Welcome to our Weekly E-Bulletin
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Construction professionals are good at responding to challenges and in the past few years we have seen our industry deliver innovative ways to make sure that Wales moves steadily towards a low carbon built environment. There is a long way to go, but applying the lessons learned via programmes like Passivhaus and using the right technology to make Welsh homes energy efficient will continue to help Wales keep on track to meet Government targets.
One new idea is applying fuel cell technology. The concept is not new, think about the silent but efficient Toyota Prius powered by fuel cell technology, but using it in buildings is not common. It will be fascinating to hear at the event planned next week (see below) if Wales can learn from Toyota and we might see buildings powered using the same technology as a car. After all, Toyota is using an A 1.11 megawatt stationary fuel cell at its headquarters near Los Angeles to generate electricity and reduce utility bills. It supplies about half the power needed by the six buildings on site during the summer when demand is at its peak.
But no matter what the outcome, you can rest assured that Welsh construction will take a pragmatic view and apply the best and most sustainable solutions to meet Government objectives and deliver long term value for the end users. If you doubt that, then you need to keep an eye on the judging process and short lists for the CEW Awards. The Awards evening will once again showcase exactly how innovative our industry can be – so, reserve a table for the 4 July.
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