News
Increase in BREEAM Fees
Posted on November 27th 2019
The BRE have announced an increase in BREEAM fees for all projects registered on or after Sunday 1st December 2019. This will affect all aspects of the BREEAM process including registration, certification and fast track certification, as set out below. BREEAM Communities: assessment registration fees have increased by 13% to £565. Certification fees are increasing by 13.2% to 13.4% based on …
Health Impact Assessments for Planning
Posted on November 21st 2019
Many planning policies now require a report showing that the Health Impact of a scheme has been considered. A Health Impact Assessment details the capacity of doctor surgeries and dentists and examines daylight, sunlight and overheating within homes. It also looks at outdoor space and play areas and reviews the provision of public transport (cycling and safe pedestrian routes). Our …
Delivering an ESCO on a small development with low heat bills
Posted on November 21st 2019
We recently worked with Principal Place Residential Development Ltd (a JV between Brookfield Properties & Concord Pacific) to undertake an ESCO tendering process for the eponymous development in Hackney which provides heating to 357 flats, 299 of which also have cooling. Following our work, ENGIE have now been appointed as the ESCO. It is often assumed that ESCOs are only …
Overheating with window restrictors
Posted on November 21st 2019
Window restrictors are devices that stop windows being opened more than 100mm. They are important to maintain the security and safety of homes. For rooms that are liable to solar gain overheating the option of opening the window to enable purge ventilation is very limited when restrictors are used. Removing the restrictors can pose risks for occupants, while large glazed …
The Future Homes Standard: The end of the road for CHP?
Posted on November 21st 2019
Under Government proposals for the Future Homes Standard supplying heat to new dwellings from gas combined heat and power (CHP) would be a thing of the past. Changes to the way buildings are assessed for the future Part L would mean that heat networks with most of their heat derived from CHP will fail to comply with the new standards. …
The Future Homes Standard: Initial Reaction
Posted on October 4th 2019
The Future Homes Standard consultation was published this week. The proposals will significantly affect the development process introducing new cost pressures, technologies and design considerations. Our initial observations are as follows: The Government’s preferred option is for a 31% improvement over the current Part L standard through energy efficiency and technology improvements, increasing to a 75-80% improvement by 2025. The …
Welcoming new starters
Posted on September 25th 2019
We are delighted to have welcomed nine new people to our team over the course of 2019. The range of skills they bring significantly strengthens our capabilities and helps us continue to successfully support our clients in the delivery of their projects as we grow. Nikos and Jeremy have joined the Heat Networks team. Nikos brings expertise in heat network …
CEEQUAL – What’s new?
Posted on September 17th 2019
CEEQUAL version 6 was released in July 2019 with the intention of bringing together the methodologies of CEEQUAL and BREEAM Infrastructure. The new iteration combines the strong technical elements of BREEAM and builds upon the well proven processes of the CEEQUAL approach to assessment. CEEQUAL version 6 maintains the existing, successful elements of the long-standing CEEQUAL methodology, which has a …
Heat or Noise – Which would you choose?
Posted on September 11th 2019
The go to approach for a noise assessment is to keep windows closed to ensure internal noise levels meet British Standards. However, openable windows can help to mitigate overheating risks to CIBSE levels set out in TM59. Without careful consideration this presents an inherent conflict with residents left to choose between uncomfortable noise levels and uncomfortable living temperatures. The ANC’s …
Metering: if you can’t measure it you can’t improve it
Posted on September 11th 2019
Heat Networks are another area where the adage “if you can’t measure it, you can’t improve it” holds true. Good metering facilitates accurate billing, protects revenue, assists in troubleshooting, allows monitoring and quantifies efficiency levels. The benefits are amplified in phased developments, where operational data from initial phases can and should inform the design and sizing of future ones. This …