Building comfortable, future proof and low energy buildings in the UK is our priority.
Alongside our design arm we also provide training to design professionals and test buildings to ensure their performance.
concept
Initially, the most important element of a low energy design is to set a strategy. This will give you a clear direction for the fabric, services and renewable technologies to be employed
Once this is complete we can focus on the design. We can comment on how building form, orientation, building mass, shading and glazing will affect the energy consumption and comfort of your design. In addition for refurbishments we can identify areas of risk to the fabric.
Further we can help the team identify suitable performance for U values, air tightness and plant efficiencies for the building.
detailed design
Our strength lies in our ability to comment on the practical build-ability as well as energy performance of your construction.
Our detailed modelling of your construction using Passivhaus planning software (PHPP) allows the impact of each minute change to the building design or specification to be calculated. Because PHPP is much better at predicting the actual energy consumption of low energy buildings these calculations allow the client to make informed decisions with confidence. In addition we also offer:
- fine tuning of building element design and specification to ensure you get the best out of the building, and it will perform in practice
- thermal assessment of construction details to assess any thermal bridges and minimise their impact
- provide performance specification for the building services. Although we do not usually provide detailed services design this ensures the low energy concepts worked through from the outset are maintained in the finished design.
- with our associate, Paul Jennings we also offer airtightness design advice. This ensures the site team have the best chance of delivering an airtight construction.
construction
Attending site to give induction to contract staff can be the make or break of a low energy development. The induction will cover their influence in providing a low energy building, how build quality affects thermal performance and all aspects of airtight design. We would usually provide material for sub-contractor induction as
well.
During the construction we will be on hand to discuss any alterations to the specification or respond to problems with the construction as they arise. We will provide the focus on site for quality of thermal continuity and air-tightness.
completion
On completion we can offer practical testing including:
- air-testing to building regulations or Passivhaus standard. This can be used as a compliance measure at the end of a project or part way through to identify problem areas.
- thermal imaging of the construction during the first heating season, often best used in conjunction to an airtest.
- coheating undertaken during the heating season, this is a true test of the building thermal performance without the influence of occupants.
post completion
we can:
- conduct post occupancy monitoring of the energy use and general performance of the building & systems. This could be at a basic level from fuel bills but we also able to offer detailed analysis including CO2, humidity,
temperature and energy monitoring at a high frequency. - provide regular feedback to tune the building’s systems.
- hold a client & design team seminar to disseminate the results, discuss lessons learnt and celebrate!
