Welcome to NBS

NBS topic areas

NBS solutions

Green building

Sustainable development

Civil engineering and public utilities
Cladding/covering
Climate Change

Coastal and maritime engineering
Cob buildings
Combined heat and power (CHP)

Civil engineering and public utilities

British Standards Institution

BS EN 61400-1:2005 Wind turbine generator systems. Safety requirements, 2004
Details are given for the safety, quality assurance, engineering integrity, requirements, design, installation, maintenance and operation under specified external conditions of small wind turbine generator systems (SWTGS).
View in The Construction Information Service

Building Research Energy Conservation Support Unit

General Information Leaflet 1 Success of condensing boilers in non-domestic buildings - a user study, 1992
This publication reports on an assessment of various aspects of the achieved performance of condensing boilers as perceived by users, including installation, reliability, economic and technical performances.
View in The Construction Information Service

Building Research Establishment

Report 140 Thermal efficiency of large oil fired boilers: investigations of factors affecting the thermal efficiencies of seven commercial/industrial oil-fired boilers at the nominal rated output and under part loadings, 1989
View in The Construction Information Service

CIE-UK

Technical Report 110/1994 Spatial distribution of daylight - luminance distributions of various reference skies, 1994
A review of studies on various sky luminances and specifications of reference skies, with a method of composing average sky and mean sky as an appendix. Several reference skies including the average sky and mean sky are given definitions and various studies on these sky luminances are introduced, with a bibliography, in three appendices.
View in The Construction Information Service

CIRIA

Publication C529 Environmental handbook for building and civil engineering projects. Part 3: Demolition and site clearance, 2000
The main sections of this part of the Environmental Handbook comprise: agreeing the specification and project environmental policy; legislation and policy; project planning and environmental policy.
View in The Construction Information Service

Department of the Environment

Industry Profile Power stations (excluding nuclear power stations), 1995
To provide regulators, developers and other interested parties with authoritative and researched advice on how best to identify, assess and tackle the problems associated with land contamination. The publications cannot address the specific circumstances of each site, since every site is unique. The Contaminated Land Research Report series deals with information needed to assess risks - procedures for categorising and assessing risks - and evaluation and selection of remedial measures.
View in The Construction Information Service

Cladding/covering

Arca Publications

Timber Cladding in Scotland, 2002
Produced by the Scottish Executive to promote the use of timber cladding on buildings in Scotland. Looks at timber cladding from a historical perspective, and concludes that its use was much more prevalent in the past than it is now. The following sections discuss the durability of the various timbers, and special considerations for using timber as a rainscreen in Scotland's wet maritime climate.

Building Research Energy Conservation Support Unit

Good Practice Guide 293 External insulation systems for walls of dwellings, 2000
Provides general information about External Insulation for architects, specifiers and builders who are new to the concept. It is concerned with both new build and renovation work, and includes examples.
View in The Construction Information Service

Good Practice Guide 297 Refurbishment site guidance for solid walled houses - walls, 2000
Aimed at architects, builders, local authorities and housing associations. This guide provides advice on which insulation methods are most appropriate for walls and the thickness of insulation needed to achieve a good level of energy efficiency.
View in The Construction Information Service

Building Research Establishment

Information Paper 3/87 Solar dazzle reflected from sloping glazed facades, 1987
Glare or dazzle can occur when sunlight is reflected from a glazed facade. For vertical facades this problem usually occurs only when the sun is low in the sky; but some types of modern design incorporate sloping glazed facades which can, under certain circumstances, reflect unwanted high altitude sunlight into the eyes of motorists, pedestrians and people in nearby buildings. Addressed to architects, consulting engineers, planning consultants and planners, this paper presents a new method which can be used at the design stage to calculate whether such solar dazzle will be reflected from a proposed building facade.
View in The Construction Information Service

Information Paper 11/02 Retrofitting solar shading, 2002
Solar shading can have an important benefit on the environment in buildings and can give valuable savings in cooling energy. Describes the shading systems commonly used in retrofit and gives guidance on their selection and design. It will be of interest to building owners and facilities managers, energy auditors and interior designers.
View in The Construction Information Service

Report 262 Thermal insulation: avoiding risks. 3rd edition, 2002
Explains the technical risks which may be associated with meeting the building regulation requirements for thermal insulation for the major elements of the building. For Roofs and Floors, there are further sub-divisions within each element. Concentrates on loadbearing masonry, timber frame constructions and profiled sheet cladding. Illustrations show construction principles and good practice. This updated edition contains a number of revisions resulting from developments in research, changes in. materials, construction techniques and the building regulations.
View in The Construction Information Service

Good Building Guide 32 Ventilating thatched roofs, 1999
View in The Construction Information Service

Digest 351 Re-covering old timber roofs, 1990
When an old timber roof is re-covered, it can be subjected to substantially higher loads by the new tiles or slates than by the original ones. The roof, comprising rafters, purlins, struts and ceiling joists, which has performed satisfactorily before re-covering, may show signs of distress and may eventually collapse as a result of heavier and/or more absorbent tiles or slates. This Digest explains how to assess the condition of timber roofs prior to re-tiling or slating and suggests practical steps towards completing a satisfactory renovation.
View in The Construction Information Service

Report 467 Recycling fibre reinforced polymers in construction: a guide to best practicable environmental option, 2004
This best practicable environmental option (BPEO) guide provides information on the disposal and recycling options available for Fibre reinforced polymers (FRP) waste, uses of FRP recyclate, ecocomposites, and composite recycling facilities. The aim is to enable the construction industry to make informed decisions about material choices at the specification stage, consider factors to enable easier deconstruction at the design stage and assess the relative merits of the disposal options available at the end of the service life. Gives details of legislation which will impact on choices for material re-use, recycling or disposal, discusses research into the recyclability of FRP building materials, describes products that can be manufactured from FRP recyclate, and presents a financial assessment.
View in The Construction Information Service

Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers

Technical Memoranda TM 35 Environmental performance toolkit for glazed facades, 2004
Report based on a 2 year Partners-in-Innovation (PII) project sponsored by the DTI, that conducted a comprehensive study on the overall performance of highly glazed facades. Covers; Building environmental performance criteria, Thermal Modelling and the facade selector, References, and an appendix - Facade classification matrix.
View in The Construction Information Service

English Heritage

Stone slate roofing - technical advice note, 1998
This technical advice note gives guidance for architects, surveyors and building owners, on the repair and reroofing of traditional stone slates roofs in England. It deals specifically with stone slates from sedimentary rocks (mainly limestone and sandstone) rather than with real slates, which are from metamorphic rock. As the material and methods of stone slate roofing vary from region to region, it concentrates on general principles. For guidance on the specific local roofing types and methods, advice should be sought from the local planning authority.
View in The Construction Information Service

Lead roofs on historic buildings - an advisory note on underside corrosion, 1997
This summary of preliminary findings is intended to help professionals; to appreciate some of the issues; in their assessment of lead roofs in historic bodies; in developing proposals for renewal or repair which can reduce the likelihood of ULC whilst minimising the amount of alteration to the building fabric.
View in The Construction Information Service

Office of the Deputy Prime Minister

Building Regulations 2000: Approved Documents C Site preparation and resistance to contaminants and moisture, 2004
Includes Part C1 - Site preparation and resistance to contaminants and Part C2 - Resistance to moisture.
View in The Construction Information Service

Climate Change

Architectural Press

Adapting buildings and cities for climate change, 2005
Looks at fundamentals of sustainable design and includes case studies. Covering climate change, insurance, thermal comfort and health, extreme weather conditions, rise in sea level, air conditioning issues, tall buildings, fossil fuels and fuel security.
View in The Construction Information Service

Ashgate Publishing Ltd

Urban environmental planning: policies, instruments and methods in an international perspective, 1997
This publication addresses central questions of confronting sustainable urban development.

British Library

Environment and the planning system: business implications, 1994
This report introduces the reader to the major institutions influencing environmental planning and it highlights the trends and consequences of the rapidly developing situation. It then looks at the British planning system to see how this seeks to control development and protect the environment.
View in The Construction Information Service

British Standards Institution

BS 8900:2006 Guidance for managing sustainable development, 2006
Provides guidance on managing sustainable development and a framework that assists organizations to enhance performance and effectiveness. It offers a coherent approach to managing economic, environmental and social aspects of an organization's activities.
View in The Construction Information Service

Building Research Energy Conservation Support Unit

Fuel Efficiency Booklet 7 Degree days, 1993
Degree days are a measure of the variation of outside temperature which enables building designers and users to determine how the energy consumption of a building is related to the weather. Degree days have become important since it has been shown how valuable they are in monitoring the benefits of energy saving measures in buildings, particularly now that the very large amounts of energy that could be saved in buildings have been recognised.
View in The Construction Information Service

Good Practice Guide 310 Degree days for energy management: a practical introduction, 2002
Provides an introduction to the use of degree day analyses as a part of a wider energy management programme.
View in The Construction Information Service

Building Research Establishment

Report 179 Draft interpretative document: Energy economy and heat retention, 1990
Report of presentations and discussions at a DOE/BRE seminar held at the Building Research Establishment, Garston, Watford on Thursday 19th April 1990.
View in The Construction Information Service

Information Paper 04/05 Costing sustainability: how much does it cost to achieve BREEAM and Ecohomes ratings, 2005
Presents some of the key findings from a costing analysis, using real cost data for a broad range of sustainability technologies and design solutions; namely, the capital costs associated with reaching increased levels of environmental performance, as defined by the BREEAM and EcoHomes schemes, for different building types and in different locations. Demonstrates that significant improvements in building sustainability performance can be achieved at very little additional cost.
View in The Construction Information Service

Information Paper 16/05 Domestic energy use and carbon emissions: scenarios to 2050, 2005
Describes five scenarios for energy consumption and carbon emissions from the domestic sector up to 2050. In addition to the more traditional energy efficiency measures, it looks at changes to heating systems to introduce low carbon technologies, the use of solar panels and photovoltaics, and increased low carbon electricity generation from the national grid. The costs and savings of each of the scenarios, relative to the reference scenario, are examined.
View in The Construction Information Service

Report 349 Impact of climate change on building, 1998
The purpose of this report is to disseminate to the building industry the scope of potential impacts that future climate change may have on the built environment in the UK.
View in The Construction Information Service

Digest 350 Part 1 Climate and site development: Part 1: General climate of the UK, 1990
This Digest describes how microclimate is affected by the geography and topography of a site and its surroundings, and how it can be further influenced by the arrangement of buildings and landscape features. It reviews techniques for planning a climatically sensitive site layout, giving maximum benefit from fine weather and some protection from adverse weather. This can benefit building performance by reducing energy consumption and improving durability, and can make the spaces around buildings more attractive and useful by providing better conditions for outdoor activities.
View in The Construction Information Service

Digest 350 Part 2 Climate and site development: Part 2: Influence of microclimate, 1990
This Digest describes how microclimate is affected by the geography and topography of a site and its surroundings, and how it can be further influenced by the arrangement of buildings and landscape features. It reviews techniques for planning a climatically sensitive site layout, giving maximum benefit from fine weather and some protection from adverse weather. This can benefit building performance by reducing energy consumption and improving durability, and can make the spaces around buildings more attractive and useful by providing better conditions for outdoor activities.
View in The Construction Information Service

Digest 350 Part 3 Climate and site development: Part 3: Improving microclimate through design, 1990
This digest describes how microclimate is affected by the geography and topography of a site and its surroundings, and how it can be further influenced by the arrangement of buildings and landscape features. It reviews techniques for planning a climatically sensitive site layout, giving maximum benefit from fine weather and some protection from adverse weather. This can benefit building performance by reducing energy consumption and improving durability, and can make the spaces around buildings more attractive and useful by providing better conditions for outdoor activities.
View in The Construction Information Service

Digest 446 Assessing environmental impacts of construction: industry consensus, BREEAM and UK ecopoints, 2000
For construction to play its part in making society more sustainable, industry decision-makers must confront social, economic and environmental implications of sustainable construction. This digest first describes the methodology and results of a study of the relative weightings of sustainability issues arising from buildings and construction. These are interim results but they provide a sound basis for analysing environmental effects and setting priorities for further action. In order to undertake consistent holistic analysis of the environment, it is useful for different impacts to be compared on a single scale or score (such as Ecopoints). A consensus view between all levels of decision-makers about the relative importance of different Environment is necessary for such a score to be calculated.
View in The Construction Information Service

Good building guide 63 Climate change: impact on building design and construction, 2004
Considers how the climate is changing, the potential risks this will bring to buildings and, as a consequence, how building design and construction will need to change.
View in The Construction Information Service

Building Services Research and Information Association

Technical Note TN 12/99 Environmental rules of thumb, 2000
This Technical Note contains rules of thumb and other guidance for assessing and addressing the environmental consequences of building projects in the UK. The rules have been collected from the building and construction industries and come from a number of sources, including organisations, individuals and published material.
View in The Construction Information Service

Case Studies 16/99 Environmental case studies. Volume 2, 1999
These case studies describe the main stages in a building's life cycle and includes both the commercial and domestic sector. The procurement process, reuse and recycling of materials, sustainability, renovation of listed buildings, integration between buildings and landscape, and efficient use of water resources are covered.
View in The Construction Information Service

Chadwick House Group Limited

Environmental auditing for the non specialist, 2001
Shows how a non-specialist can undertake the important task of environmental auditing. In particular it helps to demystify the environmental audit process, and aims to convince non-specialists that they can achieve genuine environmental improvements through a common sense approach. Shows how a systematic, documented, periodic and objective evaluation of how well environmental organisation, management and equipment are performing can help to safeguard the environment.
View in The Construction Information Service

Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers

Technical Memoranda TM 36 Climate change and the indoor environment: impacts and adaptation, 2003
To what extent will climate change increase the occurrence of summertime thermal discomfort, and to what extent will passive measures be able to improve thermal comfort? How effective will different approaches to comfort cooling be under the changing climate? What are the energy use implications of the various strategies?. Addresses these questions through dynamic thermal computer modelling of 13 case study buildings, chosen to provide a cross section of UK building types, including dwellings, schools and offices, and illustrate a range of different approaches to comfort cooling provision.
View in The Construction Information Service

CIRIA

Publication C638 Climate change risks in building - an introduction, 2005
Looks at the effects of climate change on buildings including why it is happening and the changes that may be noticed in the UK in the context of the construction industry. Covers the consequences and risk decision-making processes.
View in The Construction Information Service

Council for the Protection of Rural England

Environmental policy omissions in development plans: a CPRE survey, 1994
A survey by the CPRE showed that the majority of local authority development plans fail to address the main Environment now required by Government policy. This leaflet summarises the results of the survey and shows which authorities have left key environmental policies out of their draft development plans.
View in The Construction Information Service

Environmental statements: getting them right, 1990
This publication is meant to be used as a guide to the principles of good Environmental Statements, and to act as a checklist for planners, developers and environmentalists alike.
View in The Construction Information Service

Council of Europe

Environment and local and regional authorities, 1996
This report (prepared on the basis of replies from 28 countries to a questionnaire on environment and local authorities), was intended to identify points of convergence and divergence observed in the types of management adopted for the administration of; the supply and distribution of drinking water; sanitation, sewage treatment and main-drainage; collection, disposal or recycling of household waste and; planning and control of land use.
View in The Construction Information Service

Department of the Environment

Environmental action guide for building and purchasing managers, 1991
This guide is addressed to all who are involved in commissioning building works or managing property and ancillary services. It will assist managers in those fields to deal effectively with the environmental implications of their activities.
View in The Construction Information Service

Environment facts: a guide to using public registers of environmental information, 1995
The environment concerns everyone. This guide is designed to assist anyone wanting to find out more about a specific aspect of environmental protection. It covers topics as diverse as flood defence, noise, radioactive substances, air pollution, water quality in local rivers and possible pollution from factories.
View in The Construction Information Service

Who does what on environmental matters at the Department of the Environment, 1994
This leaflet shows how the work is organised, with the names of senior staff and enquiry points.
View in The Construction Information Service

Environmental protection (prescribed processes and substances) regulations - a consolidated version, 1994
This document is intended for those who need to use the prescribed processes and substances regulations. It contains a consolidated version of the original regulations, which incorporates all six sets of amendments.
View in The Construction Information Service

Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions

Circular 02/00 Environmental protection act 1990: part IIA - Contaminated land, 2000
This circular has two functions; firstly it promulgates the statutory guidance which is an essential part of the new regime; secondly, it sets out the way in which the new regime is expected to work, by providing a summary of Government policy in this field, a description of the new regime, a guide to the regulations and a note on the saving provision in the commencement order.
View in The Construction Information Service

Environment Council

Who's who in the environment: Wales, 1995
This directory provides a guide to environmental organisations, explaining who doe what, where and the services they provide, as well as indicating which organisations employ volunteers.
View in The Construction Information Service

Who's who in the environment: Northern Ireland, 1994
This directory provides a guide to environmental organisations, explaining who doe what, where and the services they provide, as well as indicating which organisations employ volunteers.
View in The Construction Information Service

Who's who in the environment: Scotland, 1996
This directory provides a guide to environmental organisations, explaining who doe what, where and the services they provide, as well as indicating which organisations employ volunteers.
View in The Construction Information Service

Who's who in the environment: England, 1995
This directory provides a guide to environmental organisations, explaining who does what, where, and the services they provide, as well as indicating which organisations employ volunteers.
View in The Construction Information Service

European Environment Agency

Environment in the European Union at the turn of the century, 1999
Up to now what has been missing has been an assessment of whether the actual economic, sectoral and environmental policies over the next decade or so will bring improvements, or whether there are trends and developments pushing us off target and seriously challenging substantial progress. This report is designed to address this issue, providing information on the current state and future trends that is of direct use for deciding on sound and effective measures to really improve and protect the environment and to move towards more sustainable development.
View in The Construction Information Service

European Information Association

Environment in Europe, 1995
This information guide focuses on the context of European environment policy; the rationale for European Union involvement, the development of legal basis to policy formation and its relationship with other policy areas. It is divided into the following sections; current awareness, general, legislation and instruments of policy.
View in The Construction Information Service

Green Books

Schumacher Briefing 5 Contraction and convergence: the global solution to climate change, 2000
Briefing about the dangers presented by global warming. It explains how they arose, what the international community is doing about them and how, just possibly, humanity may head off the worst dangers. Against international sluggishness the method proposed (Contraction and Convergence - C and G) aims to show what can be done, right now, to curb the emission of greenhouse gases whilst creating sustainability and equity for the worldwide community.

Institute for Public Policy Research

Climate commitment: meeting the UK's 2010 CO2 emissions target, 2005
Shows how the Government's manifesto commitment to reduce the UK's carbon dioxide emissions by 20 per cent from the 1990 level by 2010 can be met. Covers: summary of proposed new measures; power generation, industry and commerce; homes and other buildings; transport; and climate funding.
View in The Construction Information Service

Legislation - UK

Statutory Instruments SI 1991/836 Environmental protection (amendment of regulations) regulations 1991, 1991
View in The Construction Information Service

Statutory Instruments SI 1992/2617 Environmental protection act 1990 (modification of section 112) regulations 1992, 1992
View in The Construction Information Service

Statutory Instruments SI 2004/3391 Environmental information regulations 2004, 2004
View in The Construction Information Service

McGraw Hill

Climatic Design: Energy-efficient Building Principles and Practice, 1983

Scottish Office

Accessing environmental information in Scotland, 1995
The aims of this report were; to review existing provision and the accessibility of environmental information in Scotland and; to make recommendations for an appropriate system or systems for the coordination and delivery of environmental information which meet the needs of the public and their agents/representatives.
View in The Construction Information Service

Accessing environmental information in Scotland, 1995
The aims of this report were; to review existing provision and the accessibility of environmental information in Scotland and; to make recommendations for an appropriate system or systems for the coordination and delivery of environmental information which meet the needs of the public and their agents/representatives.
View in The Construction Information Service

Environment and heritage in rural development, 1998
This guide provides practical advice and information on integrating environment and heritage issues in rural development work to ensure suitable rural development. It aims to encourage all local rural partnerships - strategic, topic and area - and other local agencies and organisations, to consider environment and heritage factors at all stages of their rural development work.
View in The Construction Information Service

Solar Survival Architecture Press

Comfort in any climate, 2001
Considers creating a comfortable space in any climate without the use of fossil fuels for heating and cooling. Breaks down important sustainable design concepts into clear, easily understood elements: thermal mass, insulation, heating, cooling, and ventilation. Using examples of built Earthship designs, the author shows applications of the presented concepts through text, illustrations and colour photos.

Spon Press

Climate sensitive buildings: design for the urban tropics, 2005
Rapid urbanisation in the tropics has brought in its wake many hitherto unknown changes to humans, animals and plants and the physical environment. The climatic effect of urbanisation has not been understood nor the knowledge base applied by urban designers, planners, architects and engineers. In particular, the energy and bio-climatic implications of changes have received very little attention in urban design and planning. Lays out the problem of tropical urban climate anomaly and points to possibilities of mitigating these changes through design and planning options.

Environmental brief, 2005
Seen by architects as the most crucial part of the entire design process in terms of achieving high quality buildings. Environmental design strategies are often considered as being of lesser importance.

Sweet and Maxwell Ltd

Environment information bulletin (periodical),
Considers the environmental challenges facing organisations in both the public and private sectors; and about the solutions for meeting those challenges. Covers a wide spectrum of subjects, including: enforcement activities; court cases; EU developments; environmental standards; official guidance; cleaner technology; industry sector initiatives; international trends; government policy and company practice.

Taunton Press Inc

Builder's Guide to Mixed Climates: Details for Design and Construction, 2000

The Stationery Office

Environment: confronting the issues, 2001
Provides a comprehensive guide to key facts about the environment.
View in The Construction Information Service

Environment handbook, 1998
This handbook is a comprehensive guide which provides the environmentalist, at home and at work, with an overview and key facts about the environment, both global and in the UK.
View in The Construction Information Service

Welsh Office

Environmental agenda for Wales, 1995
This statement by the Secretary of State for Wales covers; land issues; energy and; environmental quality.
View in The Construction Information Service

Environment in Wales: fourth report, 1995
View in The Construction Information Service

Environment in Wales: fifth report, 1996
This publication is divided into five main sections; the Welsh environment; environmental pressures; environmental agencies; involving everyone and; tables of commitments.
View in The Construction Information Service

Coastal and maritime engineering

CIRIA

Use of vegetation in civil engineering, 2000
This book explains the different functional engineering effects of vegetation and gives information on the selection, establishment and management of vegetation, to enable the engineer to interact effectively with the other disciplines involved. A key section provides a procedural framework which guides the reader in evolving a suitable approach to vegetation use for a particular site and application, involving consideration of planning, investigation, design, construction, establishment, maintenance and contractual aspects. A major section on applications provides practical information on the design and implementation of vegetative methods for slope stabilisation, water erosion control, watercourse and shoreline protection, wind erosion control, shelter, noise reduction, surface protection and trafficability.
View in The Construction Information Service

Publication C590 Potential use of alternatives to primary aggregates in coastal and river engineering, 2004
In response to UK Government aim of reducing the demand for natural resources and minimising its impact on the environment, this publication seeks to highlight the potential of using alternatives such as secondary and recycled materials as sources of aggregate within the construction industry. Topics covered include coastal and river engineering requirements, materials (availability and suitability) and overcoming problems.
View in The Construction Information Service

Report R 153 Beach management manual, 1996
This manual sets out the basic principles, such as problem definition, design constraints and opportunities, likely option effectiveness, economic appraisal and environmental assessment. It also provides detailed information on the design considerations and principles associated with the various management options, including beach recharge, beach control structures and managed landward realignment, together with guidance on scheme implementation.
View in The Construction Information Service

Environment Agency

Pollution Prevention Guidelines PPG14 Marinas and craft, 2004
Guidelines covering 'controlled waters' that is: canals, rivers, estuaries, lochs, coastal waters, groundwaters, lakes and reservoirs, to ensure all users (both business and pleasure) are aware of the requirements and recommendations necessary to take care of and to protect the environment. It is an offence to cause pollution of controlled waters, either deliberately or accidentally. These can be polluted if diesel, oil and petroleum spirit, sewage and contaminated bilge water, is discharged into them.
View in The Construction Information Service

Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food

Flood and coastal defence: project appraisal guidance notes, 1993
The purpose of this note is to advise on best practice in those areas which the Ministry expects to see covered in any application for grant aid, thereby helping authorities to make better decisions and achieve greater value for money. It concentrates on economic (rather than technical) appraisal.
View in The Construction Information Service

Coastal defence and the environment: a guide to good practice, 1993
This manual provides guidance to coastal engineers, planners, managers and environmental scientists within organisations responsible for the planning and maintenance of coastal defences.
View in The Construction Information Service

Cob buildings

Chelsea Green Publishing

Hand sculptured house: a practical and philosophical guide to building a cob cottage, 2002
Cob, a structural composite of earth, water, straw, clay, and sand, has been used for centuries, in virtually all parts of the world, to create homes ranging from mud huts in Africa to lavish adobe haciendas in Latin America. A practical and inspiring hands-on guide which will help anyone from rank beginner to expert.
View in The Construction Information Service

Buildings of earth and straw: structural design for rammed earth and straw bale architecture, 1997
Buildings of Earth and Straw fills in the gaps for professional builders, contractors, engineers, inspectors, lenders, and architectural students. It includes special construction requirements of earth and straw, design capabilities and limitations of these materials, and documentation of testing data for use in addressing the concerns of officials.

Green Books

Building with cob: a step by step guide, 2006
Cob building uses a simple mixture of clay sub-soil, aggregate, straw and water to create solid structural walls built without shuttering or forms, on to a stone plinth. This publication shows how to apply cob-building techniques in a wide variety of situations. It covers everything from design, planning and siting, to roofs, insulation and floors. Illustrated with colour photographs, it is the first book of its kind in the UK.
Buy this title from RIBA Bookshops

Combined heat and power (CHP)

Building Research Energy Conservation Support Unit

New Practice Final Profile 4 Gas-turbine based combined cycle CHP scheme, 1996
View in The Construction Information Service

Good Practice Guide 43 Introduction to large-scale combined heat and power, 1999
This guide is designed to give managers an overview of the fundamental technical and financial aspects involved when considering large-scale combined heat and power. It covers CHP plant which is applicable to large industrial, commercial and public sector sites, in the range 500kW to more than 20MW of electrical output.
View in The Construction Information Service

Good Practice Guide 60 Application of combined heat and power in the UK health service, 1992
This good practice guide offers management guidance, technical advice and information on the application of combined heat and power (CHP) installations on health service sites. This guide is primarily aimed at the installation of purpose-built CHP equipment in existing hospitals, although it also covers designing CHP into new hospitals.
View in The Construction Information Service

Good Practice Guide 115 Environmental guide to small scale combined heat and power, 1994
View in The Construction Information Service

Good Practice Guide 176 Small-scale combined heat and power for buildings, 1996
For many buildings, combined heat and power (CHP) offers an economical and environmentally friendly method of providing baseload heat and power. The aims of this Guide are to increase awareness of small-scale CHP technology, and to encourage managers and building services engineers to consider using it in their buildings. Before making such a decision, a full option appraisal should be carried out. The use of CHP has proved highly cost-effective in a wide range of buildings. Industry estimates indicate that CHP is already used in over 10 per cent of UK hotels, and 12 per cent of leisure centres. It is also used as the prime source of heating and power in many hospitals, universities, boarding schools, residential tower blocks and defence establishments. In addition, large-scale CHP installations are being used with community heating schemes and at some multi-building sites such as hospitals, airports and universities.
View in The Construction Information Service

Good Practice Guide 204 Combined heat and power (CHP) in universities, 1996
View in The Construction Information Service

Good Practice Case Study 208 Long-term performance of a combined-cycle CHP installation. 1996 edition, 1996
View in The Construction Information Service

Good Practice Case Study 209 Long-term performance of a CHP installation using an aero-derived gas turbine, 1994
View in The Construction Information Service

Good Practice Case Study 210 Corporate policy on combined heat and power, 1994
View in The Construction Information Service

Good Practice Case Study 220 Long-term performance of a gas turbine combined heat and power installation. 1998 edition, 1998
View in The Construction Information Service

Good Practice Case Study 231 Long-term reliability of CHP at a large sewage works, 1995
View in The Construction Information Service

Good Practice Guide 234 Guide to community heating and CHP - commercial, public and domestic applications, 1998
This guide provides a full update on all the technical issues that must be addressed by those considering implementing community heating, including feasibility, design, operation, surveillance, and maintenance.
View in The Construction Information Service

Good Practice Case Study 255 Long-term reliability of CHP plant at a medium-sized sewage treatment works, 1995
View in The Construction Information Service

Good Practice Guide 267 Combined heat and power in hospitals, 2000
This guide provides an overview of the issues surrounding the use of Combined Heat and Power (CHP).
View in The Construction Information Service

Good Practice Case Study 269 Long-term performance of a dual-fuel engine CHP scheme, 1995
View in The Construction Information Service

Good Practice Case Study 275 Combined heat and power in the Government Estates - RAF Coningsby, 1995
View in The Construction Information Service

Good Practice Case Study 281 Energy efficiency in sports and recreation buildings: CHP - the 'supplier financed' option, 1996
View in The Construction Information Service

Good Practice Case Study 320 CHP at Carlsberg-Tetley's maltings, 1996
View in The Construction Information Service

Good Practice Case Study 370 Use of combined heat and power in community heating schemes - four case studies, 1999
View in The Construction Information Service

Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers

Applications Manual AM 12 Small-scale combined heat and power for buildings, 1999
The manual is a guide to the processes and considerations necessary to assess, evaluate, design, install, operate and maintain a small-scale CHP system. Small-scale CHP is generally defined as an installation with an electrical output less than 1MW, although many building applications will require CHP systems less than 250kW.
View in The Construction Information Service

BackToTop

NBS eNews

Create or login to your NBS website account and sign up for our free eNewsletter, to keep you up to date on the latest news and developments at NBS.

SignUpNow

NBS Useful Links

Useful Green Building links.

 

ViewUsefulLinks

NBS Reading List

This area of the site lists books relating to Green Building which we think you might find useful.

 

ViewReadingList