Overview
Sustainable energy is the practice of using energy in a way that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.
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Commerical EPC'S
We offer a full nationwide Commercial EPC service throughout the UK. If you’re selling or leasing a building then the chances are you’ll need an EPC otherwise you could face a large fine.
Domestic SAP'S
We offer a full nationwide Commercial EPC service throughout the UK. If you’re selling or leasing a building then the chances are you’ll need an EPC otherwise you could face a large fine.
Thermal Comfort Analysis
The risk of overheating in buildings is becoming more prevalent as changing climates and global energy insecurity make the control of indoor climate increasingly problematic. Overheating occurs in a building either through inappropriate design, poor management or inadequate services. Features of a design that support lower winter heating demand (such as large areas of south facing windows, high levels of insulation, low air permeability rates and low thermal mass) can result in excessively high internal temperatures during summer months.
In response to this increasing level of risk, CIBSE have developed an adaptive methodology to assess the predicted level of thermal comfort within a building. This assessment can be carried out at the detailed design stage by way of Dynamic Simulation Model. CIBSE TM52 sets three criteria for compliance. A building that fails two or more of the criteria is deemed to be at unacceptable risk of overheating:
- Criterion 1: Hours of Exceedance
- Criterion 2: Daily Weighted Exceedance
- Criterion 3: Upper Limit Temperature
Our experienced consultants can guide you smoothly through compliance, from concept to completion. In addition to producing a detailed analysis of your building against the CIBSE TM52 thermal comfort metric, our service includes all the support and advice required to ensure every building achieves a pass.
Heating & Cooling Loads
The heating load is the amount of heat energy that would need to be added to a space to maintain the temperature in an acceptable range.
The cooling load is the amount of heat energy that would need to be removed from a space (cooling) to maintain the temperature in an acceptable range.
The heating and cooling loads, or “thermal loads”, take into account:
- the dwelling’s construction and insulation; including floors, walls, ceilings and roof; and
- the dwelling’s glazing and skylights; based on size, performance, shading and overshadowing.
Lower thermal loads indicate that, relatively, the dwelling will require less heating and cooling to maintain comfortable conditions. Lower thermal loads do not necessarily correspond to lower electricity usage.
In practice, the heating and cooling loads may be handled by heating or air-conditioning equipment. The efficiency of the equipment and the fuel type is assessed in the Energy section. Lower loads will improve your Energy score.
Internal Daylight Analysis
We can demonstrate the daylight to solar energy balance due to factors including location, climate, orientation, topography, glass, architectural shading features and more.
We now provide Climate Based Daylight Modelling (CBDM) for LEED v4, WELL and the PSPB. This dynamic daylight modelling approach reveals the true daylight performance for the building.
Our analyses include:
- Solar intensity – demonstrating the solar energy and exposure for shading strategy / daylight capture
- PV Feasibility – optimising the solar panel energy generation
- Daylight Controls – optimising facades for energy performance
- Glare – visual comfort study
- BREEAM – daylight factor
Natural Ventilation Design
Almost all historic buildings were ventilated naturally, although many of these have been compromised by the addition of partition walls and mechanical systems. With an increased awareness of the cost and environmental impacts of energy use, natural ventilation has become an increasingly attractive method for reducing energy use and cost and for providing acceptable indoor environmental quality and maintaining a healthy, comfortable, and productive indoor climate rather than the more prevailing approach of using mechanical ventilation. In favourable climates and buildings types, natural ventilation can be used as an alternative to air-conditioning plants, saving 10%–30% of total energy consumption.
Natural ventilation systems rely on pressure differences to move fresh air through buildings. Pressure differences can be caused by wind or the buoyancy effect created by temperature differences or differences in humidity. In either case, the amount of ventilation will depend critically on the size and placement of openings in the building. It is useful to think of a natural ventilation system as a circuit, with equal consideration given to supply and exhaust. Openings between rooms such as transom windows, louvers, grills, or open plans are techniques to complete the airflow circuit through a building. Code requirements regarding smoke and fire transfer present challenges to the designer of a natural ventilation system. For example, historic buildings used the stairway as the exhaust stack, a technique now prevented by code requirements in many cases.
Energy & Carbon Calculations
Calculations software such as IES is used to enable us to accurately produce energy and carbon calculations.
Part L Building Regulations
To demonstrate compliance with the Building Regulations Part L, all new non-domestic buildings, some extensions and conversions require assessments through SBEM calculations.
Using an approved SBEM software, the CO2 emission of a building can be calculated based on the building specifications. This CO2 emission is referred to as the Building Emission Rate (BER). For a building to be compliant with the regulations, the BER must not be greater than the TER (Target Emission Rate).
SBEM Calculations are carried out in two stages: Design Stage & Built Stage.
Energy Performance Certificates
What is an EPC?
The Government is complying with the Energy Performance of Building Directive (EPBD) with the introduction of the Energy Performance Certificate. The EPC shows a record of the energy efficiency levels and CO2 emissions of a building, by using a standard table from A to G (A being very efficient, G being very inefficient).
Firstly, the energy survey is performed by a qualified energy assessor who visits the property and examines key items within the premises such as loft insulation, domestic boiler, hot water tank, radiators, windows for double glazing, etc. Once this information is obtained it is then placed into a software programme which carries out and calculates the level of energy efficiency and CO2 emissions.
This programme then proceeds to generate the level of energy efficiency in the property, with a recommendation report on the ways to improve the energy ratings by using cost effective and low and zero carbon generated systems. This will help improve your energy levels and ensure future savings on fuel costs.
There is a similar report which provides figures on the environmental impact. This report shows a table of estimated energy bills per annum and the potential for improved and lower fuel costs, but without any reference to the actual householder bills.
Who requires an EPC?
As of the 21st May 2010, if you decide to place your property on the market for sale or rent in England and Wales you will need to purchase an EPC.
Who is responsible for obtaining an EPC?
With a new build it is the responsibility of the person carrying out the work. They must provide the owner with the certificate and inform the Building Control Officer or Approved Inspector that this has been completed within the specified time.
When you are selling or renting your property, you, as the seller or landlord must provide the EPC. The certificate is available free of charge and should be given to the prospective buyer or tenant prior to entering into a sale or lease agreement.
The householder will have to pay for this survey and we offer extremely competitive prices.
The survey is entirely non-invasive as the information provided to the assessor is given directly from the householder. For example, whether the property has cavity wall insulation or not, even when there is no evidence of drill holes present.