ARCC news for August 2015
ARCC network news
Vacancy – Science Communications & Knowledge Transfer Manager
The ARCC network team has a vacancy for a Science Communications & Knowledge Transfer Manager. The post-holder will work to maximise the translation, uptake and impact of evidence and knowledge from a range of research projects. This is a 2-year, full-time post, based in Oxford. Deadline for applications is 25 September 2015. Full details: https://www.recruit.ox.ac.uk/pls/hrisliverecruit/erq_jobspec_version_4.jobspec?p_id=119552
New resources on overheating risks
In June, the Homes and Communities Agency and the ARCC network brought together industry and academic experts for a workshop on overheating and indoor air quality in new homes. Technical presentations, and summaries of discussions sessions and masterclassesare now on our website, as well as links to other resources.
Zero Carbon Hub has recently added two new publications to its overheating portfolio. These are a collection of case studies from housing associations (pdf, 930 KB) and guidance for local government (pdf, 1.8 MB).
Arash Beizaee – winner of ARCC So what? Overheating call
Arash’s So what? guide looked at the type of home most at risk from overheating, and had the most impact on social media and page views on the web. He chose “Energy simulation in building design” by Joe Clark as his prize, accompanied by a goody box of tea, coffee & stationery. Arash is based at the London Loughborough Centre of Doctoral Research in Energy Demand, where his PhD is a part of the EPSRC-funded DEFACTO project.
So what? Call for research findings: Water and energy infrastructure interdependencies and innovation
Closing date: 11 September
We’re launching a call for research findings on water and energy infrastructure interdependencies and/or innovation to coincide with the Sustainable Water conference. We’ll be developing a set of ‘So what? Now what?’ research summaries and social media images to help translate the findings into a format for researchers to share.
The earlier you submit your guide and teaser, the more time we have to help refine and publish it – closing date for submissions is 11 September. There’ll be an ARCC goody-bag for the findings with the highest impact by 11 November. See the Call for more details and to download the templates.
Opportunities to make an impact
Several consultations are currently open, so we have brought them together here:
A technical consultation is now open on the Home Quality Mark (HQM) www.homequalitymark.com/consultation2015 , the replacement for the Code for Sustainable Homes. This consultation document outlines the proposed technical criteria and assessment methods. The deadline for submissions is 4 September 2015.
The London Assembly Environment Committee is inviting evidence on the environmental pressures (e.g. energy, water management, green infrastructure) resulting from London’s expected growth. The deadline is 18 September 2015.
The House of Lords National Policy for the Built Environment Committee is seeking evidence on ensuring better planning and design, and on the balance between national policy and local accountability for planning decisions. The deadline is 6 October 2015.
The Institute for Public Policy Research’s (IPPR) London Housing Commission has issued a call for evidence to inform a proposed a new housing strategy for the next mayor of London. The deadline for submissions is 12 October 2015.
Other news
Infrastructure report card launched
The Living With Environment Change initiative has produced the latest in its series of report cards. With a focus on the nature and scale of the physical impacts of climate changes on UK infrastructure, the report card highlights current trends and sensitivities, as well as identifying possible future impacts.
Using flood risk management to minimise flood disadvantage
The Joseph Rowntree Foundation has produced the latest in its reports with a climate justice theme. Targeting flood investment and policy to minimise flood disadvantage proposes how statutory bodies can improve flood risk management to help support vulnerable communities.
Funding for systems integration of energy supply and demand – call for proposals
The Research Councils UK (RCUK) Energy Programme is making up to £5 million available to fund a centre to research integration technologies and approaches required to achieve sustainable and efficient energy systems. Outline proposals should be submitted by 24 September 2015. Proposals should show how the research will complement and add to existing work funded by the RCUK Energy Programme.
Urban Living Partnership – new information available
The Urban Living Partnership is intended to help cities become more sustainable, healthy and prosperous. The Partnership will launch a call for proposals this autumn for two pilot city projects. Slides from engagement workshops held in July, now online, provide further background and insight (pdf, 6.9 MB).
Comparing urban sustainability frameworks
The Leverhulme International Network has published a report of its research to assess and compare urban sustainability frameworks from around the world. Tomorrow’s City Today – prospects for standardising sustainable urban development includes examples of different frameworks and is accompanied by further resources including workshop outputs, videos and research papers.
Urban transitions and the social science perspective
The International Social Science Research Council has published Dialogues of Sustainable Urbanisation, a collection of contributions from researchers across the world on the theme of creating a more sustainable future. It is currently available to download, with a print version planned shortly.
Call for abstracts: 6th CIBSE Technical Symposium – resilient cities session
14–15 April 2016, Heriot Watt University, Edinburgh
The conference theme is ‘Integration for whole life building performance’. The ARCC network is part of the CIBSE Resilience Cities Group and hosting a solutions-focused session within the symposium. The group is looking for abstracts relating to interactions at the interface between buildings and critical infrastructure in urban environments. Deadline for abstracts for papers or case studies (maximum 250 words) is 14 September 2015.
New report on how human behaviour can inform building design
Built for Living investigates how the design of the built environment affects human behaviour (pdf, 3.5 MB). The report brings together the conclusions of three workshops, commissioned by the Department for Communities and Local Government, to inform the development of built environment policy. The work was led by the Royal Academy of Engineering, supported by academic and business partners. Key findings include: a requirement to involve a diverse range of disciplines at every stage in the life of a built environment project; and a need to address remaining research questions.
Vacancy – Academic Fellowship in Sustainable and Resilient Cities University of Leeds, Sustainability Research Institute (SRI)
This Fellowship combines teaching and research responsibilities, including collaboration with the city of Leeds as a living lab for research. Applications must be received by 30 September2015.
Events
National infrastructure planning: priorities, funding and progress of major projects
3 September 2015, London
UK City Analytics Conference 2015
10 September 2015, London
Energy visualisation – lessons learned from the eViz project
10 September 2015, Plymouth
Register by 4 September please.
SECURE (Statistics of Environmental Change, Resources and Ecosystems) annual conference
11 September 2015, Glasgow
Flood & Coast 2016 – risk, resilience & response in a changing climate
23–25 February 2016, Telford
Tweeted…
Excellent summary of what to do if development might increase flood risk | http://bit.ly/1MyF9Ng @flooduk @floodmary
New @ZeroCarbonHub reports on overheating – housing association & local government case studies | http://bit.ly/1DssVnz
Behavioural design – bridging the gaps between research and practice | http://bit.ly/1IK6SKU @designcouncil
Good hospital design to improve patients’ lives | http://bit.ly/1VMEZWx @AIANational @FastCoExist via @designcouncil
Collecting extreme rainfall data to understand flash floods & find solutions | http://bit.ly/1OvHaYS @UniofNewcastle
Complexities of urban street planning explored in @NextCityOrg blog | http://bit.ly/1HCQI0d
Highrise building designs need additional verification to prevent downdraughts | http://bbc.in/1RC1Jc0 @BBCNews
Designers create the ‘impossible’ zero-carbon house | http://bbc.in/1HRY0wj @BBCNews