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London Renewables Toolkit

Posted: 03/05/2005

Several London-based developers, planners, housing associations and designers recently gave the thumbs up to a new Toolkit that aims to help them embrace energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies. The construction industry is under growing pressure to incorporate renewable energy systems in the design and construction of new developments, but this will require a big change in the industry’s current attitudes and ways of working.

To help planners and developers through this process, the DTI-funded
London Renewables project has produced the London Renewables Toolkit. The Toolkit gives a detailed overview of the renewable energy technologies available and their appropriateness for different development types, to help the user make informed decisions and navigate the planning process more smoothly.

To get the ball rolling, BRE (in partnership with CEN) was commissioned by London Renewables to provide training to London-based developers, planners, housing associations and designers on using the Toolkit. The sessions covered:

*policy issues
*sustainable construction and energy efficiency
*understanding renewable energy technologies
*the suitability of different renewables for various building types
*assessing planning applications with regard to renewable energy targets
*achieving renewables targets in London.

The Toolkit proved to be a great success, delegates finding it to be, ‘… useful in providing a simple overview of renewable technologies available and informing the selection process’. Another comment was that, ‘The Toolkit, combined with an easily contactable support service, would greatly assist London's commitment to embrace renewables and reduce its carbon emissions.’

This guidance could be particularly important in view of the growing demands for greater use of renewables. The Energy Performance of Buildings Directive, due to take effect next year, states that ‘where technically, environmentally and economically feasible, new buildings shall incorporate renewable and/or decentralised energy supply systems’. And the London Mayor’s Energy Strategy requires large developments to generate at least 10% of the site’s energy needs from renewable energy.

A website has been set up for planners, developers and designers to work together and help each other to achieve renewables targets. By logging on to www.susplan.org.uk users can post questions, share experiences, and review case studies of existing projects.

For further information, contact Cathy Reeve or Matt Dickinson at BRE
on 01923 664500, or visit www.bre.co.uk.

Green Building Press  
 

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