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Energy Performance Certification
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Delivering a Sustainable Future
Nuisance Pluming from Flues
In addition to the emission of oxides of nitrogen (NOx), flue gases from modern single dwelling boilers and Energy Centres boiler flues can be very visible. Whilst not in itself harmful to humans, the visible nature of plumes may be of concern to residents and is therefore a customer care issue. Careful consideration of the [...]
Northstowe New Town a Step Closer
Gallagher’s development of the first phase of Northstowe is a step closer after the joint committee of members of South Cambridgeshire District Council and Cambridgeshire County Council resolved to grant outline planning permission, subject to the completion of a legal agreement. Richard Hodkinson Consultancy supported the application through preparation of an Energy Statement for the [...]
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Tagged Energy efficiency, Environmental standards, Planning, Sustainability, Zero carbon
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Running costs of energy in a Code Level 4 home
Meeting higher sustainability standards, such as Code for Sustainable Homes Level 4, does not necessarily mean lower energy costs to residents. The strategy adopted to achieve these higher standards can have a significant impact. It is possible for energy running costs to be increased if inappropriate strategies are adopted. We have examined the estimated energy [...]
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Tagged Code, Energy efficiency, Energy modelling, Renewable energy
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Delivery of district heating on phased developments – things to consider
District heat networks (generally with CHP) are increasingly common for medium and large scale developments in order to provide the CO2 reductions necessary for planning policy and Building Regulations compliance. Delivery of these networks on phased developments is complex. For effective delivery, it is important to consider a number of issues at an early stage. [...]
Should commercial units be connected to district heat networks?
Many predominantly residential developments also contain small ground floor commercial units. Where district heating (including CHP) is proposed for the dwellings, planning authorities generally seek for the commercial units to also be connected. We have concluded that this is not necessarily technically appropriate or viable. The aim of district heating with CHP is to facilitate [...]
Lighting design for Part L Compliance
Addressing the energy demand and associated CO2 emissions from lighting is a key element in complying with Part L of the Building Regulations (2010). Good lighting design is fundamental to cost-effectively meeting the standards. Furthermore, there are added benefits of a good lighting design in terms of occupant comfort and potentially lower running costs. Good [...]
Part L Consultation: Energy Efficiency Requirements
The Part L 2013 Consultation proposes the use of new Fabric Energy Efficiency Standards for dwellings. Through testing of typical house types we have concluded that a challenging specification uplift is required for compliance with these standards. We also outline a number of complicating issues which may pose a risk to achieving the required standards. [...]
ASHPs and the Code in the British Climate
Introduction Air Source Heat Pumps (ASHPs) can be an effective route to achieving carbon dioxide (CO2) reduction targets under Code for Sustainable Homes Levels 3 and 4 and they can meet Part L1a of the Building Regulations. Whilst ASHPs can reduce absolute emissions of carbon dioxide when compared with conventional gas heating, there are a [...]
Part L and community energy averaging
Building Regulations require that all dwellings connected to a district heating network are apportioned the same CO2 reduction. This has significant consequences for phased developments where phases are subject to differing planning or Building Regulations requirements. It is important to consider this issue early in the build program to ensure that sufficient provision for Energy [...]
CHP versus biomass: air quality
On many of our projects we are faced with a choice between Combined Heat and Power (CHP) and biomass boilers as the best way to achieve reductions in CO2. There is a widely held view that biomass is bad and CHP is good in terms of air quality. Oxides of nitrogen (NOx) and particulate matter [...]
Biomass, deliveries and ash management
How much more attention do biomass boilers really need? The comparison to the ‘stoker’ associated with coal fired steam engines may be unfair and extreme but it does go some way to painting a picture of the difference between biomass and gas fired boilers. Biomass (wood chip or pellet) is a solid fuel which requires [...]
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Tagged Biomass, Community energy, Renewable energy, Zero carbon
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Community heating – costs to users
Evidence is emerging about the high running costs for community heating schemes that are required to meet planning requirements. Often these include Combined Heat and Power facilities and biomass boilers in addition to the more conventional gas boilers. Heat meters are used within each dwelling to measure the heat energy provided through the circulating hot [...]
Code level 3 energy measures
Our download highlights the typical improvements that are made in order to comply with a 25% reduction in CO2 emissions for Code Level 3. Click to enlarge.
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Tagged Code, Energy efficiency, Energy modelling, Energy Performance Certification, Renewable energy, SAP
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Air Source Heat Pumps and renewable energy planning policy
AIR SOURCE HEAT PUMPS IN THE UK Air Source Heat Pumps (ASHPs) are a mature technology, and widely used in Europe. Due to their efficiency they can greatly reduce the energy needed for heating homes. However, they are relatively new to the UK home heating market, and their status a low carbon technology is controversial [...]
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Tagged CO2 emissions, Heat pumps, Planning, Renewable energy, SAP
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