Design4D Blog

Nik Hilton  //  www.design4d.co.uk
Young Architect of the Year Nominee 2009, 2010, 2011
Finalist in the British Homes Awards 2009
Finalist in the Design awards 2009

Jan 26 / 9:03am

Stock Market Architecture

I found this John Vidal article interesting. It is example of centralised systems causing unbeknown suffering to people on the other side of the world. In this case it is speculation on food markets, but it did make me think about my own share portfolio and what impact a simple trade on the Internet could have on other people's lives. Carbon trading is creating an interesting new sustainable source of investment and having worked with the founder of a carbon credit trading business ten years ago I have no doubt this market will grow rapidly.

The cause and effect relationship hasn't been fully realized in our globalised society despite the prevalence of sensor technology and the Internet to share information. I would like to see more whole life costing analysis of products we specify which would give a clearer idea of their true 'green' credentials from cradle to grave. From an architectural perspective carbon trading will provide massive investment into renewable technologies but I hope it will also create a greater awareness of cause and effect relationships to make more than just architecture sustainable.

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Image: Idea go / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Sep 29 / 1:18pm

Scotland to have 100% renewable electricity generation by 2025!

First minister Alex Salmond has announced that by 2020 80% of electricity in Scotland will be from renewable resources increasing to 100% and more by 2025!

With excess energy being generated will this affect the way we build? At the moment the drive is towards energy efficiency, which is a good thing, but could we be going to extremes in our drive to save energy causing problems in the future?

Does it make sense to completely seal our buildings up so that artificial ventilation system are required to keep the inhabitants from getting sick? 

http://ow.ly/2LwhU

Filed under  //  Sustainability   renewable energy