How bespoke thermal bridging calculations can help your project
Posted on March 4th 2020
Calculating heat losses resulting from thermal bridges is one of the only ways to improve SAP calculations without the need to re-design any aspect of the building, making the price per carbon of this process very low. This is because SAP punishes the lack of calculations by assuming very high values for the thermal bridging heat loss. So, to ensure …
Project Success for Berkeley East Thames at the Royal Arsenal
Posted on March 4th 2020
We recently completed our Energy and Sustainability work on the The Officers’ House and the Royal Carriage Factory at the historic Royal Arsenal site in Woolwich. We conducted three different types of BREEAM assessment on the Grade II listed buildings, each assessment bespoke to the works being conducted, achieving Excellent for the refurbished dwellings, Good for the Refurbished commercial units …
Smart Export Guarantee (SEG) – A Reduction in Income from PV
Posted on March 4th 2020
A new arrangement for small-scale renewables is in most instances expected to result in generators receiving less income than would have been available to similar-sized installations previously. The Smart Export Guarantee (SEG), having come into force from January 1st 2020, has been introduced following last year’s closure of the Feed in Tariff (FIT) scheme to new entrants. All existing FIT …
London Plan – Key implications of new energy policies
Posted on January 30th 2020
The Intend to Publish London Plan is expected to be adopted imminently. Here we summarise the key implications of the new energy policies: Energy efficiency Residential: 10% CO2 reduction over Part L 2013; Non-Residential: 15% CO2 reduction over Part L 2013; Using SAP10.1, instead of SAP2012, enables a slightly relaxed specification. Heat Networks The heating hierarchy remains where connecting to …
Balancing Noise & Overheating: New AVO Guide
Posted on January 30th 2020
The recently published Acoustic, Ventilation and Overheating Residential Design Guide provides a process for balancing noise, ventilation and overheating for developments in areas with high noise levels. The aim of the guide is to provide a means of assessment that recognises the relationship between acoustics, ventilation and overheating. This single document consolidates guidance and legislation for all three of these …
MCPD rules for district heating sites need early attention
Posted on January 30th 2020
Heat Networks need to address the recent Medium Combustion Plant Directive (MCPD) Regulations early to avoid having to make major changes including specification of key equipment. Any site operating combustion plant with capacity of at least 1MW will be affected. Strict emissions limits have been set for oxides of nitrogen, oxides of sulphur and dust. The requirement to comply could …
Embodied Carbon – Small changes making a big difference
Posted on January 30th 2020
Climate change is a rapidly escalating emergency. To date, the focus of planning policy has been on reducing the amount of carbon generated to operate our buildings but now the focus is on those emissions within the building materials i.e. embodied carbon. Making small changes to the design of a building can have huge benefits when looking to reduce the …
Heat Network Regulations – Time to Re-Notify
Posted on December 17th 2019
Heat networks which were first to notify the OPSS (formally the NMRO) back in 2015 and 2016 are now due to renotify. Under the Heat Network Regulations (2014), all heat suppliers have a duty to notify the OPSS of all operational heat networks. Each notification has a shelf life of four years, with notification templates seeking information relating to billing, …
How to approach the whole life carbon requirements of the New London Plan
Posted on December 17th 2019
The draft New London Plan introduces a Policy (SI7) regarding the reduction of waste and implementation of circular economic principles. This promotes resource efficiency and innovation to keep products and materials at their highest use for as long as possible. The policy seeks to promote circular economy for developments and requires that referable applications provide a Circular Economy Statement to …
Are heat pumps in housing developments a noise nuisance?
Posted on December 17th 2019
A move to an increase in the use of heat pumps following the release of the Future Homes Standard consultation may create acoustic issues that need to be designed out. The compressor and fans within heat pumps cause the main noise and vibration concerns. As air source heat pumps (whether for individual homes or part of a heat network) are …