Kate de Selincourt
@katedes.bsky.social
Writer - sustainable building and the environment
Reposted by Kate de Selincourt
In-person tickets are now sold out for our 2026 Healthy Buildings Conference - but virtual tickets are now available for the presentations in Sessions 1&2.
Join us online on 26th February - 13:30 to 16:45.
asbp.org.uk/healthybuild...
Join us online on 26th February - 13:30 to 16:45.
asbp.org.uk/healthybuild...
ASBP Healthy Buildings Conference and Expo 2026
Virtual tickets now available! Healthy Buildings Conference & Expo 2026 Thursday 26th February 2026 | 13:00-17:45followed by drinks and networking until 19:30 Introba, 150 Holborn, London EC1N …
asbp.org.uk
February 5, 2026 at 4:02 PM
In-person tickets are now sold out for our 2026 Healthy Buildings Conference - but virtual tickets are now available for the presentations in Sessions 1&2.
Join us online on 26th February - 13:30 to 16:45.
asbp.org.uk/healthybuild...
Join us online on 26th February - 13:30 to 16:45.
asbp.org.uk/healthybuild...
Darting across busy roads where there is a gap in traffic is absolutely the way to get around a busy city. Very happy to see I am not alone in this.
(God knows how Waymos etc would manage where I live, there is a centuries old practice of free-roaming sheep - and of course no pedestrian crossings)
(God knows how Waymos etc would manage where I live, there is a centuries old practice of free-roaming sheep - and of course no pedestrian crossings)
This is an incredibly unusual result in the UK, BTW, where it is quite rare to find a ban or a crackdown that the public doesn't love.
There is speculation that the introduction of driverless cars could lead to jaywalking laws in the UK
65% of Britons would oppose making jaywalking a minor offence, including 41% "strongly opposed"
Only 24% are would support such rules
yougov.co.uk/topics/trave...
65% of Britons would oppose making jaywalking a minor offence, including 41% "strongly opposed"
Only 24% are would support such rules
yougov.co.uk/topics/trave...
February 16, 2026 at 5:38 PM
Darting across busy roads where there is a gap in traffic is absolutely the way to get around a busy city. Very happy to see I am not alone in this.
(God knows how Waymos etc would manage where I live, there is a centuries old practice of free-roaming sheep - and of course no pedestrian crossings)
(God knows how Waymos etc would manage where I live, there is a centuries old practice of free-roaming sheep - and of course no pedestrian crossings)
Reposted by Kate de Selincourt
It’s beyond insane that the BBC World Service might end in 7 weeks when its funding runs out. A beacon of information, education and UK soft power - Ministers would be crazy not to find money to support it
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
The Guardian view on the BBC World Service: this is London calling | Editorial
Editorial: With just seven weeks before its funding runs out, the UK’s greatest cultural asset and most trusted international news organisation must be supported
www.theguardian.com
February 15, 2026 at 10:41 PM
It’s beyond insane that the BBC World Service might end in 7 weeks when its funding runs out. A beacon of information, education and UK soft power - Ministers would be crazy not to find money to support it
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Reposted by Kate de Selincourt
If you liked Guy Martin's House without bills, you'll like the latest @aecb.bsky.social webinar with Will South talking about his home retrofit project in Brighton
This goes into a lot more detail of what it entails to do a whole house retrofit
This goes into a lot more detail of what it entails to do a whole house retrofit
AECB Webinar - Will South - Walking the Talk: My Home Retrofit
YouTube video by AECB:Association for Environment Conscious Building
www.youtube.com
February 12, 2026 at 6:38 PM
If you liked Guy Martin's House without bills, you'll like the latest @aecb.bsky.social webinar with Will South talking about his home retrofit project in Brighton
This goes into a lot more detail of what it entails to do a whole house retrofit
This goes into a lot more detail of what it entails to do a whole house retrofit
Reposted by Kate de Selincourt
February 13, 2026 at 7:30 PM
Reposted by Kate de Selincourt
Do please respond to this consultation and push back on the government's sickening proposals to fuck up the security of our colleagues, neighbours carers and friends. Closes tonight. www.gov.uk/government/c...
Earned settlement
The government is consulting on how the current settlement system should be reformed and how those reforms should be implemented.
www.gov.uk
February 12, 2026 at 8:53 PM
Do please respond to this consultation and push back on the government's sickening proposals to fuck up the security of our colleagues, neighbours carers and friends. Closes tonight. www.gov.uk/government/c...
The easiest way to do this is online! All you need is your account number, postcode and date of birth!
Anyone care to guess if that is in fact "all you need"? Or actually not. I'll let John Lewis guess first....
Anyone care to guess if that is in fact "all you need"? Or actually not. I'll let John Lewis guess first....
February 11, 2026 at 8:42 PM
The easiest way to do this is online! All you need is your account number, postcode and date of birth!
Anyone care to guess if that is in fact "all you need"? Or actually not. I'll let John Lewis guess first....
Anyone care to guess if that is in fact "all you need"? Or actually not. I'll let John Lewis guess first....
Reposted by Kate de Selincourt
The rain will continue until morale improves.
February 6, 2026 at 8:15 AM
The rain will continue until morale improves.
Reposted by Kate de Selincourt
When the revolution comes, I’m fighting on the side of We Rate Dogs.
February 10, 2026 at 8:39 PM
When the revolution comes, I’m fighting on the side of We Rate Dogs.
Reposted by Kate de Selincourt
Yeah I’m looking for my dog (girlfriend who has a restraining order against me and she has a dog) and here’s the picture of the dog (she walks this dog and I can use it to figure out her schedule) thanks for sending all footage my way
February 9, 2026 at 4:13 AM
Yeah I’m looking for my dog (girlfriend who has a restraining order against me and she has a dog) and here’s the picture of the dog (she walks this dog and I can use it to figure out her schedule) thanks for sending all footage my way
Reposted by Kate de Selincourt
This is the way.
Passivehaus standard, triple glazing, mechanical ventilation with heat recovery (MVHR), communal outside spaces. 👌🏽
Passivehaus standard, triple glazing, mechanical ventilation with heat recovery (MVHR), communal outside spaces. 👌🏽
A real pleasure to meet George Clarke and hear about his experiences growing up on a council estate. We both know the positive impact social housing can have on families’ lives.
That’s why I’m determined to continue delivering more council homes as we build a fairer London for everyone.
That’s why I’m determined to continue delivering more council homes as we build a fairer London for everyone.
February 8, 2026 at 4:51 PM
This is the way.
Passivehaus standard, triple glazing, mechanical ventilation with heat recovery (MVHR), communal outside spaces. 👌🏽
Passivehaus standard, triple glazing, mechanical ventilation with heat recovery (MVHR), communal outside spaces. 👌🏽
Reposted by Kate de Selincourt
spicy hot take but anyone with enough money to be paying inheritance tax should absolutely be paying inheritance tax. it does not apply to a majority of Brits
February 8, 2026 at 10:30 AM
spicy hot take but anyone with enough money to be paying inheritance tax should absolutely be paying inheritance tax. it does not apply to a majority of Brits
Reposted by Kate de Selincourt
Anyone here in an Energy Local Club - buying energy direct from a local generator (wind, solar, hydro)? #EnergyLocal
February 7, 2026 at 10:24 AM
Anyone here in an Energy Local Club - buying energy direct from a local generator (wind, solar, hydro)? #EnergyLocal
Looking forward to watching this
📺 Guy Martin's 'House Without Bills'
Passivhaus retrofit takes centre stage in the Channel 4 programme Guy Martin’s 'House Without Bills' on Monday 9 February 2026 at 9pm.
Read more:
https://www.passivhaustrust.org.uk/news/detail/?nId=1534
AECB Passive House Plus Nesta Passive House Accelerator
Passivhaus retrofit takes centre stage in the Channel 4 programme Guy Martin’s 'House Without Bills' on Monday 9 February 2026 at 9pm.
Read more:
https://www.passivhaustrust.org.uk/news/detail/?nId=1534
AECB Passive House Plus Nesta Passive House Accelerator
February 6, 2026 at 1:19 PM
Looking forward to watching this
Reposted by Kate de Selincourt
Telling people that swans can break your arm.
What "core British values" has "the left" not defended? Can someone ask this sentient fucking saucepan what he means?
Keir Starmer attacks the racism of Reform and Matt Goodwin but then adds that "Britain has also been let down by a mindset on the left of politics that is too slow to defend core British values"
February 5, 2026 at 2:44 PM
Telling people that swans can break your arm.
This is a great read, and if you can bear it, it is worth checking out exactly how much of Epstein's shocking litany of criminal sexual abuse - and the equally shocking complicity of the US legal system in covering it up, was in the public domain.
It’s the Epstein files deja vu: how many more powerful men knew about his crimes, and helped him out anyway? | Marina Hyde
It’s the Epstein files deja vu: how many more powerful men knew about his crimes, and helped him out anyway? | Marina Hyde
I’m sorry, but this is not just a political scandal. Time to refocus on the horrific mistreatment of women and girls, and the role of these ghouls, says Guardian columnist Marina Hyde
www.theguardian.com
February 5, 2026 at 1:46 PM
This is a great read, and if you can bear it, it is worth checking out exactly how much of Epstein's shocking litany of criminal sexual abuse - and the equally shocking complicity of the US legal system in covering it up, was in the public domain.
Reposted by Kate de Selincourt
Why planning policy matters: a short cautionary tale.
As I keep saying, the new draft National Planning Policy Framework fails to mention safety for women and girls (or indeed to include the word woman at all)
Why this is important is explained by the picture below.
🧵
As I keep saying, the new draft National Planning Policy Framework fails to mention safety for women and girls (or indeed to include the word woman at all)
Why this is important is explained by the picture below.
🧵
February 4, 2026 at 4:42 PM
Why planning policy matters: a short cautionary tale.
As I keep saying, the new draft National Planning Policy Framework fails to mention safety for women and girls (or indeed to include the word woman at all)
Why this is important is explained by the picture below.
🧵
As I keep saying, the new draft National Planning Policy Framework fails to mention safety for women and girls (or indeed to include the word woman at all)
Why this is important is explained by the picture below.
🧵
The root vegetables of Scotland
Maslow's hierarchy of neeps
Maslow's hierarchy of neeps
Loaves:
the art of meditative pummeling
Maslow's Hierarchy of Kneads
the art of meditative pummeling
Maslow's Hierarchy of Kneads
A guide to the kilts of Scotland: Maslow's Hierarchy of Pleats
February 4, 2026 at 10:35 AM
The root vegetables of Scotland
Maslow's hierarchy of neeps
Maslow's hierarchy of neeps
This whole thread is very troubling.
Ofc if you *did* have a strategy of getting people off NHS waiting lists in part by exploiting folks’:
📱 fears of answering calls from unknown numbers
👩💻 lack of good tech
😖 lack of headspace to be perfectly organised
…then deprived areas wd absolutely be the easiest place to do that
Too cynical?🧵
📱 fears of answering calls from unknown numbers
👩💻 lack of good tech
😖 lack of headspace to be perfectly organised
…then deprived areas wd absolutely be the easiest place to do that
Too cynical?🧵
February 4, 2026 at 9:24 AM
This whole thread is very troubling.
Reposted by Kate de Selincourt
A lot going on here and all ugly, but one thing I still can't get my head around is how any British government can do business with Thiel at this point.
Definitely seems like they destroyed the country on purpose.
February 3, 2026 at 9:28 AM
A lot going on here and all ugly, but one thing I still can't get my head around is how any British government can do business with Thiel at this point.
Reposted by Kate de Selincourt
Reminder that "jaywalking" was literally made up by american car manufacturers to shift the blame for accidents from drivers to pedestrians. "Jay" was a slang term meaning "idiot" or "rube".
“Jaywalking is permitted in London. In 1966, the police tried to crack down on it, but gave up after three months.”
People walk and cycle on roads by right, people drive under licence.
Jaywalking is not a thing in English law and Waymo must not change that.
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
People walk and cycle on roads by right, people drive under licence.
Jaywalking is not a thing in English law and Waymo must not change that.
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Self-driving taxis are coming to London – should we be worried? | Jack Stilgoe
Waymo’s cars were first rolled out in San Francisco, but the English capital’s old roads, pelican crossings and jaywalkers may pose issues for AI, says science and technology professor Jack Stilgoe
www.theguardian.com
February 2, 2026 at 11:21 PM
Reminder that "jaywalking" was literally made up by american car manufacturers to shift the blame for accidents from drivers to pedestrians. "Jay" was a slang term meaning "idiot" or "rube".
Also relevant to how we think about buildings data I suspect.
Yep. It feels like a load of computer science people figured out they can use data to make predictions, decided to call that cause and effect, and just stick their fingers in their ears when epidemiologists and statisticians say "Um, lads..."
February 1, 2026 at 9:43 AM
Also relevant to how we think about buildings data I suspect.
Haven't read either of these reports (just glanced) so probably should refrain from commenting, but important to remember that average HP efficiency/running costs, whatever dataset you subscribe to, are not entirely the point. Real trouble arises from the HUGE variability in performance.
NEW – Factcheck: What it really costs to heat a home in the UK with a heat pump | @drsimevans.carbonbrief.org
Read here:
Read here:
Factcheck: What it really costs to heat a home in the UK with a heat pump - Carbon Brief
This factcheck explains how heat pumps can cut bills, what the latest data shows about potential savings
buff.ly
January 31, 2026 at 11:29 AM
Haven't read either of these reports (just glanced) so probably should refrain from commenting, but important to remember that average HP efficiency/running costs, whatever dataset you subscribe to, are not entirely the point. Real trouble arises from the HUGE variability in performance.
"Heating systems alone do not deliver warm, healthy or affordable homes."
As I keep hearing, we need to be very careful that installing low carbon heating doesn't end up making people's living conditions worse. @passivhaustrust.bsky.social
passivhaustrust.org.uk/news/detail/...
As I keep hearing, we need to be very careful that installing low carbon heating doesn't end up making people's living conditions worse. @passivhaustrust.bsky.social
passivhaustrust.org.uk/news/detail/...
Passivhaus News
Passivhaus News
passivhaustrust.org.uk
January 29, 2026 at 5:25 PM
"Heating systems alone do not deliver warm, healthy or affordable homes."
As I keep hearing, we need to be very careful that installing low carbon heating doesn't end up making people's living conditions worse. @passivhaustrust.bsky.social
passivhaustrust.org.uk/news/detail/...
As I keep hearing, we need to be very careful that installing low carbon heating doesn't end up making people's living conditions worse. @passivhaustrust.bsky.social
passivhaustrust.org.uk/news/detail/...