Llanelli-based sustainable building consultant Jamie Best will be one of the key speakers at a Constructing Excellence Wales event being held in Aberystwyth on Thursday night (February 23).
Mr Best, director of Melin Consultants, will be speaking on energy reduction in new buildings at the Aberystwyth University event which explains the overall requirements of BREEAM 2011, the benchmark by which all new public-funded buildings are measured. 
“It sounds very technical,” Mr Best admitted, “but the assessment method BREEAM is now a requirement under planning legislation in Wales and impacts on all new buildings over 1000 square metres.” 
“It’s a real brain-storming event to help everyone target sustainability standards of excellence in the construction industry in Wales. 
“For example, it will explain how architects and other designers can get buildings to perform better in terms of their energy use. 
“We want to make sure that the performance of buildings is fully maximised when they are occupied.” 
Mr Best said the buzzwords in the construction industry today were all focussed on the environment and sustainability but unfortunately ‘green wash’ tends to give the wrong image to people. 
“Cutting-edge technologies and skills are being used today to enhance buildings and make sure that they are as environmentally efficient and as sustainable as possible. However, there are two other strands to sustainability, these being economic and social, which are often overlooked. 
“At Melin Consultants, we offer specialist technical services that cover all aspects of sustainable construction which are earning us a great reputation here in West Wales and further afield. In fact, we have just opened a new office in Bristol. 
“We specialise in all the things which people value in the construction industry today – including getting sustainability issues right. It’s an exciting time for the building and construction industry with everyone appreciating the value of getting it right first time in terms of energy savings and sustainability. 
“We are right up there in the vanguard when it comes to technical expertise in this area.” 
The company has recently relocated its HQ from Tycroes, near Ammanford, to Llys Aur on the Llanelli Gate business park at Dafen, Llanelli. Today, the business has eight employees. 
Weblinks: 
http://www.melinconsultants.co.uk 
http://www.cewales.org.uk/2012/02/breeam-new-construction-2011-expl... 
Twitter: @melinconsult 
Facebook: Melin Consultants Ltd 
LinkedIn: Melin Consultants 
Seminar details 
23rd February 2012 Title:Fforwm BREEAM New Construction 2011 Explained 
Date: Thursday 23rd February 2012 
Location: Aberystwyth University. Time: 5.30pm registration for a 6pm start. Cost: Free. 
The BREEAM 2011 version replaced BREEAM 2008 as the current version for new building assessment registrations and certifications from July 2011. 
The seminar by Fforwm BREEAM, in association with Wales’ Low/Zero Carbon Hub, will explain the process of BREEAM 2011 assessments and certification, highlighting the updated targets and process requirements against BREEAM 2008. 
All interested parties are invited to attend this event, including assessors, clients, contractors, design team professionals as well as local authority officers. This is the third of four planned events around Wales covering this issue, future dates and venues to be confirmed 
How to Book: Please email: cewalesevents@cewales.org.uk stating your full contact details and the names of all delegates wishing to attend. 
Constructing Excellence in Wales 
Constructing Excellence in Wales promotes best practice and knowledge across the Welsh construction industry. Constructing Excellence in Wales (CEW) works with all parts of the industry – from Welsh Government, local government and health authorities, through to developers, construction firms and SMEs – to promote best practice. 
CEW supports individuals, companies, organisations and supply chains to improve the way they do business via a range of services. Projects and plans are geared towards raising awareness, gaining commitment, supporting action and sharing information. It is all about doing things as a team and giving Wales a better built environment. CEW is an independent organisation, funded by the Welsh Assembly Government and collaborating with the Constructing Excellence operation in the rest of the UK. 
About BREEAM 
BREEAM is the world’s foremost environmental assessment method and rating system for buildings. BREEAM sets the standard for best practice in sustainable building design, construction and operation and has become one of the most comprehensive and widely recognised measures of a building’s environmental performance. 
A BREEAM assessment uses recognised measures of performance, which are set against established benchmarks, to evaluate a building’s specification, design, construction and use. The measures used represent a broad range of categories and criteria from energy to ecology. They include aspects related to energy and water use, the internal environment (health and well-being), pollution, transport, materials, waste, ecology and management processes. 

About Melin 
Melin Consultants has been providing SAP & SBEM calculations for local authorities, architects, builders & developers over a number of years. 
All Melin technicians have a wealth of experience in dealing with individual requirements. 
The company motto is "10% calculation 90% solution". 
As a building consultancy specialising in Part L of the Building Regulations and environmental assessing of new buildings, Melin technicians are qualified and accredited to issue certification in all the following fields BREEAM, Code for Sustainable Homes, EPC, SBEM, SAP, air-tightness testing. 
Contact details: Melin, Llys Aur, Llanelli Gate, Dafen, Llanelli, SA14 8LQ