Environment and Planning Minister Sylvan Richards has pledged to make changes to the Island’s building code to promote energy efficiency.

Speaking before a panel discussion on the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification in Bermuda, the Minister said such initiatives can help save money in the long term.

“Operating costs of a building should be just as much a consideration as the original design and construction costs,” Mr Richards said. “LEED is a great way to encourage that, but changing the building codes will help even more, and we intend on making this our new reality.”

Over the period 2007-2013, Life+ will provide €1.7 billion for co-funded projects across the EU which are linked to nature conservation, environmental technology and the communication of environmental matters. Ireland’s allocation for this year is €4m approx, subject to suitable projects being submitted and approved.

FORTUNES are mixed for many Welsh business people and the construction industry is no exception.

Some people are nervous about what 2013 will bring, but at Constructing Excellence in Wales (CEW) we prefer to take a more positive but realistic view of the opportunities ahead. Not because we can see a recovery around the corner, but because we know there are opportunities for Welsh construction to achieve a sustainable recovery by working collaboratively and generating long term value.

HS2 Ltd has named six firms for engineering and environmental services for the second phase of the £33bn high speed rail link.

There are three firms named on each of the two frameworks for the second phase, which includes links from Birmingham to Manchester and to Leeds through the East Midlands and South Yorkshire, as well as a spur connection from the Phase 1 line to Heathrow.

Tender invitations were sent out in August and the firms will provide professional services to support Phase Two of the scheme through the consultation stage.