As the Committee on Climate Change calls for adaptation in the construction industry in order to prepare for future weather trends, a fresh approach to concrete tamping could be part of the solution.
The committee says that ensuring surfaces are able to cope with run-off water, including through the best use of green space, is among the steps that can be taken to ensure the resilience of the UK's housing stock.
While some of the suggested measures, such as retrofitting older buildings with sustainable home improvements, might cost money, the overall aim is not to increase the cost of construction.
Lord John Krebs, chair of the Adaptation Sub-Committee on Climate Change, says: "It is not necessarily about spending more, but about spending smart and investing to save.
"If we get it right, we can save money in the short term and avoid large extra costs."
Concrete tamping can help to enhance sustainability by putting in place heat sinks made of the material to draw thermal energy from interiors during the daytime.
The Welsh Assembly Building at Llandudno Junction is one example of where this has been done, earning the structure a mention in the 2010 BREEAM Awards Wales.
Posted by Andrew Miles
The committee says that ensuring surfaces are able to cope with run-off water, including through the best use of green space, is among the steps that can be taken to ensure the resilience of the UK's housing stock.
While some of the suggested measures, such as retrofitting older buildings with sustainable home improvements, might cost money, the overall aim is not to increase the cost of construction.
Lord John Krebs, chair of the Adaptation Sub-Committee on Climate Change, says: "It is not necessarily about spending more, but about spending smart and investing to save.
"If we get it right, we can save money in the short term and avoid large extra costs."
Concrete tamping can help to enhance sustainability by putting in place heat sinks made of the material to draw thermal energy from interiors during the daytime.
The Welsh Assembly Building at Llandudno Junction is one example of where this has been done, earning the structure a mention in the 2010 BREEAM Awards Wales.
Posted by Andrew Miles