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Delivering a Sustainable Future
We extend our work on Europe’s largest regeneration project
Hampton House – Nine Elms Following our work through the planning process, Richard Hodkinson Consultancy has recently been appointed to continue involvement on this high-quality mixed-use scheme. We are to provide a range of environmental assessments through the design and build program. The Nine Elms project, on the south bank of the Thames, is the [...]
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Tagged Assessments, BREEAM, CO2 emissions, Code, Energy Performance Certification, Environmental standards, Part L, SAP, Sustainability
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Thermal bridging in energy efficient buildings
A thermal bridge is created where materials that are relatively poor insulators are in contact across an insulation barrier. This creates a low resistance path for heat to escape from in an otherwise well insulated construction. Limiting thermal bridges is becoming increasingly important with higher environmental standards such as Code Level 4 and the [...]
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 [...]
SAP 2012 Consultation
A consultation on the Government’s Standard Assessment Procedure (SAP) for domestic energy use was released last week. Not yet available is the related and eagerly awaited CLG consultation on the Building Regulations Part L 2013. It is this second consultation that should contain details of the next big step-change in housing standards taking us towards [...]
Ventilation, MVHR and summer overheating
Summary Mechanical Ventilation with Heat Recovery (MVHR) systems recycle the heat from exhaust air by passing it to incoming air. This is a passive process that relies on heat exchangers with large surface areas, and it requires no additional energy input. Such a system is an advantage in winter, but in summer months there is [...]
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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Specification of MVHR to improve performance in SAP
Mechanical Ventilation with Heat Recovery (MVHR) systems are balanced whole house ventilation systems. As well as exhausting air from wet rooms like typical extract units, they also preheat the incoming air for diffusion into living spaces. MVHR is increasingly being specified by house builders. In many instances this is because it can make a significant [...]
Zero Carbon consultation: cost of compliance
We used real case studies for the Home Builders Associates to provide a response to the worked examples included in the Zero Carbon Consultation Document. Our study found that the cost to achieve Zero Carbon including energy efficiency, Carbon Compliance (on-site) and Allowable Solutions (off-site) varies from £10,000 – £40,000 per dwelling. The most expensive [...]
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Tagged Energy efficiency, Renewable energy, SAP, Zero carbon
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