"Totally Dependent on Air Conditioning" (a podcast recommendation)

The designing out of passive cooling strategies - vernacular features developed to keep building occupants cool pre-air conditioning - has resulted in buildings that couldn't function if the AC was removed. And as the episode, and its accompanying write-up, says: in the USA, the total greenhouse emissions of air conditioning units are more than the country's construction industry.

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Discovering Carcassonne

There is certainly something of the fairytale about the ‘original’ city of Carcassonne, but there is little point in denying the extra charm it bestows on the place as a result. It’s good to be reminded there are things that can still make you feel a childlike excitement, and seeing the Cité in the flesh instantly banished any lingering doubts about being yet another tourist among the millions who visit each year.

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Raising Standards

If more complicated questions start to be asked then people can quickly feel out of their comfort zone. Working in the technical department of a product manufacturer, that was what I was happiest doing: giving honest, accurate and practical advice that answered people’s questions. Being seen as an expert brought a level of responsibility, but also a desire to share the same knowledge and ideas.

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BIM or Bust?

Any project starts with the expression of an idea. How that idea is developed by the many stakeholders along the way dictates if the end user gets to enjoy a building that is practical, affordable and comfortable. For communication to be effective means collaborating and sharing information effectively. BIM is at the forefront of this.

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