How Has The Consultancy
Demanstrated Problem-Solving Skills
From Which The Wider Industry Can
Draw Lessons?
In order to achieve annual energy costs
of £15 per annum and a CO2 output of
just 11Kg all aspect of the design had
to be fully considered from the earliest
stage.
Our involvement did not stop at the
building fabric, but included all aspects
of the design of the site, orientation,
service provision and even in the choice
of low carbon energy supplier. High
performance buildings are not achieved
by a single strategic decision; they are
accomplished most economically when
all the design thinking is used to work
together to provide a homogenous
outcome. This house has been designed
to prove the case that it is possible to
build a high performance home at a
competitive cost; but it also shows that
the owners do not have to significantly
change their lifestyles in order to live in
such a building.
This house is flexible, comfortable, it has
high quality design features and includes
the spaces and volumes which many
modern homes omit. Yet it is eminently
affordable.
It was also easy to build. Any small
house builder could construct a house
like this with very little extra skill being
required.
8
Care is needed in relation to the air
tightness, but thin joint blockwork makes
this relatively easy to accomplish.
How Has The Consultancy Used New
Technology In A Way In Which The
Wider Industry Can Draw Lessons?
Once again every aspect had to be
considered to accomplish this level of
performance within the budget. While
not complying with every aspect of
Passivhaus, the concept was used as the
background to the design. Then using
sun path studies, plan and sectional
orientation, shading of soffits and
minor optimisation of the immediate
microclimate along with technological
devices the scheme was improved within
the budget.