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We are thrilled to announce that Sustainable Acoustics Ltd has been appointed as to acoustically curate the designing of a new visitor experience at Winchester Science Centre based around sound. The project will be completed in spring 2020, and will involve the entire top floor of the Science Centre, showcasing acoustics in a way unique in the world. The new exhibition will showcase how sound affects all our lives, in both the natural world and the built environment, and the role scientists and engineers play in improving lives. This exciting new exhibition is due to open in spring 2020. Peter Rogers said, “We are delighted to be part of this project as the ‘acoustic champions’, and reaching the next generation through sound. Acoustics is an enabling technology, and often forgotten about in design. This will be a beacon for how sound affects all of our lives positively and negatively. The exhibition will explore that and use sound to engage children in science, technology, engineering and maths, sparking curiosity in our future scientists and engineers. Winchester Science Centre is on our doorstep and plays a vital role in engaging our next generation. We are passionate about that and delighted to be working closely with our client ensure that fascinating science of sound is the focus of this exciting new exhibition, in an truly inclusive way.” Ben Ward, CEO of Winchester Science Centre said. “Our existing award-winning building is visually striking but not designed with acoustics in mind. Not only will our new exhibition focus on sound but with support from Sustainable Acoustics we’re exploring innovative ways to improve our visitors’ acoustic experience by building acoustic baffling into the design of the exhibition, and showcasing the wonderful world of sound, which is really exciting.” Winchester Science Centre is the South of England's interactive science and technology centre with the largest standalone planetarium in the Europe.

Team Sustainable Acoustics are proud to announce that Chris Heal has been awarded the globally recognized Chartered Engineer (CEng) status by the UK Engineering Council and appears this month in the Institute of Acoustics dispatches to its members. Chris Heal has studied for this globally respected qualification and this recognition is a major landmark in Chris’s already successful career in Acoustics. Chartered status recognises his experience, innovation and quality of thinking as an acoustician, who can now proudly call now call himself a chartered engineer, in the eyes of the Engineering Council. Chris said, “I’m proud to have achieved this recognition that will certainly prove valuable in proving confidence to clients and to other disciplines I work with.” Peter Rogers said, “Well done Chris, this is a great achievement and very well deserved!” Chris has spent 16 years in the field of acoustics having completed a master’s degree in Acoustics Engineering in Institute of Sound and Vibration Research in 2002 in the world class course based at Southampton University. Chris is one of our Senior Consultants and a highly competent acoustician. He is responsible for a wider range of our clients’ projects and has particular responsibly within the company for maintaining our quality system. You can reach him on cheal@sustainableacoustics.co.uk

Sustainability requires design to make a leap to create a new operating platform for humans, and so acousticians need to be innovative, daring and creative in their designs to achieve this to tackle the worlds most pressing problems. How we do this is discussed by Peter Rogers in this post, to encourage more to take the leap and sets out what is needed to meet the challenge. So what's the big idea ? Each project has an opportunity to achieve a gain so significant that it can make a difference across time and space. Although it may not in itself change the world it will do its part so that the sum of the parts achieves that goal globally. It is about changing the course of design away from consumption and harmful impact towards creating a balance between humanity and nature. Can acoustics really do that ? Certainly it can. Sound changes how we feel, because it so much part of our evolutionary tool kit to detect threats and stay safe. Architects often focus on the visual sense but neglect the auditory one, which we rely on so heavily to tell us about our environment often unconsciously. Take a noisy restaurant. It is often difficult to hear yourself think, and this can affect how you enjoy your food, and your experience and whether you will go back. So by dealing with the unwanted things in the soundscape that we call noise (which is generally manmade, like traffic or plant noise) we can concentrate our efforts in enhancing the quality of the soundscape. In this way we can reduce harmful health effects, and improve well-being and quality of life, clearing the way for us. If we can do this and at the same time as achieving a quadruple bottom line benefit (People, Planet, Profit, Place) then we have achieved this paradigm shift in a meaningful way that will have a positive legacy. What are the biggest opportunities for acousticians to deliver sustainable design ? Acoustics is an enabling technology, so it depends what the project is trying to achieve. What is certain that where humans (or other living species) are involved getting the acoustics right is critical to making the whole thing work. Influencing of the materials used, or energy source, or how suitable it is for use by people for its intended purpose can all have acoustic implications and conflicts that need resolving. Without getting this right the success can be derailed and so fail the ultimate test demanded by sustainability, and any impact will be without justification. The biggest challenges of our time are to undo the harm of the industrialization period and reset the clock so that we create solutions not more problems. The UK government has identified four grand challenges as part of the Industrial strategy, to transform our future : 1. Artificial Intelligence and data 2. Aging Society 3. Clean Growth 4. Future Mobility On a global level the UN 17 Sustainable Design Goals create a framework to focus this effort on (shown below). It is our challenge for acoustics to contribute to all of these, through the cumulative effect of the projects that we do, and influence and legacy that we leave. We can not do this alone, and so all acousticians are encouraged to embrace this approach and help deliver transformative acoustic design.

On the day the outgoing Government chief environment scientist , Prof Sir Ian Boyd, warns more must be done, saying "We need to do more about learning to live sustainably. We talk about sustainability but we don't really know what it means" ... Sustainable Acoustics is rising to that challenge, and we call on others to do the same. Sustainable Acoustics is committed to achieving this goal 20 years before the Government target , and will share how we do it, to help other businesses and society in the UK and globally to make the change happen that must. Owner and Managing Director Peter Rogers says "Sir Ian Boyd has , as Sir David Attenborough did with plastics, made clear that we must wake up and act ! He does this as his outgoing message as he prepares to leave Defra. We can not ignore this. It has long been our vision to achieve net zero as a business and we have been moving towards that target and are well advanced in our journey, but now we state our commitment to pushing things forward at an even greater pace to help show others to way. We will share this journey with a hope this will give others to tools to act. It is up to them then to use them. Acoustics is an enabling technology and is ubiquitous in our lives, so then by using our expertise we can also help sustainability become a reality using acoustics to improve our health and wellbeing, quality of life and enjoyment of our world, in combining services with our serious commitment to sustainability. By April 2020 we will publish a detailed plan for how we will achieve this, giving us just under 10 years to do so. This is ambitious and will take a huge effort but it is achievable we think, so why not join us to avert the awful alternative for future generations". Use the #Act4Zero2030, See more of what Sir Ian Boyd says here : https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-49499521

Sustainable Acoustics congratulate The Woolly Shepherd on winning the Institute of Acoustics' inaugural sustainability focused award, and now are able to offer an insight as to why sheep's wool may be the alternative to many high embodied energy acoustic absorbers. The Woolly Shepherd won The Sustainable Design Award for creating a product which offers an acoustic solution in buildings, with sustainability at its core. The awards ceremony was held in Milton Keynes at the Annual Institute of Acoustics Annual Conference 13th - 14th May 2019. The Woolly Shepherd, who are located in Somerset, make a number of natural acoustic products based on the use of British wool, sourced from local farmers and processed through their low impact supply chain. Their products are currently used to improve the acoustics in existing problematic spaces like village halls, classrooms and sports halls - to improve speech intelligibility, enhance well-being and reduce stress. Their ambitions are to expand into newbuild to get this natural solution out to benefit a wider audience. The company has the fundamental ethos of fair trade, sustainability and contributing to quality of life and they also believe it is vitally important to contribute to the rural economy. This means providing fair trade for UK farmers and paying a fair price for local people in areas where local rural work helps support sustainable rural communities. Tim Simmons, MD said, “We are extremely proud to be the first ever recipients of the Institute of Acoustics Sustainable Design Award, and already it is creating interest in our product, which is great.” Peter Rogers said, “We love the products made by The Woolly Shepherd which are highly effective, natural and sustainable sound absorbers for use to improve room acoustics. We are also hugely impressed by the level of effort the company has made in embracing sustainability at every point across the business. Well done to everyone at The Woolly Shepherd.”

There is no single word that commonly means sound that has value, in that way the negative effects of sound are clearly represented by the word noise ... until now. See and hear Peter , a Fellow of the Institute of Acoustics making his case, to the profession, for the word "Euphony".

5 June marks World Environment Day, which is the United Nations day for encouraging worldwide awareness and action to protect our environment. This year World Environment Day is themed around air pollution. Air pollution is a silent killer. The World Health Organisation recognises noise as second as pollutant to air pollution as a public health threat. Air pollution can cause both short term and long term effects on human health and damage the health of plants, wildlife and ultimately, the planet's ecosystems. Air pollution in this country is a major cause of diseases such as asthma, lung disease, stroke, and heart disease. It is estimated to cause forty thousand premature deaths each year in the UK. This figure represents 8.3% of deaths, costing around £40 billion each year. Last year, air pollution on Oxford Street was found to breach EU nitrogen dioxide limits 80% of the time – that’s a staggering 5.6 days a week. Globally, data from the World Health Organisation tells us there are 7 million premature deaths from air pollution exposure every year. There are benefits for tackling air pollution, which have knock on effect to noise pollution also, so there is a win-win here. As a company mindful of the bigger picture we offer some tips that can help. We can take action to beat toxic air – here are 10 ways you can help reduce outdoor and indoor air pollution. 1) Car share – reducing car journeys reduces air pollution 2) Ditch the diesel – at one point the government encouraged us to go diesel to reduce concentrations of CO2 in the atmosphere – but diesel engines produce higher levels of particulates, microscopic bits of soot left over from the combustion process. Go electric, if you can. 3) Switch your energy supplier and go green. Here at Sustainable Acoustics we use Ecotricity but there are several providers of new green energy in the UK, just check their certification results in improving access to all for real green energy, and does not just pay for the privilege of a theoretical green unit of power. 4) Plan journey times to avoid driving in heavy traffic and switch your engine off when static and idling, or use the incentives available to switch to electric, as we are doing here. 5) Go organic – switch to organic food. Fumes from nitrogen-rich fertilizers commonly used in farming are a significant cause of air pollution. 6) Buy local food to reduce food miles and eat less meat. 7) Use green paints like claypaints and water-based odour free paints and finishes inside your home or office. 8) Choose natural and untreated fibres for the home and office that are naturally hard wearing and durable. 9) Plant trees – trees are the ‘lungs of the world’ helping to clean our outside air. 10) Use indoor plants in our homes and offices to help filter the indoor air we breathe.

Thanks to everyone who very kindly sponsored us for The Big Sleep Out. We raised a wonderful £1247.50 from sponsorship and staff fundraising (including 50% matched donation by the Company). We are absolutely thrilled about this total. The Big Sleep Out is an annual event to raise money for Trinity. Trinity supports over 600 people each year. They provide a safe place to come to, somewhere to call home in the day, hot showers, nutritious meals and a listening ear. Check out photos from the night on our new facebook page. https://www.facebook.com/SustainableAcoustics Lou Espig, Office Administrator said, “It was a chilly damp night but we worked as a team to build a great shelter with carboard and groundsheets and got a reasonable night sleep. We are lucky enough to go back to warm homes afterwards and really appreciated them.” Katherine Howlett Davies, PA to MD added, “We had three daughters with us, between 7 and 13 years, sharing the experience. We all discussed what an insight it was and how difficult life on the streets must be.” Peter Rogers, MD said, “It was extremely insightful and humbling to be involved. My back is still recovering ! Thank you to all our generous clients, partners, friends and family for supporting us and helping us raise such a whopping amount of money for this important cause. We'll be doing it again, so you'll hear from us again as we make a noise to end homelessness”

To raise awareness about homelessness and to fundraise, staff will be spending an eye-opening night in the grounds of Winchester Cathedral on 17-18 May for the Big Sleep Out. We are raising money for Trinity Winchester, a unique charity operating in the city of Winchester. Its aim is to promote positive, fulfilling lifestyles, emotional wellbeing and long-term changes for those experiencing the effects of homelessness: substance misuse, mental ill-health, poverty, and social isolation. You can help us raise money for this great cause by donating directly to our fundraising page -https://www.justgiving.com/SustainableAcousticsLtd.

Sustainable Acoustics Supports RHS National Gardening Week This week is the RHS National Gardening Week, themed ‘Edible gardens’ – gardens planted to grow food – fruit, vegetables, herbs and edible flowers. As part of Sustainable Acoustics’ commitment to ignite conversations about why nature is important, we thought RHS National Gardening Week provided a great opportunity for us to talk about the natural sounds we hear in our gardens and particularly the euphonic hum of bees. One of the most vital sounds to hear in any garden, but especially edible gardens, is the hum and buzz of our pollinators, the key pollinator being the bee, especially honey bees. We need bees! They’re the world’s most important pollinator of food crops. It is estimated that one third of the food that we consume each day relies on pollination mainly by bees. There is a famous quote about bees, “If the bee disappeared off the surface of the globe, then man would have only four years of life left. No more bees, no more pollination, no more plants, no more animals, no more man.” At Sustainable Acoustics we celebrate the euphonic sound gardens make when they are full of life, and we particularly love the sound made by our bees which make our edible gardens possible. In fact, our MD, Peter Rogers is a bee keeper in his spare time. Here he is with his colony at his home. We hope everyone has the chance to get outside and plant something edible in the garden, in a window box, or even inside on a window sill, and then enjoy listening to the voice of the garden this spring.

Congratulations to our clients – Stonegate Pub Company – who won three prestigious industry awards at a stunning awards night in Battersea Evolution. Announced at the Publican Awards 2019 night, Stonegate Pub Company won Business Leader of the Year (Simon Longbottom), Best Managed Pub Company (+51 sites) and Best Pub Employer. Peter Rogers, Sustainable Acoustics MD, who attended the awards evening, said, “huge congratulations to Stonegate Pub Company for winning three awards in this highly competitive industry.” Stonegate Pub Company operate over 690 pubs and bars across the UK, within a wide variety of formats: from community and high-street pubs, through branded bars, to country inns and late-night venues. Pete added, “Stonegate work tirelessly to deliver fun and fantastic venues whilst ensuring the business is a considerate neighbour throughout the areas they operate. They deserve this recognition for all the hard work Stonegate puts in. Well done to everyone in the team.”

Here at Sustainable Acoustics we love this planet and everything that lives upon it, and also the wonderful diversity of sounds – natural sounds, euphonic sounds (those which are pleasing to hear) and the sound communities make when people get together to celebrate what makes life on earth special. WWF's Earth Hour started in Australia in 2007, as a mass participation event to raise awareness about climate change. From here it grew. WWF’s Earth Hour has grown to become the world's largest grassroots movement for the environment. This year we are going to support Earth Hour as a business and play our part in sparking a new conversation on nature and the unique diversity of life we share our home with. As part of supporting Earth Hour 2019 we will tell our staff, clients and peers why we think nature matters! Nature is vital for health, well-being and prosperity and climate change is increasingly becoming an urgent issue where we are seeing the loss of wildlife and natural resources at ever faster rates. Humans depend on these resources in nearly everything we do, for food, energy, clean air, materials for our goods, our homes, for our schools, our companies and our infrastructure. Wildlife also generates natural sounds which play a vital role in connecting us to our surroundings and supports our well-being and our sense of humanity. We want to use Earth Hour as a platform to launch a discussion, inspire and show others how acoustics can help connect people with their surroundings, with nature and with each other. We've also been working on how this can be better described across the industry. There is no single word to describe sound that represents positive or valued sound, as perceived by the listener. That is to say, sound which has some value to the soundscape or human health and well-being. This “euphony”, or pleasant soundscape, is important for humankind if we are to truly value and retain our connection with nature, which is essential to support our well-being in an increasingly urbanised world. If you want to know more about this we’ve written a paper about it. We also want to start big conversations about how acoustics can play a more prominent part in delivering green buildings and cities that thrive for people and nature. A challenge indeed, especially when we consider global populations will increasingly be based in cities, living more closely together and disconnecting from the seasonal rhythms of the natural world. Acoustics has a vital part to play in screening unwanted noise and amplifying euphonic sounds in the development of sustainable cities which inspire inhabitants to reconnect with nature. We are playing our part in enabling people to have a better connection to wildlife, natural sounds and euphonic soundscapes, in our towns and cities, whilst still being protected from noise which causes a nuisance and damages health and well-being. We need to implement design solutions so we can do both simultaneously. This is vital if we are to build truly smart buildings and sustainable urban spaces so we can continue to share our beautiful planet with such a diverse range of nature and secure this for future generations. Watch this space for more information about how Sustainable Acoustics are supporting Earth Hour 2019 and to hear our narrative about why we think nature matters. Links: www.connect2earth.org www.ukgbc.org Notes: Sustainable Acoustics has a sustainability programme which includes reducing its environmental impacts from its office operations and driving forward thought leadership in the field of acoustics. As part of our sustainability programme we support key events, such as WWF’s Earth Hour and promote sustainability to staff and our clients. We are also a member of networks and organisations which work for change, such as the UK Green Building Council. UK Green Building’s mission is to radically improve the sustainability of the built environment, by transforming the way it is planned, designed, constructed, maintained and operated. Buildings need to be sustainable. Our changing climate means we must reshape the way we grow and build.