(Click the picture to view)
Sunday, September 9
Thursday, September 6
Wishbone Rotation Monitor Arm
Product Description
The latest addition to the award winning Wishbone flat screen arm system. A wrap spring clutch at the elbow joint allows the user fingertip height adjustment, in addition to the movement inherent in the standard Wishbone range.
Load capacity 8kg
( direct deal from manufactured in Malaysia)
( minimal 20 units to place an order.
Advance payment of 80% and 20% on delivery)
Look forward to hear from interested buyers.
Interest buyers can inquiry of required brochures from us.
http://www.alibaba.com/catalog/11254455/Wishbone_Rotation_Monitor_Arm.html
Wednesday, September 5
US Housing Crash Continues
10 Points not to buy houses at this current circumstances.
[Quoted from Patrick.net]
It's A Terrible Time To Buy
Why?
Check it out at http://patrick.net/housing/crash.html
[Quoted from Patrick.net]
It's A Terrible Time To Buy
Why?
Check it out at http://patrick.net/housing/crash.html
Monday, September 3
Estate agents 'should face more regulation
[Quoted - TT/The Local (news@thelocal.se/08 656 6518)]
Current laws governing real estate agents are insufficient and more regulation is needed, the Swedish National Audit Office (Riksrevisionen) has said.
The audit office wants the government to review the legal requirements for documentation. Better documentation could reduce the number of disputes between consumers and estate agents, it said.
In the absence of documentation, disputes are often left with the estate agent's word standing against that of the buyer or seller.
Disagreements over surveys, bidding and property descriptions are quite common, the audit office said.
The Swedish Board of Supervision of Estate Agents (Fastighetsmäklarnämnden), which is supposed to keep an eye on estate agents, has been too passive in its role as a regulator, the audit office said.
Current laws governing real estate agents are insufficient and more regulation is needed, the Swedish National Audit Office (Riksrevisionen) has said.
The audit office wants the government to review the legal requirements for documentation. Better documentation could reduce the number of disputes between consumers and estate agents, it said.
In the absence of documentation, disputes are often left with the estate agent's word standing against that of the buyer or seller.
Disagreements over surveys, bidding and property descriptions are quite common, the audit office said.
The Swedish Board of Supervision of Estate Agents (Fastighetsmäklarnämnden), which is supposed to keep an eye on estate agents, has been too passive in its role as a regulator, the audit office said.
Sunday, July 8
"...Linguist Ken Hale has compared the loss of a language to "dropping a bomb on a museum," destroying a culture, intellectual wealth, a work of art."
Recently I was listening to this programme, titled : "Can threatened or dying languages be revived?"
What do you think about it?
Do you find 'language' an interesting topic to talk to your friends?
Do you think its worth any value of your time by reading, finding facts or getting to know more about it?
If it was me at my early youthful age, I'll definately discard it because its not FUN at all.
As you get to know it better, it seems language has a varse history and importance of value to learn from. Whether is knowledge or what ever common sense?!
Anyway... if you refer back to the sentence posted and stated on that programme, which I've heard... IF you notice the phrase "... a work of art"
ART?... language is part of art?!
Do you find language is form of art indirectly?
hmmm... what is the real purpose of art anyway.
Recently I was listening to this programme, titled : "Can threatened or dying languages be revived?"
What do you think about it?
Do you find 'language' an interesting topic to talk to your friends?
Do you think its worth any value of your time by reading, finding facts or getting to know more about it?
If it was me at my early youthful age, I'll definately discard it because its not FUN at all.
As you get to know it better, it seems language has a varse history and importance of value to learn from. Whether is knowledge or what ever common sense?!
Anyway... if you refer back to the sentence posted and stated on that programme, which I've heard... IF you notice the phrase "... a work of art"
ART?... language is part of art?!
Do you find language is form of art indirectly?
hmmm... what is the real purpose of art anyway.
Hans Christian Andersen Museum
It is weird to have a language Museum?
Do you think Language needs a design to represent it?
First of all, I found the layout of this building quite weird.
Does it speak of the 'language' that it wishes to express itself, about the person who has been a contributing element of 'language' to history itself?
The entrance for this building is quite interesting.
If you read the info on the website, it actually paints out a unique picture?
Follow this link. For further details.
http://museum.odense.dk/andersen/rundtur/index.aspx?l=5&lang=uk
Wednesday, January 31
Design
A layout without any relation.
A form without an outline, loses it touch yet gain not its appearance.
An interest makes no progress further more has no continuity,
Finding a loop hole yet unable to withdraw neither settle.
Searching a void to seek out a point but finds no perspective.
Lost in memory still holding on.
Ending a drawing has no story
Finding a beginning that doesn't start anywhere.
A form without an outline, loses it touch yet gain not its appearance.
An interest makes no progress further more has no continuity,
Finding a loop hole yet unable to withdraw neither settle.
Searching a void to seek out a point but finds no perspective.
Lost in memory still holding on.
Ending a drawing has no story
Finding a beginning that doesn't start anywhere.
Monday, January 8
Urban Design Forum
Check out
- Urban Design Forum Incorporated is a not-for-profit initiative formed with the following statement of purpose:
- To encourage the better design of our cities and towns and regions
- To provide a forum where ideas and comment about urban design can be expressed
- To produce, publish and distribute a regular publication
- To be involved in other activities which contribute to the above purposes
- To co-operate and liase with any individuals or groups who have compatible purposes with the above.
http://www.udf.org.au/
I find it interesting with facts.
- Urban Design Forum Incorporated is a not-for-profit initiative formed with the following statement of purpose:
- To encourage the better design of our cities and towns and regions
- To provide a forum where ideas and comment about urban design can be expressed
- To produce, publish and distribute a regular publication
- To be involved in other activities which contribute to the above purposes
- To co-operate and liase with any individuals or groups who have compatible purposes with the above.
http://www.udf.org.au/
I find it interesting with facts.
Saturday, January 6
Pilot projects to investigate responses to flooding and coastal erosion
[Quoted]
by Roger Milne
5 January 2007
Environment minister, Ian Pearson, has announced a series of projects costing well over £2m, designed to test out new and innovative approaches to deal with flooding and coastal erosion.
One of the six pilot studies will involve South Hams District Council and the production of a coastal zone adaptation plan for the Slapton area which will explore how local communities can adapt to coastal erosion and its impact on transport links, environmental and heritage assets and the local economy. The studies are financed from the Innovation Fund.
Another pilot just announced by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) will see the Building Research Establishment and architects producing specific guidance on planning and designing sustainable housing and communities in flood plain areas.
The focus of a number of the other pilots will investigate the role of forestry in contributing to flood alleviation and how farmers can manage land use in coastal and flood plain areas to help reduce flood risks.
Pearson said: "Climate change will ratchet up the threats faced by communities, which is why we need to investigate new and different responses to dealing with flooding and coastal erosion."
by Roger Milne
5 January 2007
Environment minister, Ian Pearson, has announced a series of projects costing well over £2m, designed to test out new and innovative approaches to deal with flooding and coastal erosion.
One of the six pilot studies will involve South Hams District Council and the production of a coastal zone adaptation plan for the Slapton area which will explore how local communities can adapt to coastal erosion and its impact on transport links, environmental and heritage assets and the local economy. The studies are financed from the Innovation Fund.
Another pilot just announced by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) will see the Building Research Establishment and architects producing specific guidance on planning and designing sustainable housing and communities in flood plain areas.
The focus of a number of the other pilots will investigate the role of forestry in contributing to flood alleviation and how farmers can manage land use in coastal and flood plain areas to help reduce flood risks.
Pearson said: "Climate change will ratchet up the threats faced by communities, which is why we need to investigate new and different responses to dealing with flooding and coastal erosion."
Friday, December 1
New housing and planning policy underlines need for family homes
[Quoted]
New housing and planning policy underlines need for family homes
The government has elevated the provision of family housing and access to gardens, play areas and parks as key policy objectives of the planning system for the first time. Those imperatives are highlighted in the latest planning policy statement (PPS) just published by Communities and Local Government.
PPS 3, which deals with housing issues, places a requirement on English councils to make sure they have policies to ensure enough family housing is built and that developments are child-friendly. The revised guidance also calls for a greater emphasis on housing mix - both tenure and type - and a greater willingness by councils to reject mediocre or poorly designed schemes. In addition, the PPS 3 calls for local planning authorities to identify sufficient land to meet their housing needs over a 15-year period.
The long-awaited new guidance, broadly welcomed by the development sector, makes it clear that local and regional planning bodies must take more account of affordability when determining how many new homes are needed in their areas. In return, ministers have told planning authorities they can have more discretion over densities, car-parking provision and will be allowed to specify a contribution from affordable units at a lower threshold than is currently the case. They will also be in a better position to prevent developers "cherrypicking" greenfield sites, ministers have stressed.
Although the new guidance does not formally commence until April 2007, the suite of policies "may be capable of being a material consideration in particular circumstances prior to that date," according to the statement.
The 28-page document includes new definitions for previously–developed land (often known as brownfield land), affordable housing, social rented housing and another category now known as intermediate affordable housing.
Planning and housing minister, Yvette Cooper, told parliament that changes to planning and housing policy were needed to "support further increased housing needed across the country, bring additional brownfield land back into use, deliver more affordable homes in rural and urban areas, support more family housing including more play spaces, parks and gardens for children and give local authorities more flexibility about how and where to deliver the homes that are needed".
Cooper told journalists that planning authorities would have to strengthen the way they "managed" housing provision with a much greater emphasis on the regular monitoring and review of actual housing delivery performance.
In particular, PPS 3 suggests that planning authorities should update the quality and mix of different categories of land within the rolling five year supply of deliverable sites "to redress the balance of land available for development".
The new guidance emphasises that where there is significant "under-performance" and where LPAs have already taken steps to remove obstacles to the development of allocated previously-developed sites without success, they may consider using their development control powers to reject applications on greenfield sites until there is evidence that the underperformance issues have been addressed.
The PPS 3 stresses that Local Development Documents must set an overall target for affordable housing to be provided in line with the new definition. This will also mean separate targets for social-rented and so-called intermediate affordable housing "where appropriate".
LDDs will also have to set out the range of circumstances in which affordable housing will be required. Currently the national indicative minimum site size threshold for requiring affordable provision is 15 dwellings. Under the new guidance LPAs will be able to set lower minimum thresholds "where viable and practicable", particularly in rural areas.
As the new definition of affordable housing excludes low cost market housing, deciding the proportion of affordable housing to be sought in different circumstances will involve LPAs in planning for low cost market housing as part of the overall housing mix.
The PPS 3 maintains the present focus that at least 60 per cent of new homes should be built on brownfield land. LPAS will be expected set their own local targets to reflect available sites and support the national target.
It also calls for stronger environmental standards and the importance of cutting carbon emissions. The government will shortly be reinforcing this with a PPS specifically on climate change policies.
Cooper has stressed that the revised PPS will be particular helpful for the forty-five towns and cities who have proposed significant increases in new homes and jobs under the governments "growth point" policy.
She also made it plain that ministers want the planning system to redress the balance of housing provision which in some areas like London had become too concentrated on one or two bedroom dwellings, squeezing out larger family-friendly homes.
Read the written statement by Yvette Cooper, minister for housing and planning
View Planning Policy Statement 3: Housing
Roger Milne
30 November 2006
New housing and planning policy underlines need for family homes
The government has elevated the provision of family housing and access to gardens, play areas and parks as key policy objectives of the planning system for the first time. Those imperatives are highlighted in the latest planning policy statement (PPS) just published by Communities and Local Government.
PPS 3, which deals with housing issues, places a requirement on English councils to make sure they have policies to ensure enough family housing is built and that developments are child-friendly. The revised guidance also calls for a greater emphasis on housing mix - both tenure and type - and a greater willingness by councils to reject mediocre or poorly designed schemes. In addition, the PPS 3 calls for local planning authorities to identify sufficient land to meet their housing needs over a 15-year period.
The long-awaited new guidance, broadly welcomed by the development sector, makes it clear that local and regional planning bodies must take more account of affordability when determining how many new homes are needed in their areas. In return, ministers have told planning authorities they can have more discretion over densities, car-parking provision and will be allowed to specify a contribution from affordable units at a lower threshold than is currently the case. They will also be in a better position to prevent developers "cherrypicking" greenfield sites, ministers have stressed.
Although the new guidance does not formally commence until April 2007, the suite of policies "may be capable of being a material consideration in particular circumstances prior to that date," according to the statement.
The 28-page document includes new definitions for previously–developed land (often known as brownfield land), affordable housing, social rented housing and another category now known as intermediate affordable housing.
Planning and housing minister, Yvette Cooper, told parliament that changes to planning and housing policy were needed to "support further increased housing needed across the country, bring additional brownfield land back into use, deliver more affordable homes in rural and urban areas, support more family housing including more play spaces, parks and gardens for children and give local authorities more flexibility about how and where to deliver the homes that are needed".
Cooper told journalists that planning authorities would have to strengthen the way they "managed" housing provision with a much greater emphasis on the regular monitoring and review of actual housing delivery performance.
In particular, PPS 3 suggests that planning authorities should update the quality and mix of different categories of land within the rolling five year supply of deliverable sites "to redress the balance of land available for development".
The new guidance emphasises that where there is significant "under-performance" and where LPAs have already taken steps to remove obstacles to the development of allocated previously-developed sites without success, they may consider using their development control powers to reject applications on greenfield sites until there is evidence that the underperformance issues have been addressed.
The PPS 3 stresses that Local Development Documents must set an overall target for affordable housing to be provided in line with the new definition. This will also mean separate targets for social-rented and so-called intermediate affordable housing "where appropriate".
LDDs will also have to set out the range of circumstances in which affordable housing will be required. Currently the national indicative minimum site size threshold for requiring affordable provision is 15 dwellings. Under the new guidance LPAs will be able to set lower minimum thresholds "where viable and practicable", particularly in rural areas.
As the new definition of affordable housing excludes low cost market housing, deciding the proportion of affordable housing to be sought in different circumstances will involve LPAs in planning for low cost market housing as part of the overall housing mix.
The PPS 3 maintains the present focus that at least 60 per cent of new homes should be built on brownfield land. LPAS will be expected set their own local targets to reflect available sites and support the national target.
It also calls for stronger environmental standards and the importance of cutting carbon emissions. The government will shortly be reinforcing this with a PPS specifically on climate change policies.
Cooper has stressed that the revised PPS will be particular helpful for the forty-five towns and cities who have proposed significant increases in new homes and jobs under the governments "growth point" policy.
She also made it plain that ministers want the planning system to redress the balance of housing provision which in some areas like London had become too concentrated on one or two bedroom dwellings, squeezing out larger family-friendly homes.
Read the written statement by Yvette Cooper, minister for housing and planning
View Planning Policy Statement 3: Housing
Roger Milne
30 November 2006
Thursday, November 30
Warehouse Price Wood Flooring. - Supply & Install -
Warehouse Price Wood Flooring. - Supply & Install -
Contact Jensen Js
email me for my contact number.
You can't miss this offer, worth every penny.
Engineered Wood Board/ Laminated Wood Flooring.
(Warehouse Price)Ranges from RM2.50 - RM6.00 (LWF)
Contact Jensen Js
email me for my contact number.
You can't miss this offer, worth every penny.
Engineered Wood Board/ Laminated Wood Flooring.
(Warehouse Price)Ranges from RM2.50 - RM6.00 (LWF)
Thursday, November 23
Vernacular architecture - egg style
Well, enough of silence emo. forecast for the next few months. Thy be at the end of it soon.
Talking about eggs.
This is a egg structure building. Vernacular Architecture
wastewater treatment plant
— micro-organisms inside destroy biodegradable pollutants
before its separated into water and sludge.
Talking about eggs.
This is a egg structure building. Vernacular Architecture
wastewater treatment plant
— micro-organisms inside destroy biodegradable pollutants
before its separated into water and sludge.
Eaten My Egg Alive
Eggs.
There are plenty of ways to open an egg.
crack...crushed...break & etc
So... mine looks like this, when you have a hard boilded egg.
In order to open it, either you peal it or slowly break the outer shell and peal it by little.
Seeing it cracking slowly and then opening it up. -Eats my heart out-
__________________________________________________________________
[Quoted] - Pride & Prejudice - Movie
Mr. Darcy said :``In vain have I struggled. It will not do. My feelings will not be repressed. You must allow me to tell you how ardently I admire and bla bla...'' end his agony and bla bla bla...
bla bla bla...which seemed due to the consequence he was wounding, but was very unlikely to recommend his suit... bla bla bla
Darn Typical English show... but it was quite a nice show indeed. If you like typical cold english humor with strong language sentences & etc
Wednesday, November 22
What a weird Song
I keep falling in love for her, over and over and over again each year.
I keep falling in love for her, over and over and over again each year.
She looks sweeter and sweeter every year goes by,
I wish I had never been so blind, that I am right now, and I wish could, never be again in me.
her name is somebody,
I can't say,
Sad heart weeps no more,
I keep falling in love for her, over and over and over again each year.
I keep falling in love for her, over and over and over again each year.
If I ever had the chance to say it out, it would definately never be right now,
Oh what my heart sinks again everyday, I wish I was, not that I am of now.
I keep falling in love for her, over and over and over again each year.
She looks sweeter and sweeter every year goes by,
I wish I had never been so blind, that I am right now, and I wish could, never be again in me.
her name is somebody,
I can't say,
Sad heart weeps no more,
I keep falling in love for her, over and over and over again each year.
I keep falling in love for her, over and over and over again each year.
If I ever had the chance to say it out, it would definately never be right now,
Oh what my heart sinks again everyday, I wish I was, not that I am of now.
Saturday, November 18
Illusions are real and yet not all
Dreams...
Never chase after a "Dream", especially an emo type of dream.
Dreams are illusions... and evetually becomes a nightmare or a daydream/ "daymare".
Well, for a particular moment i guess...
Always look forward for the truth. It gives life.
What else can I say... hmmm...
Never chase after a "Dream", especially an emo type of dream.
Dreams are illusions... and evetually becomes a nightmare or a daydream/ "daymare".
Well, for a particular moment i guess...
Always look forward for the truth. It gives life.
What else can I say... hmmm...
The Feeling of it
Broken Pieces of Glass
Glasses always looks good from the outside, and when ever it falls from a certain angle / height of force, it breaks and shatters into pieces. (common sense)
When your facing a mirror, you see yourself before it. Looking fine and all, but the true fact is, you can't see the true color of ourself.
Unless we're talking about, fiber glass or something.
Well... emotion are liken to glass.
Breaks and mends again...
Glasses always looks good from the outside, and when ever it falls from a certain angle / height of force, it breaks and shatters into pieces. (common sense)
When your facing a mirror, you see yourself before it. Looking fine and all, but the true fact is, you can't see the true color of ourself.
Unless we're talking about, fiber glass or something.
Well... emotion are liken to glass.
Breaks and mends again...
Monday, November 13
Personal
- Personal -
I've never blog about personal issues or matters on the internet. Everything blogged would be in parables or whatever crap, that I would like to phrase it. This doesn't mean, I am not straight forward.
Its just to make it more weird, amusing and passionate, something liken to a STORY or a FABLE.
Ever wonder what if feels like to build a bridge on a land, where you find yourself sometimes heading towards an imaginary boundary. A boundary that might not exist or you could not predict, because humans' are just short sighted and impatience beings.
Able to graps and enhancing a characteristic of patience is a very gracious point in life. The very fact, that this virtue could be alive within ''the black box'' of the inner being, is a thing given and slowly showered to blossom.
Yet every blossom could only stay alive, if its been developed through proper seeding and nutrients.
In times, it seems "far flesh" to know what would a person be putting himself or herself through.
Well it ain't about spiritual issues, for its a about the physical aspect of the narrow minded VISUAL vision in a person's head and heart.
The flesh is just a very weak material. The true source of all, will show, lead and provide that sustains it all.
If a person could implant by themselve into a scope of desire, surely would be able to fallout from their very own desire by grace.
Therefore, the mind is land mine that brings much pit falls. The heart of emotion is just something fragile and easily stamped on. Therefore, every final scene of the emotion, is to become either like Winter, cold hearted... or SUMMER, hot hearted, or even SPRING, chippy and sweet, relies on the individual at the end of the day.
So, I guess leaving the state of a neutral border alone, its always 50% better. Yet, its always much advanterous to dive into an uncarted area, people always say : "You never try, you never know"
or... "if you don't succeed, try again" ; "Play your cards right" ; "What is meant to be, would always be"
Whatever crap are all this, simple words overwrites it all.
"You don't want it, leave it. If you're up to it, get into it and give it all your best"
and "if you lose it, lets be NORMADS and head to another pasture"...
yeehaa, I am migrating south, if I am Bird. hehehe.... a wounded soldier always need a General to lead.
or... TIME decides, plays and TELLS it all
What a relief to type it all out? crazy...moment to remember.
I've never blog about personal issues or matters on the internet. Everything blogged would be in parables or whatever crap, that I would like to phrase it. This doesn't mean, I am not straight forward.
Its just to make it more weird, amusing and passionate, something liken to a STORY or a FABLE.
Ever wonder what if feels like to build a bridge on a land, where you find yourself sometimes heading towards an imaginary boundary. A boundary that might not exist or you could not predict, because humans' are just short sighted and impatience beings.
Able to graps and enhancing a characteristic of patience is a very gracious point in life. The very fact, that this virtue could be alive within ''the black box'' of the inner being, is a thing given and slowly showered to blossom.
Yet every blossom could only stay alive, if its been developed through proper seeding and nutrients.
In times, it seems "far flesh" to know what would a person be putting himself or herself through.
Well it ain't about spiritual issues, for its a about the physical aspect of the narrow minded VISUAL vision in a person's head and heart.
The flesh is just a very weak material. The true source of all, will show, lead and provide that sustains it all.
If a person could implant by themselve into a scope of desire, surely would be able to fallout from their very own desire by grace.
Therefore, the mind is land mine that brings much pit falls. The heart of emotion is just something fragile and easily stamped on. Therefore, every final scene of the emotion, is to become either like Winter, cold hearted... or SUMMER, hot hearted, or even SPRING, chippy and sweet, relies on the individual at the end of the day.
So, I guess leaving the state of a neutral border alone, its always 50% better. Yet, its always much advanterous to dive into an uncarted area, people always say : "You never try, you never know"
or... "if you don't succeed, try again" ; "Play your cards right" ; "What is meant to be, would always be"
Whatever crap are all this, simple words overwrites it all.
"You don't want it, leave it. If you're up to it, get into it and give it all your best"
and "if you lose it, lets be NORMADS and head to another pasture"...
yeehaa, I am migrating south, if I am Bird. hehehe.... a wounded soldier always need a General to lead.
or... TIME decides, plays and TELLS it all
What a relief to type it all out? crazy...moment to remember.
Tuesday, November 7
Uk homes should beat Scandinavian eco-standards - Yvette Cooper
[Quoted]
DCLG News Release 2006/0095
13 September 2006
New UK homes should be built to Scandinavian standards and better them within ten years, Housing and Planning Minister Yvette Cooper said today.
Speaking after a visit to environmentally friendly and sustainably designed housing developments in the Netherlands and Scandinavia with stakeholders from the house building, regeneration and environmental sectors, the minister said developers need to increase standards to meet the challenges of climate change.
She wants to use ideas and techniques already being developed and adopted in other European countries to deliver substantial cuts in carbon emissions from new homes. She is also challenging UK companies to plan and innovate now to beat designs and standards from Scandinavia and the Netherlands within ten years.
The second phase of the Design for Manufacture competition will be launched by the end of the year, challenging builders to develop environmentally friendly, low carbon housing developments. The competition will involve private and public sites for low and zero carbon developments. European companies will be invited to join the competition to increase innovation.
Yvette Cooper said:
“The homes we build today will house our children and grandchildren for decades to come which mean they need to be sustainable. If other countries can do it so can we.
“The challenge now is for UK developers to create low cost and low carbon homes. We believe that new developments in the Thames Gateway and in areas like Northstowe can also lead the way.”
Accompanying the minister on the visit were Stuart Baseley, Executive Chairman of the Home Builders' Federation, Paul King, Campaigns Director at the WWF, and John Calcutt from English Partnerships, the Government's regeneration agency.
The visit is part of a major programme of work led by the minister to deliver substantial cuts in carbon emission from new homes:
DCLG Minister with responsibility for climate change Angela Smith will visit the Dongtan eco-city in China later this year to examine further ideas that can be used in the UK;
The Government's new planning policy on climate change will set out how we expect the planning system to help shape a lower carbon society;
The Government’s major review of building regulations alongside the new Code for Sustainable Homes will set out a long term direction for delivering low carbon and ultimately carbon neutral developments; and
Plans for potential low and zero carbon targets for Thames Gateway are being examined under a feasibility study. Other new developments including Northstowe in Cambridgeshire are being designated as exemplars for energy and water efficiency.
Notes to editors
1. Sustainably designed developments Yvette Cooper visited:
Nieuw Terbregge, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
Java and Borneo Islands, IJburg, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Western Harbour Development (Bo01 City of Tomorrow), Malmo, Sweden
Self-heating homes in Glumslov, Sweden
2. What has the Government done already?
We are driving up environmental standards through tough building regulations and planning requirements and incentives for voluntary measures like wind turbines and insulation;
New buildings are now 40 per cent more energy efficient than those built before 2002;
All local authorities can now require on-site micro-renewable technology (e.g. wind turbines, heat pumps) for large developments;
Decent Homes programme to refurbish social housing has already improved the energy efficiency of nearly half a million homes.
3. What are we doing next?
New water efficiency standards for new and existing homes;
New planning policy - PPS3 - that will further enshrine sustainable building policies;
New Design for Manufacture competition that will challenge house builders to build eco developments;
New planning laws that will make it easier for people to install environmental energy measures like wind turbines and solar panels;
We will introduce a tougher Code for Sustainable Homes which will set minimum standards for energy and water efficiency;
Energy performance certificates will, from next June, give home buyers a rating for the environmental efficiency of their home.
DCLG News Release 2006/0095
13 September 2006
New UK homes should be built to Scandinavian standards and better them within ten years, Housing and Planning Minister Yvette Cooper said today.
Speaking after a visit to environmentally friendly and sustainably designed housing developments in the Netherlands and Scandinavia with stakeholders from the house building, regeneration and environmental sectors, the minister said developers need to increase standards to meet the challenges of climate change.
She wants to use ideas and techniques already being developed and adopted in other European countries to deliver substantial cuts in carbon emissions from new homes. She is also challenging UK companies to plan and innovate now to beat designs and standards from Scandinavia and the Netherlands within ten years.
The second phase of the Design for Manufacture competition will be launched by the end of the year, challenging builders to develop environmentally friendly, low carbon housing developments. The competition will involve private and public sites for low and zero carbon developments. European companies will be invited to join the competition to increase innovation.
Yvette Cooper said:
“The homes we build today will house our children and grandchildren for decades to come which mean they need to be sustainable. If other countries can do it so can we.
“The challenge now is for UK developers to create low cost and low carbon homes. We believe that new developments in the Thames Gateway and in areas like Northstowe can also lead the way.”
Accompanying the minister on the visit were Stuart Baseley, Executive Chairman of the Home Builders' Federation, Paul King, Campaigns Director at the WWF, and John Calcutt from English Partnerships, the Government's regeneration agency.
The visit is part of a major programme of work led by the minister to deliver substantial cuts in carbon emission from new homes:
DCLG Minister with responsibility for climate change Angela Smith will visit the Dongtan eco-city in China later this year to examine further ideas that can be used in the UK;
The Government's new planning policy on climate change will set out how we expect the planning system to help shape a lower carbon society;
The Government’s major review of building regulations alongside the new Code for Sustainable Homes will set out a long term direction for delivering low carbon and ultimately carbon neutral developments; and
Plans for potential low and zero carbon targets for Thames Gateway are being examined under a feasibility study. Other new developments including Northstowe in Cambridgeshire are being designated as exemplars for energy and water efficiency.
Notes to editors
1. Sustainably designed developments Yvette Cooper visited:
Nieuw Terbregge, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
Java and Borneo Islands, IJburg, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Western Harbour Development (Bo01 City of Tomorrow), Malmo, Sweden
Self-heating homes in Glumslov, Sweden
2. What has the Government done already?
We are driving up environmental standards through tough building regulations and planning requirements and incentives for voluntary measures like wind turbines and insulation;
New buildings are now 40 per cent more energy efficient than those built before 2002;
All local authorities can now require on-site micro-renewable technology (e.g. wind turbines, heat pumps) for large developments;
Decent Homes programme to refurbish social housing has already improved the energy efficiency of nearly half a million homes.
3. What are we doing next?
New water efficiency standards for new and existing homes;
New planning policy - PPS3 - that will further enshrine sustainable building policies;
New Design for Manufacture competition that will challenge house builders to build eco developments;
New planning laws that will make it easier for people to install environmental energy measures like wind turbines and solar panels;
We will introduce a tougher Code for Sustainable Homes which will set minimum standards for energy and water efficiency;
Energy performance certificates will, from next June, give home buyers a rating for the environmental efficiency of their home.
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