing Director, Stoford Developments; Anthony Blackwell, Chief Technology Officer for Liberty Engineering; Steven Smith, Managing Director, Benniman.
When it comes down to making a garden building more environmentally friendly, there are a couple of key things that need to be considered in order to make this a successful process. Throughout the construction phase, it is important to keep in mind the initial purpose of the building. If your garden building is going to be utilised for the sole purpose of additional storage, less work and environmental factors need to be considered, whereas if you plan on using your garden building as additional living space, there could be further implications. Premier retailer of quality garden and leisure buildings GBC group have rounded up their top tips for making a garden building more eco-friendly. Design When it comes to design, there’s a key link between space and environmental factors. As with anything, smaller spaces are much easier to heat than larger ones, which makes them not only cost effective but friendlier to the environment. Be mindful of the size of the space you are choosing, if you don’t require a vast amount of space, select something moderate that will be kinder to the atmosphere. Placement of windows The placement of windows can have a significant effect on the eco-friendliness of your garden building. By working out the direction of natural breezes and the positioning of the sun throughout the day, you are able to optimise the amount of sun that will stream through the windows. This in turn should produce a heating effect and should reduce the amount of artificial heating required. Insulation Ensuring you insulate the building both appropriately and correctly is a hugely beneficial step in order to increase how environmentally friendly the building actually is. Using good quality insulation should create a consistent heating effect, by keeping the area cool in the warmer months and trapping heat in during the colder months. This in turn should reduce the need to run any electrical or gas heating and cooling units regularly. Using eco-materials Where possible, be mindful of the materials being used to construct the building. To help save money and minimise environmental impacts, try and source recycled plastic, glass and timber. This process should be much less damaging to the environment than purchasing the materials brand new. Solar Panels Although expensive and dependent on what type of outdoor building it you are considering, investing in solar panels is a potential option. As well as the huge environmental benefits, installing solar panels is a fantastic long-term financial investment within itself. There are a great range of solar panels available, and in most instances the more powerful of the systems simply wouldn’t be required. In general, garden buildings require very little electrical power, therefore the output wouldn’t need to be huge, so a simple set of cost-effective panels should work sufficiently.
Whether you love or loath IKEA, there is no denying the thrill of picking out furniture and seeing it in your home on the same day. More and more house builders are now taking a leaf out of Ikea’s book with housing estates being constructed using modular build practices. While modular builds won’t mean new housing estates springing up in a matter of hours, it will considerably reduce the wait. However, that is just one of the benefits of a pre-fabricated approach, as Nick Cowley, managing director of uPVC windows and doors expert, Euramax, explains. The flatpack phenomenon is still changing the way we live and work. In the last three decades, machinery and technology developments have meant that bigger, stronger and more efficient modular structures, including schools, business parks and medical facilities, are being built across the globe. Modular buildings and homes are prefabricated away from the final building site in sections, or modules. These are then delivered to the intended site where installation occurs. The need for speed As modular buildings are able to be constructed in highly controlled environments, it means that the build process can be completed up to 50 per cent faster than by using traditional construction methods. This ability to be built and installed quicker, means that the return on investment (ROI) is potentially far greater than traditional building projects, as the construction phase is significantly shortened. Show me the money The overall cost of the build can be reduced by up to 30 per cent by using modular practices. Shorter build time saves money on reduced labour costs and on-site equipment hire costs. The overall cost of construction materials will also be reduced as it means that the pre-fabricator can buy materials required in larger quantities for multiple projects, rather than just on an ad-hoc basis. These materials will all be delivered to one location, rather than multiple construction sites, so transportation and delivery costs are lower too. Modular construction also means that any installed elements, like windows and doors, or practical elements such as kitchens or light fixtures, can be delivered and installed all at once. Expert suppliers, like uPVC window and door manufacturer, Euramax, can deliver equipment and materials either to the pre-fabrication facility, or directly on site. The process of constructing a modular build off site means that any errors or issues with construction can be eliminated before arriving on site. This means that staff are less likely to need to spend large amounts of time and effort fixing things once installation is complete. Customisable options Modular builds open up huge potential in terms of design aesthetic and innovation. Traditional building designs are often restricted by the amount of space and planning regulations of how much work can be done to the local area and land. However, modular builds can be designed to a set of specifications that adapt to any restrictions that may be in place. As each modular build is tailored to the individual users needs, the construction can be designed and made to the exact space, budget and design requirements. Modular buildings are also commonly constructed out of more durable and environmentally sustainable materials, making the properties a better investment for both the construction company and the buyer. So, while the cheap and cheerful, cookie-cutter style furniture you buy and build from IKEA can be cost effective and an instantaneous moment of gratification, modular builds open up a much wider range of opportunity to reduce costs, speed up projects and create a unique look.