Features

Abundance? no, strive to use the minimum

Cup of tea anyone?

Consider the simple example of boiling water to make a single cup of tea. There is a minimum amount of energy required to raise the temperature of a fixed volume of water from ambient to 100°C at atmospheric pressure, but how close are we to achieving the minimum?

Wood by the sea: Coastal house in Devon

Architect: 6a architects

Structural Engineer: Price & Myers

Main Contractor/Builder: JE Stacey

Joinery Company: Touch Design Group

Wood Supplier: Traditional Oak and Timber Co.

Wood Species: French Oak, British Douglas Fir, British Pine

Hedging to combat traffic emissions

We know trees are good at absorbing CO2 but our town planners should plant hedges near roads too, say scientists. Researchers from Surrey University's Global Centre for Clean Air Research (GCARE) looked at how three types of road-side planting – trees, hedges, and a combination of trees with hedges and shrubs – affected concentration levels of air pollution. The study used six roadside locations in Guildford as test sites, where the green infrastructure was between 1-2 metres away from the road.

Making good use of waste paint

Paint manufacturers are working to reduce the environmental impact of waste paint. It should re-used in paint manufacture, or given to community projects so it can stay out of landfill sites.

New Scandi modern: Bolia

If Scandinavian design to you means all those mid-century greats such Arne Jacobsen, Poul Henningsen and Hans Wegner, it’s time to get with the 21st century and feast  your eyes on the work of companies such as Bolia which continue in the spirit of their not so distant forefathers.

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