Sustainable building expert joins construction industry ‘excellence’ forum

Llanelli-based sustainable building consultant Jamie Best will be one of the key speakers at a Constructing Excellence Wales event being held in Aberystwyth on Thursday night (February 23).

Mr Best, director of Melin Consultants, will be speaking on energy reduction in new buildings at the Aberystwyth University event which explains the overall requirements of BREEAM 2011, the benchmark by which all new public-funded buildings are measured.

“It sounds very technical,” Mr Best admitted, “but the assessment method BREEAM is now a requirement under planning legislation in Wales and impacts on all new buildings over 1000 square metres.”

“It’s a real brain-storming event to help everyone target sustainability standards of excellence in the construction industry in Wales.

“For example, it will explain how architects and other designers can get buildings to perform better in terms of their energy use.

“We want to make sure that the performance of buildings is fully maximised when they are occupied.”

Mr Best said the buzzwords in the construction industry today were all focussed on the environment and sustainability but unfortunately ‘green wash’ tends to give the wrong image to people.

“Cutting-edge technologies and skills are being used today to enhance buildings and make sure that they are as environmentally efficient and as sustainable as possible. However, there are two other strands to sustainability, these being economic and social, which are often overlooked.

“At Melin Consultants, we offer specialist technical services that cover all aspects of sustainable construction which are earning us a great reputation here in West Wales and further afield. In fact, we have just opened a new office in Bristol.

“We specialise in all the things which people value in the construction industry today – including getting sustainability issues right. It’s an exciting time for the building and construction industry with everyone appreciating the value of getting it right first time in terms of energy savings and sustainability.

“We are right up there in the vanguard when it comes to technical expertise in this area.”

The company has recently relocated its HQ from Tycroes, near Ammanford, to Llys Aur on the Llanelli Gate business park at Dafen, Llanelli. Today, the business has eight employees.

Weblinks: http://www.melinconsultants.co.uk and http://www.cewales.org.uk/2012/02/breeam-new-construction-2011-explained-aberystwyth/

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Seminar details

23rd February 2012 Title:Fforwm BREEAM New Construction 2011 Explained

Date: Thursday 23rd February 2012

Location: Aberystwyth University. Time: 5.30pm registration for a 6pm start. Cost: Free.

The BREEAM 2011 version replaced BREEAM 2008 as the current version for new building assessment registrations and certifications from July 2011.

The seminar by Fforwm BREEAM, in association with Wales’ Low/Zero Carbon Hub, will explain the process of BREEAM 2011 assessments and certification, highlighting the updated targets and process requirements against BREEAM 2008.

All interested parties are invited to attend this event, including assessors, clients, contractors, design team professionals as well as local authority officers. This is the third of four planned events around Wales covering this issue, future dates and venues to be confirmed

How to Book: Please email: cewalesevents@cewales.org.uk stating your full contact details and the names of all delegates wishing to attend.

Press release issued by Robert Lloyd on behalf of Melin.