Retro-fitting old buildings in order to reduce their environmental impact is just one of the major challenges being faced by the construction industry. Dr Stephanie Glendinning, Reader in Environmental Geotechnics at Newcastle University, explains how academia and industry are working together.

There are lots of examples where Newcastle University is working with partners to promote sustainable development and economic growth.

The ‘Carbon Routemap project’ – a collaboration between Newcastle City Council and Newcastle and Northumbria universities – is gathering data about building types, energy usage and wasted heat across the city to establish and implement a long-term strategy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions (measured as carbon) in Newcastle.

In the University’s world-leading transport team, Professor’s Margaret Bell, Phil Blythe and Jeff Neasham are leading a research project to measure pollution levels and inform future traffic management schemes.

Working with the local councils, pollution sensors have been put up across Gateshead and Newcastle and data is being fed back in real time about the levels of key gases such as Carbon Monoxide and Nitrogen Dioxide.

“These projects exemplify the ethos of the Living Lab, providing an interface between civic action and academia, coupling practical and pragmatic carbon reduction with technical insight and rigor,” adds Dr Glendinning.

To get involved in University projects or find out more about NIReS, go to www.ncl.ac.uk/sustainability. Or email: sustainability@newcastle.ac.uk Tel: 0191 246 4960.

Dr Stephanie Glendinning is speaking at the Safe, Sustainable Construction Conference at Newcastle University tomorrow.

CIVIL Engineering Undergraduates from Newcastle University have been working with Arup to assess the brownfield site of Science Central – once home to the Scottish and Newcastle Brewery.

Owned jointly by Newcastle University and Newcastle City Council, the site currently houses the Newcastle University borehole project, which is drilling for geothermal energy.

The aim of the project was to give the students first-hand experience of how the business world operates, including a unique opportunity of working on the masterplan for Science Central, the hub of the Newcastle Science City initiative.

“It’s great to develop a working relationship with a company like Arup and to be able to deliver the teaching module with their help,” says Dr Stephanie Glendinning.