Good Homes Alliance and Woodknowledge Wales commissioned an energy modelling report to compare different low energy building standards. The paper seeks to illustrate how the choice of a building standard affects the amount of renewable energy generation that is required to comply with a net zero operational outcome. The report does not take into account […]
Are modern UK forests suited to help restore biodiversity?
Can productive forests provide both carbon storage and enhanced biodiversity? In the public debate across national media and the twittersphere this seems unlikely. Confor’s new Biodiversity, Forestry and Wood report makes the case that planting and managing trees in the UK to produce wood can deliver biodiversity benefits as well as playing a vital role […]
Demonstration of Practical Building Performance Measurements
Woodknowledge Wales (WKW) believes that we can only improve the performance of housing and really deliver zero carbon through the measurement of whole life carbon and testing of building performance. Otherwise we live in the dark. How do we make building performance measurement practical and affordable? Woodknowledge Wales and Cardiff Metropolitan University recently carried out […]
Home-Grown Homes Project updates- July 2020
A new timber frame manufacturing group, an extension request for project partner Cardiff Met and trying out an overheating risk assessment tool. Home-Grown Homes project manager David Hedges, brings us the latest up dates from the project. Project Governance update The project’s Steering Group has met twice in June and July to review progress, consider […]
Re-foresting: the potential for timber villages
Results from a study on production strategies for the Northern Forest. As England is launching a consultation on its future tree planting strategy, we’re looking at results of a recent study by Simon Feather. ‘Re-Foresting: A Strategy for Production within the Northern Forest’ investigates collaborative approaches between architects and the forestry sector to define future […]
Biodiversity Forestry and Wood
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State of the nation review. Performance evaluation of new homes
Woodknowledge Wales have helped fund and support a report published by researchers at Oxford Brookes University. The report has revealed for the first time a detailed national picture of the actual performance of new build homes through a detailed analysis of building performance evaluation projects. With the UK committed to achieving net zero emissions by […]
Responding to the climate emergency with new trees and woodlands
A guide to help local authorities and landowning businesses achieve net zero Sustainably managed woodlands perform a vital role as carbon sinks and reservoirs by capturing CO2 from the atmosphere and storing it as a component of wood itself. Over time, the soil beneath them is enriched by adding carbon in the form of organic […]
The Foundational Economy and its impact on the timber construction sector in Wales
Gary Newman, Chief Executive of Woodknowledge Wales expores what the Foundational Economy is, why Welsh Government are interested in it and what it means for the Welsh timber sector. The Welsh first Minister, Mark Drakeford AM, is increasingly considering Welsh development policy through the lens of the Foundational Economy. I’m also drawn to the Foundational […]
HGH Project Updates May 2020
While the Covid-19 pandemic has brought large parts of the industry to a standstill, we’ve been working away as best we can to progress the Home-Grown Homes project further. Project governance update Acting on recommendations from the independent project review carried out in March, Powys County Council has strengthened governance by creating a steering committee […]
