Scrap materials website offers an alternative to landfill
BuilderScrap is a new initiative for housebuilders and others in the construction industry. Designed by builders for builders, the online business offers an alternative to landfill for the millions of tonnes of unused new supplies and good quality second hand materials, which are thrown away each year.It is completely free and allows users to upload materials to the site, either from a computer or from site via MMS from a mobile phone. These items are then available to other users at a cost or free. Users also have access to a wealth of information regarding environmental and industrial issues.
The initiative seeks to introduce a culture of efficient waste management on site, by promoting segregation of different wastes at source, and encouraging re-use and recycling of product rather than disposal.
A purpose-built web based business it allows housebuilders to communicate with nearby construction companies, to use up each others’ surplus, and thus reduce the amount of goods sent to landfill.
The general overview of the business is that users register (for free) and can then upload any surplus goods or materials they have which will appear on the site. Any users searching for products can then contact the seller and complete the transaction. Some goods will be sold at a cost; others will be given away for nothing simply as a way of preventing them from going to landfill (which has a cost due to landfill tax, skip hire, labour cost and so on).
It works simply but efficiently, offering three options of item upload to users. The first option, one we believe will be popular with builders on site, uses a mobile phone camera to upload MMS messages to the website. It is also possible to upload items by email, and directly through the website. Both of these options are free of charge to users. Users can then search for desired items online, and register for email and text alerts for regular search items. The website will also provide information to users regarding environmental and waste management within the construction industry.
BuilderScrap.com is currently undergoing in-house trials, to be followed shortly by local trials in parallel with the formation of the first social enterprise reclamation site in Moreton
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More information: www.builderscrap.com
Rainwater harvesting helps reach Code level 6
November 17, 2008 by admin
Filed under Site works
With building regulations changing, and new legislation regarding sustainability for new homes, WPL is supporting developers with new, innovative and cost effective solutions to support the increasing demands made by customers and the government.
In preparation for all new homes to be zero carbon rated by 2016, WPL’s range of rainwater harvesting solutions automatically rates a new home at the highest level for water efficiency, code level 6, as set by the Code for Sustainable Homes.
Apparently house builders and developers are assured of achieving the highest levels in this category with products from the company’s domestic rainwater harvesting range, RainRetain. Top quality pumps, filters and tanks ensure performance, together with simple installation and excellent value.
For smaller developments, the WPL Diamond domestic sewage treatment plant can cope with population equivalents from 1-55 and benefits from having no internal moving parts. This offers the end user significant savings on maintenance and has up to 3 year de-sludge intervals.
More information: http://www.wpl.co.uk.
Unique Nottingham development bucks low sales trend
November 17, 2008 by admin
Filed under Completions
Homes developer Trent Park Developments is bucking the current trend for slow sales with their award winning £50m River Crescent development, in Nottingham. In the three months since marketing of the development began, 15 apartments were sold and, it is said, that buyers are now offering over the asking price to try and secure themselves prime plots.Overlooking the River Trent, this atttactive development comprises 146 apartments in a exceptional location with extraordinary facilities and elegantly designed luxury apartments, many of them featuring balconies or terraces, and boasting spectacular riverside views.
An on-site business suite, concierge service, health club and doctors’ surgery are some of the key facilities which have been incorporated into River Crescent.
Prices start from around £295,000 for a two bedroom apartment to over £1m for the larger penthouse-style apartments. This is the first time that an apartment in Nottingham has reached a sale price of £1m.
Exclusive to River Crescent, the interior design of each show home apartment has been inspired by the world famous fashion houses, ‘Chanel’, ‘Fendi’, ‘Armani’ and ‘Paul Smith’, and created by NDA Private Clients. Purchasers of River Crescent apartments have the option to appoint NDA Private Clients, to create individual interiors to their own brief.
River Crescent won several categories and was the overall winner in the Nottingham’s Evening Post New Homes Awards. The Reader Vote – Best Apartment award was won for the show home ‘Fendi’ apartment.
More information: www.trentpark.co.uk
Pioneering pods to provide affordable housing solution
Pioneering pod company, Elements Europe, is soon-to-launch, timber frame affordable housing solution, Ty UnnosTM a new type of technology, taking off across the care home, student accommodation and hotel sectors. It’s also linked with RoompodTM.So-called because of its Welsh timber frame superstructure and the speed of its construction, Ty UnnosTM – the newly developed affordable housing solution from Elements Europe – literally translates from Welsh as ‘House Overnight’.
Made from low-density timber, usually used for non-structural applications such as pallets, packaging and fencing, the technology is very light weight and yet exceptionally strong. A unique laminating process and clever beam, column and joist arrangements result in a sturdy, load-bearing structure that can be constructed as a three-storey build.
Chief operating officer for Elements Europe, Darren Richards, says. “The type of timber used makes this product inherently ‘green’. Using advanced insulation methods, Ty UnnosTM is proven to perform to passive house standards and also offers exceptional air-tightness to meet The Code for Sustainable Homes Level 4, but can be easily upgraded to meet Code Level 5 in-line with project requirements.”
RoompodTM is said to be the only fully functional, load-bearing ‘whole room’ pod product currently on the market.
A ‘stackable’ light steel framed solution it is delivered to site fully-kitted out with all fixtures, fittings and utilities already in-situ. Simply craned into place, without the need for adjoining walls, floors and ceilings, the product allows the building of 12 units per day (up to six storey’s high), reducing a typical construction programme by up to 75%. Also it provides significant savings in the cost of the actual superstructure and it’s these hard-hitting tangibles that are already seeing it snapped up by some of the biggest budget hotel operators.
Ideal too for student and residential care accommodation, RoompodTM is quickly making its mark across these growing sectors, aided by Element’s unique provision of a full scale prototype pod as part of its design process.
Further information: www.elements-europe.com
Timber cladding helps regenerate Maidstone flats
November 17, 2008 by admin
Filed under Completions
To help regenerate the Parkwood Estate in Maidstone, Kent, turning it into one of the most sustainable developments in the county Kier Construction has used Thermowood cladding from John Brash & Company.The two phase regeneration project, started in 2006 and managed by the Maidstone Housing Trust, will see the initial regeneration of 122 housing association properties and the construction of a further 42 affordable homes, before the end of 2008.
Over 11,000 linear metres of cladding was specified for the project and was used on all external aspects of the new and regenerated buildings to help meet the requirements of EcoHomes. As work started on the development, the properties had to meet EcoHomes ‘Very Good’ rating, which approximately equates to a three star rating on the Code for Sustainable Homes.
On this project, Thermowood cladding was able to improve the sustainability because timber cladding is a good natural insulator, with a typical thermal conductivity of 0.1067 W/mK. Being lightweight also enabled savings on the foundations and masonry-based materials on the new build properties, all of which have high embodied energy contents.
Timber itself has low embodied energy, meaning that harvesting and production has minimal impact on the environment. Timber is also the only truly renewable natural resource being sourced from certified sustainable forests.
Another benefit of Thermowood is that it boast fine aesthetics with the ability to retain its original appearance for years. In addition to this, a specialist heat treatment process ensures it maintains high durability, stability and a lengthy service life
The £18m project aims to encourage diversity and provide a better quality of life for people being reintroduced to the area. Some twenty-two families have moved into their new homes on the Parkwood Estate, with a further 60 due to move in before the end of the year.
John Brash and Company is a specialist timber importer and a UK leading manufacturer of timber cladding. The company also specialises in the supply of roofing battens and scaffold boards, cedar shingles and cedar shakes and anti-slip timber decking.
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