Renewable Building TWG

The Renewable Building Thematic Working Group (TWG) is an active group of NNFCC members, which exists to facilitate the development of the renewable building products supply chain in the UK.

Members of the TWG come from agriculture, product processing and manufacturing, Government, end-users and the underlying science base (including academia, SMEs and large companies). Group membership is open to NNFCC members and the group meets to discuss recent developments and strategies for progress.

In June 2009, some members of the group helped build a renewable building demonstration project, 'The Renewable House', at BRE Innovation Park, Watford.  The house is based around using renewable materials to deliver a low cost, affordable house that meets Level 4 of the Code for Sustainable Homes through materials. The Renewable House was delivered by the NNFCC with funding from the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC).

The Renewable Building TWG is led and chaired by Gary Newman, contactable at gary@plantfibretechnology.com.

If, after reading the terms of reference (below), you are interested in joining the Renewable Building TWG or using any of our other member services, please contact the NNFCC's administration team.

Meetings

Presentations from the meetings of the NNFCC Thematic Working Groups are available to NNFCC members along with notes of the Thematic Working Group Meetings.

The following meetings of the Renewable Building TWG have taken place to date:

1. Inaugural Meeting, 22 January 2009, Bath University.
   The 1st meeting of the Renewable Building Thematic Working Group attracted 15 key delegates and provided a solid foundation for the TWG. Members had a broad ranging discussion on the sector issues. Members discussed a definition for the sector. A presentation was made describing the impact of the BRE’s Green Guide to Specification on the market for renewable building products. Gary Newman was elected as the chair.
2. Second Meeting, 25 March 2009, NNFCC offices, York. 
   The 2nd meeting of the Renewable Building TWG. Members discussed the key research needs of the sector.  Members discussed the key benefits of the sector and how these benefits fit with UK strategic aims. Members discussed the Green Guide to Specification and the potential need for an independent quality mark for sector products.
3. Third Meeting, 23 June 2009, York.
   The 3rd meeting in June 2009 agreed the Mission Statement and key elements to be included in the Terms of Reference. Three priority areas for research were agreed; these were Renewable Carbon, Quality Marks and Durability. There was a presentation and discussion on renewable carbon, including a carbon accounting model.
4. Fourth Meeting, 23 September 2009, York.
   The 4th meeting in September 2009 noted that the public announcement of the group would be at the forthcoming NNFCC conference. The group discussed how it could have a presence at Ecobuild 2010. The Renewable Carbon and Durability projects were going forward for funding. The Terms of Reference were finalised.
5. Fifth Meeting, 27 January 2010, London.
   The 5th meeting in January 2010 finalised the working plan for the stand and workshop at Ecobuild in March. The Renewable Carbon project was underway; the Durability project would be put forward for funding in June. DECC attended part of the meeting for a discussion on skills in this sector.
6. Sixth Meeting, 19 April 2010, Abingdon.
   The 6th meeting focused on consideration of the effectiveness of the activity at Ecobuild 2010 (Stand and Workshop) in communicating key sector benefits (climate change, sustainability, performance and health). The other major topic was how to resource Renewable Building activities going forward.
7. Seventh Meeting, 14 July 2010, York.
   The 7th meeting considered the future resourcing of renewable building, as well as a review of progress on the research agenda for renewable carbon, quality marks and durability of renewable materials.
8. Eigth Meeting, 13 October 2010, Swindon.
   The 8th meeting focused on Natureplus, how the quality label is applied and how a possible collaboration with the TWG could work. The other major topics were an update on NNFCC work – particuarly the ‘Green Deal’ campaign and NBT ‘breathability’ report, progress on the research agenda and how to resource Renewable Building activities going forward.
9. Ninth Meeting, 14 December 2010, York.
   The 9th meeting focused on mineral fibre and non-carcinogenic health issues. The TWG also included an update from Renewable Building member projects and the new TWG business plan – which included support for the development of Natureplus in the UK and a review of Low Impact Building Materials discussion paper.
10. Tenth Meeting, 23 March 2011, Swindon.
    

Register for forthcoming TWG meetings by going to our events page.

Terms of Reference

1.1 Mission Statement

Renewable Building promotes the environmental, health, technical and social benefits of bio-based building materials through research, education, marketing and lobbying. Working with rigour and integrity the organisation aims to be a leading force in the understanding of progressive and environmentally responsible construction, and in the delivery of a sustainable future in the UK.

1.2 Aims and Objectives

• Establish a clear and workable definition for bio-based building materials;
• Draw together all the main organisations and individuals involved in or with significant potential interest in this field in the UK;
• Set out a research programme to investigate the qualities and benefits and identify the limitations of bio-based building materials;
• Promote the benefits of bio-based building materials to industry, government and consumers;
• Identify and address barriers to the uptake of bio-based building materials;
• Support development of mainstream manufacture and use of bio-based building materials in the UK.

1.3 Membership

Membership of the Renewable Building Thematic Working Group (TWG) is open to all paid up members to NNFCC. Invitations to Renewable Building for NNFCC members will be posted on the NNFCC website and in newsletters. The invitation will ask those interested to register their intention to attend a meeting to the NNFCC and to download the meeting papers from the website.

In addition, membership will be extended to expert representatives from manufacturing, research and construction that are currently not NNFCC members but in the opinion of Renewable Building can contribute to the work of the group.

A Member of Renewable Building is defined as;

• A member to NNFCC and
• Someone who has signed up to the Mission Statement and Aims and Objectives of Renewable Building.

The Chairman of Renewable Building will be elected by the members of the group and will stand for re-election every 3 years. The Chairman will approve items to be included on the agenda of each meeting.

The Secretariat shall consist of individuals from NNFCC events team (organisation, administration) and technical research team (produce website report of meetings). Dr John Williams is the NNFCC Sector Manager responsible for this Group.

1.4 Meeting arrangements

There will be 4 meetings of Renewable Building in each calendar year. At least two will be held near to or at NNFCC, but remaining meetings may be held at other venues as arranged by or at the invitation of members of Renewable Building.

NNFCC will meet the cost of venues and refreshments where they arrange the meeting; the host organisation will meet these costs in other cases.

Any sub-groups of Renewable Building will make their own arrangements for meetings, if required, to suit the needs of the sub-group.

1.5 Reporting and Accountability

At the meetings, or at the direction of the Chairman, it may be decided to set specific tasks for individuals or subgroups to action outside Renewable Building meetings. The outcomes of these tasks will first be reported to the Chairman, who will either ask for further work or will refer the item for agreement at a full meeting of Renewable Building.

It is important that Renewable Building meetings and dialogue are conducted in an atmosphere of trust. Therefore, all those taking part should respect that views expressed and data shared within the meetings should be treated as confidential within Renewable Building and should not be broadcast or used for other purposes outside the group.

1.6 Decision making

A number of issues will be consulted on by email between meetings in order to ensure that actions are progressed in a timely way. It is inevitable that some members will be more active than others in such processes; also others will not share their views with the whole group but respond only to the coordinator. In order to ensure fairness in decision-making, the Chairman will consider whether an issue needs to be referred for final agreement to a meeting of Renewable Building. Alternatively, the Chairman will come to a view themselves on the basis of the responses received, and may solicit further responses by direct contact with members of Renewable Building.

A quorum is needed at a meeting in order to vote on an agenda item. A quorum is defined as the Chairman together with 15% of the registered Members of Renewable Building. The quorum must include representatives from manufacturers or distributors of bio-based building materials.

An issue to be voted on must be included in the agenda of the meeting at which the vote is to be held. There should be at least 14 days notice of an item that is to be voted on. Proxy voting will be allowed.

Only Members can vote, with one vote for each legal entity. In addition, Members involved in manufacture or distribution of bio-based building materials or in their construction will be allocated one extra vote for their company.

1.7 Review

The Terms of Reference will be reviewed when they have been in place for one year, and then every second year subsequently.