We’re proud to announce that we have launched two new services to assist architects and self-builders in achieving unparalleled energy efficiency standards and comfort in new builds.
Our Low Energy Design Service and Heating and Ventilation Specification are two new services which build upon our technical expertise and knowledge in ultra low energy efficient buildings and support its mission to drive better building standards in the UK in terms of comfort, health and energy efficiency.
From building the first UK traditional construction Passivhaus at Denby Dale and our founding director Chris Herring helping set up the Passivhaus Trust, we saw the potential of low energy building and Passivhaus principles and the impacts they could have in the UK long before others. Indeed, as Scotland looks to adopt Passivhaus standards more widely, new build policymakers across the UK are still catching up with Green Building Store’s visionary thinking some 15 years later.
Green Building Store launched its Passivhaus services in 2009. During that time, through the local construction projects we have built, we have used our in-house construction team’s hands-on research and development to understand the first principles of Passivhaus building better. This wealth of knowledge on ultra-low energy efficient building, which now exists throughout all its services, is at the core of these two new services.
The Low Energy Design Service aims to empower architects and self-builders during the early stages of design by providing them with informed and quantified decisions regarding the building fabric specification. This includes crucial factors that affect a building’s performance, such as U-values, windows, airtightness, and ventilation. Our approach involves generating an initial whole building energy model using the Passivhaus Planning Package (PHPP).
The second new service, the Heating and Ventilation Specification, concentrates on the appropriate specification of air source heat pumps and room heat emitters as low energy and Passivhaus homes often have unique heating requirements. Leveraging the architect’s drawings and design data, including fabric details, airtightness levels, window schedules, and MVHR design, the service produces precise room-by-room ventilation calculations (including flow rates and sound levels) as well as heat loss calculations that are in accordance with the MCS standards expected of heat pump installers.
Speaking about the launch of these innovative services, our Managing Director, Andy Mitchell, said, “We are thrilled to introduce these two new services to the market. These offerings will provide architects with the tools they need to set up clear performance parameters based on health, energy efficiency and comfort from the start of a project. With the growing need to reduce carbon emissions and combat climate change, embracing low energy building practices is imperative.
“Simply put, we are still not building homes in the UK to the standards that they need to be. Despite revisions to the Building Regulations in the UK, they are still not good enough regarding energy efficiency. There is more that can be done. We believe helping architects create low energy homes is to everybody’s benefit.”
As pioneers in Passivhaus construction, Green Building Store has earned a reputation for delivering top-quality solutions and exceptional customer service. With our team of technical experts, the company is at the forefront of low energy building practices. Launching our Low Energy Design Service and Heating and Ventilation Specification, reaffirms our dedication to driving innovation in the industry and empowering architects, self-builders, and developers to impact the environment positively. We will share information on its two new services to architects at a CPD event at the National Self Build and Renovation Centre in Swindon on Friday, August 11th.