Editorial

Citation

Hoxley, M. (2001), "Editorial", Structural Survey, Vol. 19 No. 1. https://doi.org/10.1108/ss.2001.11019aaa.001

Editorial

Judging by the number of papers submitted for possible publication in this journal, environmental issues are now dominating the work of many built environment writers and researchers. Of course there can be no subject of greater importance than that of saving our planet – at a local level, if global warming is going to result in the severe weather swings that the UK has seen in recent months then these research efforts are being well directed. I suspect that even those surveyors kept busy recently by assessing and repairing flood damage in parts of the UK would rather be undertaking less depressing work. More clients are becoming proactive in ensuring that the professionals acting for them have green credentials. For example the London Borough of Southwark has recently launched The Green Register of Construction Professionals which is a listing of all professionals who live, work or have a project in Southwark. All potential candidates have to demonstrate their commitment to the environment and attend a two-day seminar on ecological building and services. Such initiatives are likely to increase in the future – clients are likely to be even more focused on sustainability and energy efficiency with the imminent introduction of an energy tax.

This issue has three papers which have an environmental flavour. The final paper of three important papers by Bell and Lowe on building regulation and sustainable housing is particularly topical. No doubt under pressure from the powerful house building lobby, the DETR seems to be stepping back from the methods and levels of thermal insulation which Bell and Lowe advocate. The authors and their team of researchers at Leeds Metropolitan University have recently been awarded substantial government funding to test the ideas which they have put forward in this series of papers. One of the earlier papers has been awarded the prize for best paper in the journal last year; let us hope that the important research to be undertaken by Bell and Lowe is just as successful.

In her paper on environmental benchmarking of Hong Kong buildings, Dr Hilary Davis describes how the well-established UK BREEAM method has been adapted for use in Hong Kong. Dr David Watt's paper on a case study of the micro-environment of a historic building and its contents is an interesting read. Two other papers in this issue focus on subsidence, something which may well become even more common if predictions of global warming prove to be correct. Mike Crilly of the BRE discusses the analysis of a database of subsidence damage, while Wynn and Hardiment examine the potential identification of subsidence in mortgage valuation reports. A paper by Stephen Mika presents data on how much time surveyors actually spend in carrying out Homebuyers Reports. Mika's research is very important for two reasons. Malcolm Hollis has previously reported (on Channel 4 and in this journal) that the time (or rather lack of it) spent carrying out surveys is a major contributory factor in carrying out shoddy work. Second, now that the proposed changes in homebuying have been included in the Queen's Speech we know that eventually a report based on the homebuyers may be included in the information pack. Unless Labour's popularity plummets and the Government decides to delay the election it is of course unlikely that the proposals will be legislated in the current session of Parliament. Obviously it is in everyone's best interests that surveyors spend sufficient time carrying out what seems set to be the predominant survey of residential property in the future.

Mention of Hollis reminds me to welcome Malcolm onto the Editorial Advisory Board of Structural Survey. I am sure that the journal will benefit from his considerable knowledge and experience. Professor Hollis's appointment follows the resignations of Paul Gardner and Dr Roger Baggott from the board. I would like to thank Paul and Roger for the help that they have given both myself and the previous editor, Tony Poole.

Mike Hoxley