May 14, 2012

Today was a free/study day.  We had no plans as a group.  My thesis topic is not similar to anyone else’s so the people/companies I need to talk to are different from everyone else.  I woke up today at 9.30 and did some research and got some directions before I left around 11.00.  I called the companies I could find the number to, to try and save a few trips.  I got ahold of Willmott Dixon who is cutting edge in zero carbon construction.  My previous emails had gotten bumped around to various people, but when I talked to them I was able to set up an interview for when I return from Paris.  I also talked to Populous architects but that seems like it is going to be a dead end.  Before I left the hotel, I was trying to get directions, but it wasn’t working out… so I decided to just wing it.  I jumped on the tube going in the general direction I needed to go and long story short, I actually figured it out the first time and I arrived at The Carbon Trust… completely by luck.  The Carbon Trust is like area 51, total lockdown.  It took forever but I finally got someone to come down and talk to me, she said they couldn’t help… I took it at that and left.  She gave me a brochure on the way out, but I’ll get to that in a minute.  Next I was planning to go to Beddington Zero Energy Development (BedZED), which I had no idea where it was.  I found an internet café, got the address, and again long story short I get there to find an empty building… I think I may have gotten the wrong address.  Anyways, after this I went back to RICS library and got ahold of some good articles/sources for my thesis research.  All this time traveling I was reading the brochure from the Carbon Trust.  Basically the lady blew me off and it would be a great interview to have.  So I went back there and Ft. Knox said they CAN’T do interviews and gave me a phone number from the top of the company.  I called and apparently it is against company policies to do interviews… which sucks.  After this I went to Covent gardens because I wanted to get a nice shirt.  I found a stunning button down shirt for only 7 pounds; I have to be looking fresh for Barcelona.  I went back to the hotel, showered, and did laundry down the street… so that I had clothes for Spain.  You can’t beat the Rocket so guess where we were again tonight.  It closed early though, which is good because we have to leave tomorrow at 8.00 AM.  No pictures from today, sorry. Post again tomorrow.

T