A lively debate on the government's target for all new dwellings to be zero carbon by 2016, took place at the AECB annual conference recently. Nearly 200 members of the AECB, the Sustainable Building Association, vigorously debated the zero carbon by 2016, with other buildings to follow by 2019 target...

Britain's key industrial sites have the potential to provide enough electricity to power two-thirds of UK households. If the potential was realised, then the UK could also halve gas imports, according to a new report by Europe’s leading energy experts. Analysts from Pöyry Energy Consulting identified just nine industrial...

Environmentally conscious Muslims have created Manchester’s first eco-mosque in the heart of Levenshulme. With solar panels, underfloor heating, wood from renewable sources, low energy bulbs, and walls built from reclaimed stone, you could be forgiven in thinking you were reading specifications for a contemporary environmentally...

The work of Sheffield Homes gained international recognition when it was selected to feature in a Japanese teaching programme. Professor Hattori of Japan’s University of Air, paid a visit to Sheffield last week to meet with Sheffield Homes’ Director of Investment Jon Lovibond and Decent Homes Programme Manager Iain Allott, to gain an...

Countryside campaigners CPRE have responded to government claims that its opposition to eco-towns is driven by a blanket refusal to countenance new housing in the countryside. The organisation said it had a long history of being committed to providing more affordable homes outside of cities and urban areas but did not believe eco-towns...

In response to a slump in the sale of new housing, the government has announced a new "national clearing house" is to be established, allowing developers to approach the Housing Corporation with "robust proposals" to sell their leftover housing for rent through Housing Associations. Housing minister Caroline Flint said: "There is an...

Housing minister Caroline Flint has announced the second phase of consultation on the government's eco-town proposals is to begin. A series of roadshows taking place around the shortlisted sites will provide further information to the public, and allow ministers to hear the views of local residents...

The government's Consultation on Living a Greener Future ended yesterday and countryside campaigners, CPRE, are calling for the government to focus on one or two truly exemplary schemes, scrap sub standard proposals and rethink its eco-town programme. There will be further consultation over the summer when the Government is expected...

The 'zero carbon hub' an independent company formed to oversee the move to zero carbon home building has been launched amid speculation over conflict behind the scenes. Originally the hub was envisaged as part of the UK Green Building Council(UKGBC). The hub will be led by Neil Jefferson, general manager of external relations...

A £130 million block to be built in the centre of Glasgow will be one of the UK's most environmentally friendly office buildings. National developer Castlemore Securities has been given permission for the 12-storey building in St Vincent Street. The company says the 250,000sq ft development will set new standards...