UK landlords to be fined for energy inefficiency / Plan Expo coverage / Wolfgang Feist interview

I've just returned from Plan Expo, where we spent two days flogging the new and past issues of Construct Ireland. There was a steady enough crowd over the two days, and I spent most of yesterday morning at the Rebuilding Ireland conference on the second floor of the Convention Centre (here's a pic of the view from up there). I tweeted some of the speeches — you can find all our Twitter coverage here. Tomorrow morning, I'll be covering US energy secretary Dr Steven Chu's appearance in Dublin. Anyway, here's some interesting stories you may or may not have seen:

Ireland's greenhouse gas emissions drop Irish Times

In the UK, landlords to face fines for energy inefficient properties Guardian

Electric Toyota Prius's coming to Ireland Dept of Energy

Metro North: good idea or not? Irish Economy

The 'VillageTown': a viable concept in urban planning? Sustainable Cities Collective

Why is the UK so bad at construction training? And do any of these lessons apply to Ireland? Guardian

What is the carbon footprint of building a house? Guardian

Should supermarkets and DIY chains insulate homes? Guardian

An interview with passive house pioneer Dr Wolfgang Feist Green Building Advisor

Will this be the first certified passive house building in New York? Green Building Advisor

More of Green Building Advisor's priorities for sustainable building projects: ensure durability, build smaller, reduce the need for driving

Wood-wrapped green office complex opens in Chile Inhabitat

Is this going to be the tallest timber building in the world? Treehugger

Ireland needs a plan, not a budget Ireland After Nama