Ben Smith of Faber Maunsell shares his cyber secrets, while the BSD blog site is now in full swing. To join the debate, click on www.bsdlive.co.uk/blog. You can also sign up for our weekly newsletter and register for BSD’s digital edition

What is the one website you couldn’t live without?

I subscribe to the Guardian newspaper (http://digital.guardian.co.uk/guardian/). That’s my favourite website… but I don’t read it enough. The one I couldn’t live without is probably National Rail Enquiries.

What is your favourite gadget?

Probably my iPod, but there’s a lot of rubbish on there. I have a Blackberry – that is really useful.

What’s the most useful website you access for your work?

If I’m doing sums, www.digitaldutch.com/unitconverter. If I’m writing proposals, www.planningportal.gov.uk. I spend a lot of time on government sites – DECC, CLG, Defra, Environment Agency – the stuff is never where I want it to be.

What was your last album download?

Kings of Leon, Only by the Night.

The subject of the last email you received?

Re: ‘Target Zero logo’. It relates to a project I am working on, looking at how you design zero carbon commercial buildings. There is a press launch coming up. Maybe you should come to the press launch and do a nice little feature!

Social networking or face-to-face?

Face to face. I do have a Facebook page but I think I’m too old for it really.

Who is your favourite blogger?

I don’t do much blogging myself but the guys in the office are “tapped in”. They are often talking about carbonlimited.org and are also into “House 2.0”. [George] Monbiot does a good blog at www.monbiot.com.

The best link you’ve been sent?

www.climatecrisis.net/trailer - it’s not good, it’s scary. Everybody should see it. I was so taken by it that I helped organise a viewing for our clients.

What was the last thing you bought online?

More trainers – it’s an inconvenient truth.

BSDLive.co.uk

Guests on the BSD blog site include Dave Cheshire of Faber Maunsell on the drive towards zero carbon, Cal Bailey from NG Bailey warning the industry not to slip on sustainability in the face of the recession, and Anna Exley of HSS Hire talking about the company’s commitment to sustainability.

We like feedback

A bsdlive.co.uk news story headlined “Climate change irreversible, says NOAA” inspired our favourite feedback this month.

Mark Britton commented:
“What has happened to the phrase “global warming”? It now seems this isn’t happening… scientists have shifted wording to avoid the use of the phrase, as it shoots down their theories and doomsday scenarios. Yes, climate change is happening, sure we dump lots of bad things in the atmosphere… but are we the cause of climate change, remains to be seen… of course the effects are irreversible by anything we do, if we don't cause it in the first place.”

John Henderson added:
“Have you been watching Top Gear again, Mark?”

Join in

Send your latest projects, pictures and flythroughs to bsdeditorial@ubm.com

Source

Building Sustainable Design

Postscript

Ben Smith is associate director at Sustainable Development Group, Faber Maunsell