Thoughts from the IET President: Unpacking horizontal innovation

BRE’s Chief Scientist and current President of the Institution of Enginneering and Technologies Jeremy Watson talks about his 2017 presidential priorities including diversity and inclusivity, horizontal innovation and re-inventing the learned society. So – what do we mean by Horizontal Innovation (HI)? People will have different interpretations, but for me HI has a number of … Continue reading “Thoughts from the IET President: Unpacking horizontal innovation”

How “green” mortgages could drive energy efficiency in both new and existing homes

A better representation of home energy costs in our mortgage ‘affordability’ calculations looks like it might be closer to reality than ever before. This means the calculations undertaken to assess what borrowers can afford to repay each month, and therefore the total amount they can borrow, will have better estimations of their fuel costs considered. … Continue reading “How “green” mortgages could drive energy efficiency in both new and existing homes”

Ecobuild 2017: from traditional sustainability to more social sustainability?

So much has changed since Ecobuild 2016; things that one would never have imagined possible happened… Leicester City won the Premier League and now face a fight for survival; the political arena globally now looks very different 12 months on too. So we look upon Ecobuild 2017 from a different lens than perhaps we might … Continue reading “Ecobuild 2017: from traditional sustainability to more social sustainability?”

BBC Countryfile featured the BRE Flood Reseilient Repair House

Countryfile’s special reporter, Tom Heap, reported from the Flood Reseilient Repair Home on the BRE Innovation Park at Watford. Aided by Green Watch from Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue’s nearby Garston fire station, the home was flooded with several thousand litres of water… and yet, just hours later, was dry and ready to move back into. … Continue reading “BBC Countryfile featured the BRE Flood Reseilient Repair House”

BREEAM training to be rolled out across China

BRE’s training arm the BRE Academy is partnering with green building consultancy NSD* to deliver an extensive programme of BREEAM training across China. This initiative reflects a growing interest in BREEAM in China and the move to upskill built environment professionals so they can deliver against Government-set sustainable development targets. Under the terms of the … Continue reading “BREEAM training to be rolled out across China”

BRE Academy win Hertfordshire Training & Skills award

BRE’s training business, the BRE Academy, has won the Training & Skills Provider of the Year award at the Hertfordshire Building and Construction Awards 2017. Judged by a panel of Hertfordshire’s leading business people and entrepreneurs, the awards celebrate the best of building, engineering and construction works that have taken place in Hertfordshire over the past … Continue reading “BRE Academy win Hertfordshire Training & Skills award”