Smart grids offer the potential for buildings to generate and store power for future use. Mike Barker MCIBSE, of BuildingPhysics, says it will be the job of engineers to calculate the optimum level of renewables for a building to be profitable. He considers the economic viability of incorporating a microgrid at the Durban International Convention Centre in South Africa
Author: Alex Smith
What’s so attractive about magnetic refrigeration?
Magnetic refrigeration has the potential to reduce energy use by 30% and requires no refrigerant. Metkel Yebiyo and Graeme Maidment, of Sirach, describe the technology, its main applications, and the challenges facing firms trying to get the concept to market
In the spotlight: 2016 building services salary survey
Building services engineers are currently the most sought-after professionals in construction, with the latest Hays Salary Guide revealing inflation-busting wage rises of more than 7%. Roxane McMeeken asks whether firms can afford the sharp jump in pay
Fan laws – impact of EU law on ventilation units
The new energy efficiency standards are affecting existing contracts writes Hywel Davies
Beyond oil – Irena headquarters, Masdar
The headquarters for the International Renewable Energy Agency boasts a 1,000m2 PV array – but the real talking point is the 50% reduction in energy demand achieved after extensive modelling from the outset
Light and shade – Siemens Middle Eastern headquarters
Masdar, in Abu Dhabi, is designed to showcase green technologies in the Middle East. Andy Pearson looks at how the city’s masterplan helped determine Aecom’s passive-first strategy in this Leed Platinum exemplar scheme
Regeneration must not wipeout communities
Parachuting eco-communities into cities can damage the social fabric says Kirsten Henson
Down to zero – winner of Ashrae modelling competition
An ASHRAE competition pitched teams of industry practitioners against each other to come up with the best model of a zero-net energy building. ‘Team IES’ won Best Energy Use and the firm’s Liam Buckley, who coached the team, describes the winning project
Cost model: High-end apartment fit-out
A new series of cost models by Aecom begins with an indepth look at the costs of building services in high-end apartment blocks – this make up a considerable part of the central London construction market
Engineers cut lose as ropeless lifts enter space race
A revolutionary elevator that uses magnetic levitation to move horizontally and vertically is set to transform the design of tall buildings. Alex Smith reports on the technology