Online toolkit developed to help homes cope with climate change Experts in Leicester have developed an online toolkit which provides advice on how to adapt homes to cope with future climate change and cut energy use.

Stephen Porritt, a Research Fellow at De Montfort University’s (DMU) Institute of Energy and Sustainable Development (IESD), has created a toolkit for homeowners, residents and landlords, which shows the steps that can be taken to reduce overheating in homes.

During the heat wave in August 2003, when temperatures exceeded 37 degrees, more than 35,000 people died of heat related problems throughout Europe, with more than 2,000 of those deaths in the UK. It is predicted that extreme weather such as this will occur every year by the middle of the century.

LONDON (AP) – Britain's spending watchdog warned London Olympic organizers Tuesday that they run a risk of exceeding their $14.6 billion budget for hosting the event and have little room for unforeseen costs.

Catalyst Housing Ltd and its private developer arm, Catalyst by Design, have appointed Ardmore Construction Ltd as the main contractor for Portobello Square – the first phase of the Wornington Green Estate regeneration project. Work will start in January 2012.

First scheme for Ardmore First Base Partnership under the HCA’s Delivery Partner Panel Work is under way to regenerate a derelict site in Tower Hamlets that will deliver new homes and community facilities including a church, hospital, commercial space, children’s play area and public open space. Ardmore First Base Partnership, (a joint venture between Ardmore Construction and urban regeneration and investment company First Base), is the delivery partner for the £26m Mildmay regeneration project in east London.

The Construction Products Association welcomed the Chancellor’s announcement confirming an increase for investment in infrastructure projects in today’s Autumn Statement, although overall capital spending continues to fall.

Leading North East housebuilder Yuill Homes has won a prestigious national housing award for its successful regeneration of a Longbenton housing estate, in partnership with North Tyneside Council.

A UK company that supplies its specialist systems worldwide is completing two prestigious contracts for the Olympic Games in London next year.

Wrightstyle Limited’s glass and steel glazing systems are designed to protect buildings against a range of threats, most commonly fire, with recent overseas contracts in the Lebanon, United Arab Emirates, Malta and the USA.

VINCI Construction UK has won the Celebrating Construction in South Yorkshire Health and Safety Award.

The company won the award for demonstrated that it had not only fully complied with the construction industry health and safety legislation but has also gone the extra mile by introducing measures to enhance their health and safety performance.

A new apprenticeship initiative being piloted in London aims to address the decline in the number of apprentices entering the construction sector. CC Developments Ltd will offer under 25-year-olds the chance to undertake apprenticeships in the sector, eventually expanding the scheme nationally. It will provide up to 1000 apprenticeships within the first year, before being rolled out across the country in regional phases.

The National Construction College (NCC), Europe’s largest construction training provider, has announced its new and improved training programme for 2012, featuring 10 new courses to help meet the growing needs of industry.