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The aim of the report was to produce recommendations for occupants to undertake, concerning passi... more The aim of the report was to produce recommendations for occupants to undertake, concerning passive changes to the building design and changing occupant activity to reduce overheating in 19651980 semi-detached dwellings. To do so, interventions in these two topics were tested to reduce overheating on a post 2010 Building Regulations base case.
This base case and interventions simulations were developed using IES software. To measure the level of overheating, internally, a degree hours over the CIBSE overheating threshold (CIBSE, 2006) method was used.
The basic upgrades to the building implementing the 2010 Building Regulation were found to decrease the total degree hours. When changed to two elderly (vulnerable) occupants, the total degree hours decreased overall. Other interventions that were found to decrease the total degree hours below the 2010 Building Regulation model were the updated appliances/occupancy trends, the cross ventilation strategy, north orientation and most prominently, the nigh time ventilation. A combined model of these interventions were then able to remove all degree hours beyond the threshold, even in a heat wave simulation; for both occupancy types.
As well as the combined intervention model, external wall paint shutters and curtains (sourced from previous research) are recommended for reducing overheating, based on ease-of-use and cost.

BIM has developed over the past decade to be seen as the evolutionary next stage in the building ... more BIM has developed over the past decade to be seen as the evolutionary next stage in the building modeling industry (James Bratton, (2009). The use of BIM allows for the costs, dimensions, materials, suppliers and multiple components of the building, to be stored on one model. The current problem however is that with the much publicized benefits and even costs of implementing BIM, the companies in the industry have not quantified the overall benefits and costs of converting to BIM and therefore remain skeptical.
By studying current literature on the subject typical problem and opinions on BIM will arise and will be used to provide a basic understanding of the costs and benefits confronted by companies in the industry. By using an engineering company case study, an atypical company in the construction design industry, a critical incident technique style interview will be undertaken.
From using ‘people/process/technology’ as the main factors of analysis, the literature review and the data collected show similar responses to BIM and CAD. The majority of the industry see CAD as the main software, however are complementary of the capabilities of BIM. The major concern that the industry and the interviewees found with BIM was the multiple costs of the initial implementation of the software. This encompasses the social backlash it may incur and the difficulty that BIM companies may have in the current market with clients. On the other hand, both studies show that the UK construction industry would benefit from implementing BIM and more significantly; if a company wants to do so, the most successful method would be to take into account the equal importance of ‘people, process and technology.’
The mechanism created encompasses these three factors focusing on all of the costs and benefits that are highlighted by the literature and the data collected. By using the entire construction cycle to demonstrate the extended effects of BIM, the mechanism demonstrates the areas where the time and cost impacts of BIM can be calculated, pre-implementation, to consider whether the company should implement BIM. Concentrating on the ‘design stage’ and ‘preparation stage’ (due to the case study being a construction design company) typical stages to consider in the mechanism are the costs of retraining the design team in BIM, to the money saved in producing faster, better quality design with less errors.

As a large UK national house builder we are responsible to follow the new housing development sec... more As a large UK national house builder we are responsible to follow the new housing development sector’s strategy to reduce CO2 by constructing our houses under the regulations of the Code for Sustainable Homes. Under this code, all newly constructed houses are to be “zero-carbon” by 2016, and for this to be achieved we must look into Micro-technologies.

In order for our company to develop, we will be looking into 3 micro-technologies: Air Source Heat Pumps (ASHPs) Ground Source Heat Pumps (GSHPs) and Solar Electricity Photovoltaic (PVs).

With the UK climate being as it is, an ASHP has the most risk in implementing. Based on the position and design of the new houses, noise pollution and a need for increased insulation would need to be addressed.
With GSHP, the type of system used will cause different problems to occur. With Horizontal GSHP a larger area of ground is required compared to a vertical system; however the vertical system is more energy efficient.
Solar Photovoltaic panels are generally seen as the most popular option out of the three. Along with the installation costs extra costs will occur as the building must first be surveyed. Another factors in design is for max efficiency the PV must be in a set position.
From the analysis produced and all factors considered, PV is the best option, while installing an ASHP would be least advised based on the analysis.

The work’s aim was to “To investigate the two arguments for and against the use of nuclear power.... more The work’s aim was to “To investigate the two arguments for and against the use of nuclear power. From the analysis, see how factual these arguments are and how supportive the issues discussed are to either side of the argument. Furthermore, see what issues do arise between the two and what are not included in the article.” The work focused on the issues associated with climate change as nuclear’s future is discussed in industry circles. The work findings have found that both authors have been correct on most of their points although Barry Brook has been found to elaborate on some of the figures he uses to highlight the positives of nuclear power. Collating all the data and the severity and significance of the issues raised by either side of the argument, it can be assumed that both authors have presented a strong case. With specific focus on climate change and sustainability, the argument supporting nuclear is the more advisable option as it proves that nuclear is a clean, safe and relatively cheap option for a future where reducing GHG emissions is paramount. Moreover, without nuclear power current renewable energy technology would not be able to substantially take the power demand that nuclear currently supplies.

The report will look to find what is the most appropriate design for the new Swiss FIC headquarte... more The report will look to find what is the most appropriate design for the new Swiss FIC headquarters and present the banking group with a range of options based on multiple parameters. The report will present a range of options for the design and location for the departmental headquarters of Swiss FIC taking into account their environmental impact, construction costs and costs implications arising from the building’s energy demand and consumption.

Looking into global energy use and the role of renewable energy; this report aims to provide usef... more Looking into global energy use and the role of renewable energy; this report aims to provide useful information for UK members of parliament and the public by analysing 5 major issues within the subject matter based on current statistics and published reports.
With global energy usage, over the past 10 years OECDs have only had a minimal increase, whereas non-OECDS have had a significant increase in consumption affecting the global rate of increase.
A further question asked was whether oil is the major source of energy worldwide. The results show that as a global average it is, however regionally the proximity to sources such as gas and coal influence the particular regions main source of energy.
From the data analysed it can be said that there should be no concern over future supplies of fossil fuels. As with improvements in technology, more sources can be discovered and deeper supplies can be accessed; although uncertainty can still arise in the definition of ‘proven’.
The scale at which renewable energy has grown has been significant over the past decade. Regionally however, the success differs based on the individual government’s policies and economic dedication to a renewable future.
The percentage of fossil fuels in greenhouse gases is a figure that fromt he data analysed has produced multiple estimates. The reason for this ambiguity is the lack of clarity in the effect of other anthropogenic emissions on the overall GHG total.
Overall, it has been shown that in the multiple issues, the global assumptions do not relatively translate to the regions. Furthermore, with increased energy use, the primary energy source of that region is coming under pressure to meet the demand. And while reserves are seen to be substantial, the move to renewables is highly advised to reduce dependence and emissions.

Present a case to why the AnDigestion anaerobic digestion power station is the best option for th... more Present a case to why the AnDigestion anaerobic digestion power station is the best option for the future of sustainable heat generation and demonstrate its usefulness

The aim of the experiment is demonstrate the operation of a Francis and Pelton turbine and to det... more The aim of the experiment is demonstrate the operation of a Francis and Pelton turbine and to determine their typical operating characteristics by changing the rotor speeds.

The first stage of the report is to investigate the temporal variability of the wind resource at ... more The first stage of the report is to investigate the temporal variability of the wind resource at the each site for both types of turbine. AND To find an estimate of the energy production of the Norwin and Vesta turbines, the data on the wind speed probability and the assumed power output data given need to be combined.

This brief report aims to present a range of options for the proposed design and location for the... more This brief report aims to present a range of options for the proposed design and location for the departmental headquarters of Swiss FIC regarding the environmental impact and the energy costs associated with the buildings’ energy demand. In order to complete this aim, several parameters will be tested (using IES computer software): including: plan shape; orientation; façade type; location; thermal performance; and construction materials. Finally this report will conclude with a short summary, with recommendations made for the optimum building attributes.

Carbon Management Data Analysis

Classify the types of organisation that make up the “construction industry” and for each type of ... more Classify the types of organisation that make up the “construction industry” and for each type of organisation outline its role and function in the industry and describe the typical features of its legal form and organisation structure:

The work will be split into 2 sections. The first section will be an assessment of the accessibil... more The work will be split into 2 sections. The first section will be an assessment of the accessibility and take a sequential journey through the building, highlighting possible issues for the audit and recommending appropriate action including a colour appraisal. The recommendations will be prioritised and include approximate cost and ranked. Within the assessment, all areas prioritised will be justified as well as justifying the recommendations. Through the table another section included will be assessing good practice currently implemented in the building.

Teaching Documents by Steven Howse

A look into what has changed from BREEAM 2014 to BREEAMM 2018

Conference Presentations by Steven Howse

Changes from BREEAM 2014 to BREEAM 2018

The aim of the report was to produce recommendations for occupants to undertake, concerning passi... more The aim of the report was to produce recommendations for occupants to undertake, concerning passive changes to the building design and changing occupant activity to reduce overheating in 19651980 semi-detached dwellings. To do so, interventions in these two topics were tested to reduce overheating on a post 2010 Building Regulations base case.
This base case and interventions simulations were developed using IES software. To measure the level of overheating, internally, a degree hours over the CIBSE overheating threshold (CIBSE, 2006) method was used.
The basic upgrades to the building implementing the 2010 Building Regulation were found to decrease the total degree hours. When changed to two elderly (vulnerable) occupants, the total degree hours decreased overall. Other interventions that were found to decrease the total degree hours below the 2010 Building Regulation model were the updated appliances/occupancy trends, the cross ventilation strategy, north orientation and most prominently, the nigh time ventilation. A combined model of these interventions were then able to remove all degree hours beyond the threshold, even in a heat wave simulation; for both occupancy types.
As well as the combined intervention model, external wall paint shutters and curtains (sourced from previous research) are recommended for reducing overheating, based on ease-of-use and cost.

BIM has developed over the past decade to be seen as the evolutionary next stage in the building ... more BIM has developed over the past decade to be seen as the evolutionary next stage in the building modeling industry (James Bratton, (2009). The use of BIM allows for the costs, dimensions, materials, suppliers and multiple components of the building, to be stored on one model. The current problem however is that with the much publicized benefits and even costs of implementing BIM, the companies in the industry have not quantified the overall benefits and costs of converting to BIM and therefore remain skeptical.
By studying current literature on the subject typical problem and opinions on BIM will arise and will be used to provide a basic understanding of the costs and benefits confronted by companies in the industry. By using an engineering company case study, an atypical company in the construction design industry, a critical incident technique style interview will be undertaken.
From using ‘people/process/technology’ as the main factors of analysis, the literature review and the data collected show similar responses to BIM and CAD. The majority of the industry see CAD as the main software, however are complementary of the capabilities of BIM. The major concern that the industry and the interviewees found with BIM was the multiple costs of the initial implementation of the software. This encompasses the social backlash it may incur and the difficulty that BIM companies may have in the current market with clients. On the other hand, both studies show that the UK construction industry would benefit from implementing BIM and more significantly; if a company wants to do so, the most successful method would be to take into account the equal importance of ‘people, process and technology.’
The mechanism created encompasses these three factors focusing on all of the costs and benefits that are highlighted by the literature and the data collected. By using the entire construction cycle to demonstrate the extended effects of BIM, the mechanism demonstrates the areas where the time and cost impacts of BIM can be calculated, pre-implementation, to consider whether the company should implement BIM. Concentrating on the ‘design stage’ and ‘preparation stage’ (due to the case study being a construction design company) typical stages to consider in the mechanism are the costs of retraining the design team in BIM, to the money saved in producing faster, better quality design with less errors.

As a large UK national house builder we are responsible to follow the new housing development sec... more As a large UK national house builder we are responsible to follow the new housing development sector’s strategy to reduce CO2 by constructing our houses under the regulations of the Code for Sustainable Homes. Under this code, all newly constructed houses are to be “zero-carbon” by 2016, and for this to be achieved we must look into Micro-technologies.

In order for our company to develop, we will be looking into 3 micro-technologies: Air Source Heat Pumps (ASHPs) Ground Source Heat Pumps (GSHPs) and Solar Electricity Photovoltaic (PVs).

With the UK climate being as it is, an ASHP has the most risk in implementing. Based on the position and design of the new houses, noise pollution and a need for increased insulation would need to be addressed.
With GSHP, the type of system used will cause different problems to occur. With Horizontal GSHP a larger area of ground is required compared to a vertical system; however the vertical system is more energy efficient.
Solar Photovoltaic panels are generally seen as the most popular option out of the three. Along with the installation costs extra costs will occur as the building must first be surveyed. Another factors in design is for max efficiency the PV must be in a set position.
From the analysis produced and all factors considered, PV is the best option, while installing an ASHP would be least advised based on the analysis.

The work’s aim was to “To investigate the two arguments for and against the use of nuclear power.... more The work’s aim was to “To investigate the two arguments for and against the use of nuclear power. From the analysis, see how factual these arguments are and how supportive the issues discussed are to either side of the argument. Furthermore, see what issues do arise between the two and what are not included in the article.” The work focused on the issues associated with climate change as nuclear’s future is discussed in industry circles. The work findings have found that both authors have been correct on most of their points although Barry Brook has been found to elaborate on some of the figures he uses to highlight the positives of nuclear power. Collating all the data and the severity and significance of the issues raised by either side of the argument, it can be assumed that both authors have presented a strong case. With specific focus on climate change and sustainability, the argument supporting nuclear is the more advisable option as it proves that nuclear is a clean, safe and relatively cheap option for a future where reducing GHG emissions is paramount. Moreover, without nuclear power current renewable energy technology would not be able to substantially take the power demand that nuclear currently supplies.

The report will look to find what is the most appropriate design for the new Swiss FIC headquarte... more The report will look to find what is the most appropriate design for the new Swiss FIC headquarters and present the banking group with a range of options based on multiple parameters. The report will present a range of options for the design and location for the departmental headquarters of Swiss FIC taking into account their environmental impact, construction costs and costs implications arising from the building’s energy demand and consumption.

Looking into global energy use and the role of renewable energy; this report aims to provide usef... more Looking into global energy use and the role of renewable energy; this report aims to provide useful information for UK members of parliament and the public by analysing 5 major issues within the subject matter based on current statistics and published reports.
With global energy usage, over the past 10 years OECDs have only had a minimal increase, whereas non-OECDS have had a significant increase in consumption affecting the global rate of increase.
A further question asked was whether oil is the major source of energy worldwide. The results show that as a global average it is, however regionally the proximity to sources such as gas and coal influence the particular regions main source of energy.
From the data analysed it can be said that there should be no concern over future supplies of fossil fuels. As with improvements in technology, more sources can be discovered and deeper supplies can be accessed; although uncertainty can still arise in the definition of ‘proven’.
The scale at which renewable energy has grown has been significant over the past decade. Regionally however, the success differs based on the individual government’s policies and economic dedication to a renewable future.
The percentage of fossil fuels in greenhouse gases is a figure that fromt he data analysed has produced multiple estimates. The reason for this ambiguity is the lack of clarity in the effect of other anthropogenic emissions on the overall GHG total.
Overall, it has been shown that in the multiple issues, the global assumptions do not relatively translate to the regions. Furthermore, with increased energy use, the primary energy source of that region is coming under pressure to meet the demand. And while reserves are seen to be substantial, the move to renewables is highly advised to reduce dependence and emissions.

Present a case to why the AnDigestion anaerobic digestion power station is the best option for th... more Present a case to why the AnDigestion anaerobic digestion power station is the best option for the future of sustainable heat generation and demonstrate its usefulness

The aim of the experiment is demonstrate the operation of a Francis and Pelton turbine and to det... more The aim of the experiment is demonstrate the operation of a Francis and Pelton turbine and to determine their typical operating characteristics by changing the rotor speeds.

The first stage of the report is to investigate the temporal variability of the wind resource at ... more The first stage of the report is to investigate the temporal variability of the wind resource at the each site for both types of turbine. AND To find an estimate of the energy production of the Norwin and Vesta turbines, the data on the wind speed probability and the assumed power output data given need to be combined.

This brief report aims to present a range of options for the proposed design and location for the... more This brief report aims to present a range of options for the proposed design and location for the departmental headquarters of Swiss FIC regarding the environmental impact and the energy costs associated with the buildings’ energy demand. In order to complete this aim, several parameters will be tested (using IES computer software): including: plan shape; orientation; façade type; location; thermal performance; and construction materials. Finally this report will conclude with a short summary, with recommendations made for the optimum building attributes.

Carbon Management Data Analysis

Classify the types of organisation that make up the “construction industry” and for each type of ... more Classify the types of organisation that make up the “construction industry” and for each type of organisation outline its role and function in the industry and describe the typical features of its legal form and organisation structure:

The work will be split into 2 sections. The first section will be an assessment of the accessibil... more The work will be split into 2 sections. The first section will be an assessment of the accessibility and take a sequential journey through the building, highlighting possible issues for the audit and recommending appropriate action including a colour appraisal. The recommendations will be prioritised and include approximate cost and ranked. Within the assessment, all areas prioritised will be justified as well as justifying the recommendations. Through the table another section included will be assessing good practice currently implemented in the building.

A look into what has changed from BREEAM 2014 to BREEAMM 2018

Changes from BREEAM 2014 to BREEAM 2018