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Student [edit] Competition Idea: harnessing the energy of gravity
A significant future challenge involving buildings will be energy production on-site. Green energy will be required since fossil fuel use will be outlawed.
Producing electricity on-site would reduce the colossal wasted energy involved in the transportation and storage of electricity. Two ideas for creating energy from the building in situ are:
1. miniature 'cladding wind farms' consisting of photovoltaic panel-sails attached to the external walls, harnessing wind and sun energy.
2. multiple miniature rotor-assemblies (connected to turbines situated on the roof) seated inside rainwater downpipes which utilise the downward flow of rainwater to generate electricity. Think vertical hydroelectric power generation.
Featured articles and news
Editor's broadbrush view on forms of electrical heating in context.
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Electric Dreams, Boiler Realities.
New President of ECA announced
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New CIAT Professional Standards Competency Framework
Supercedes the 2019 Professional Standards Framework from 1 May 2025.
Difficult Sites: Architecture Against the Odds
Free exhibition at the RIBA Architecture Gallery until 31 May.
PPN 021: Payment Spot Checks in Public Sub-Contracts
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The Buildings of the Malting Industry. Book review.
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Combating burnout.
The 5 elements of seiri, seiton, seiso, seiketsu and shitsuke.
Shading for housing, a design guide
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The Architectural Technology Awards
The AT Awards 2025 are open for entries!
ECA Blueprint for Electrification
The 'mosaic of interconnected challenges' and how to deliver the UK’s Transition to Clean Power.
Grenfell Tower Principal Contractor Award notice
Tower repair and maintenance contractor announced as demolition contractor.