Re-establish human relationships with the natural world

Continue exploiting natural resources until they are gone, or regenerate them and re-establish human relationships with the natural world – it’s up to us ‘We are living at a point in time when human society’s influence on the environment, and the environmental impact of our individual lives, has never been as strong,’ says Mike Maunder … Continue reading “Re-establish human relationships with the natural world”

5 years on and the futures bright for BRE National Solar Centre

In 2013, Greg Barker, the then Minister State for Energy and Climate Change officially opened the BRE National Solar Centre, the UK solar industry was flourishing with approximately 8,800 new PV systems being installed every month adding over 1.1GW of capacity within the year. A lot has changed for solar over the last 5 years.  … Continue reading “5 years on and the futures bright for BRE National Solar Centre”

BRE Response to the National Planning Policy Framework Consultation

The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) sets out the government’s policy for local planning practitioners and stakeholders.  This includes the way in which local (and neighborhood) plans are developed and applications assessed, and also direction in respect to local policy ambition and requirements for issues such as health, security, climate change, housing etc. Like many … Continue reading “BRE Response to the National Planning Policy Framework Consultation”

How a BRE office became the centre piece for major biophilic design research

A chance encounter in a traffic jam has led to a major scientific investigation on the wellbeing effects of biophilic design History tells us that people have always been influenced and attracted by nature. For example, tomb paintings from ancient Egypt, as well as remains found in the ruins of Pompeii, demonstrate that people brought … Continue reading “How a BRE office became the centre piece for major biophilic design research”

World first biophilic design research project connects buildings with nature

A live office refurbishment will provide environmental and human data as evidence for positive health and wellbeing impacts on office occupants BRE has launched The Biophilic Office project – a ground-breaking office refurbishment project that will provide quantified evidence on the benefits of biophilic design on health, well-being and productivity of office occupants. The project … Continue reading “World first biophilic design research project connects buildings with nature”

Specifying Innovative & Sustainable Systems

Collaboration was the order of the day at the Constructing Excellence Sustainability Theme Group Meeting on Specifying Innovative and Sustainable Systems.  The workshop, delivered in partnership with the Innovation Gateway and hosted at the BRE Innovation Park, looked at how innovative solutions move from concept to widespread implementation and use within the built environment.  With … Continue reading “Specifying Innovative & Sustainable Systems”