For property firms to benefit from ethical finance, L&G’s Debbie Hobbs says they must reverse the trend for de-skilling and employ more engineers to ensure buildings perform
Category: General
The challenge of cooling football stadiums in Qatar
A study of air conditioning in Qatar stadiums has explored the best way to achieve thermal comfort for spectators and players. Cairo University’s Essam E Khalil and Mohamed E Ashmawy share their findings
How a National Trust blog inspired a low-carbon network
A network of companies and not-for-profit organisations has is slashing energy bills by sharing ideas and innovation. Andy Pearson looks at how a blog on heating historic buildings turned into the Fit for the Future forum
The history man: Interview with Professor Alan Short
Professor Alan Short says designers must look to the past to come up with resilient buildings that can withstand climate change. Alex Smith meets the architect who has helped revive the art of natural ventilation
BDP’s Andrew Swain-Smith on the engineering renaissance
BDP’s chair of building services engineering Andrew Swain-Smith says he is feeling bullish about the practice’s growth prospects – and this was before news it had won a prestigious contract at the Palace of Westminster
How industry is using Soft Landings to help close the performance gap
Soft Landings enables clients to check performance against design goals. Alex Smith looks at how it can be used beyond energy, and speaks to an engineer, contractor and architect who are embracing the initiative
What caused the Grenfell Tower disaster?
The Grenfell Tower fire should never have happened. Alex Smith looks at what must be learned to ensure residents are never put at risk again
How Skanksa’s ‘return to work’ scheme is helping close the skills gap
Getting back into employment after a career break can be an uphill struggle. Liza Young finds out how Skanska’s Return-to-Work scheme is encouraging diversity by recruiting from outside the construction industry
Power share – battery storage leads the charge of the microgrid
Battery storage capacity is set to soar as prices tumble and renewable fuel plays an increasingly important part of the energy mix. Andrew Brister examines developments in the technology and looks at innovative applications
Hive of activity – agile working design
Agile workplaces that allow staff to choose where they work are making inroads in offices. Liza Young finds out how such spaces will work alongside wellbeing principles