New UK research hub for smart homes and buildings

A new hub dedicated to smart homes and buildings research has been opened in the UK. The new Centre for Smart Homes and Buildings (CSHB) in Watford is currently testing a range of devices, covering heating, energy use, safety and security, lighting as well as air quality. The Building Research Establishment (BRE) will work with […]

UK-China deal heralds £200m green building boost

Up to £200 million of work could be created for the UK’s green building supply chain companies following a deal signed with China. UK construction firm, Building Research Establishment (BRE), is to set up a new training and research and development centre in the southern Chinese city of Shenzhen. The facility will provide training on […]

Chinese projects using UK green building standard

Two large building developments in China are using the UK’s green building standard. Watford-based building consultancy BRE says it has awarded its environmental assessment standard to a £20m flagship building called the Living Lattice in Meixi Lake Eco City. The new urban development in the southeast province of Hunan is one of 240 new cities planned […]

Eco home goes back to the future

Billed as the ‘House of the Future’ when it was first built 15 years ago, Watford’s INTEGER House has had a makeover to bring it back up to date. ELN reporter Thomas Grimwood went on a tour with John O’Brien, Principal Consultant for building research firm BRE to check it out.

'House of the future' gets green makeover

In 1998 a demo home billed as the ‘house of the future’ was built in Watford to show off the best of modern building technology. Fifteen years on, INTEGER house is being refitted with all the latest green gadgets to make sure it’s worthy of the title. The most obvious change is the addition of […]

National solar centre officially opens in Cornwall

Energy Minister Greg Barker officially opened a new national solar centre (NSC) in Cornwall today. The town of St Austell was picked as home for the centre because most of the UK’s solar PV installations are found in South West England with around 56,000 installations in the region. Cornwall itself offers the most sunshine hours […]

Podcast – Is chilly Cornwall perfect for solar power?

Holiday hotspot Cornwall isn’t exactly famed for its sunbathing – but soon it won’t just be tourists flooding the coastal region as it becomes home to a new National Solar Centre. ELN reporter Vicky Ellis meets the people behind it and finds out how Energy Minister Greg Barker is treading the line between solar subsidy […]

New national solar centre to boost renewable generation

A new solar research hub has been launched in the UK which is believed could help boost renewable energy generation in the country. The Building Research Establishment’s (BRE) National Solar Centre is aimed to provide support for UK solar industries in a worldwide market, support the development of future standards to increase quality PV installations, […]