Sustainability

Following this approach, designing out energy use is much more valuable than the generation of low-carbon or renewable energy to offset unnecessary demand.

Applied to our developments, this approach concentrates efforts on:

• Improving U-values
• Plots of land at least 1 acre in size
• Reducing thermal bridging
• Reducing unwanted air leakage
• Installing energy efficient ventilation and heating

This approach has been widely supported by industry and government for some time with the Zero Carbon Hub and Energy Savings Trust both prioritising energy demand as a key factor in delivering resilient, low energy homes.

The benefits of this approach have been further underlined through the introduction of Fabric Energy Efficiency Standards into Part L of the Building Regulations. This is intended to “discourage excessive and inappropriate trade-offs, for example, poor insulation standards being offset by renewable energy systems with uncertain service lives”.

Where local planning policy requires us to incorporate low carbon or renewable energy technologies to deliver further carbon savings beyond those achieved through the dwelling fabric, an evaluation of a range of potential technologies is undertaken. These can include:

• Combined Heat and Power (CHP)
• Biomass heating
• Solar thermal collectors
• Photovoltaic Panels (subject to suitable roof orientations)
• Air source heat pumps
• Wind power (subject to space and noise pollution considerations)