Tips & Insight
Grid electric – the green choice for new homes?
Changes to the Building Regulations and SAP 10 mean homes powered by mains electricity will be seen as greener than ever before. Electrical systems will now be ...
SAP 10 Released – What’s New?
The BEIS and BRE have finally published SAP 10 – the eagerly awaited update to SAP 2012. SAP Calculations are used to demonstrate the energy performance o ...
The Hoover Building – Journey through a Sustainable Renovation
Re-purposing a 1930’s factory is not without it’s challenges, especially for an iconic listed building. Standing in Perivale to the west of Central ...
Part F Ventilation Testing – an inconsistent approach
Part F Ventilation Testing is something you may be asked to carry out, especially if you are building new houses or flats. However it can be a difficult one to ...
SAP in Scotland: Further Comparisons with England and Wales
In a follow up to our previous blog about SAP in Scotland, we delve a little deeper into the key differences between SAP in Scotland compared to England and Wa ...
Completion at the Hoover Building!
We are delighted to say that the redevelopment of the iconic Hoover Building has achieved a BREEAM Excellent rating. Since June 2014 we have been working closel ...
Air Permeability Testing – Get Your Building Airtight
Once a dwelling is complete, an essential part of our work is testing for airtightness. Air permeability testing is a crucial phase of any build as the result w ...
How to Succeed with SBEM Assessments
SBEM, or the Simplified Building Energy Model is an essential element in not only getting your construction project off the ground – or on the ground – but ...
What is SBEM and Why is it Important?
SBEM calculations, much like SAP for residential developments, are used to demonstrate the energy performance of new non-dwellings (or extending existing ones). ...
How to Pass L1a with Electric Heating
We are using more power than at any other point in history. And using electricity in a building has much higher associated emissions than using gas. Much of th ...
Zero Carbon London – Nine Months On
It was in October last year that rules for Zero Carbon Homes were introduced in London. What impact have the rules had so far? As part of the London Plan, all n ...
SAP in Scotland: A Comparison with England & Wales
SAP in Scotland can be much more challenging than England and Wales. Let’s look at why. For a new home, the main target for SAP in Scotland and the rest of th ...
The Self Build Checklist
Self Builders! Are you embarking on your first build? Confused by all these SAP calculations and air tests? Have no fear, BE is here with the essential checkli ...
Camden: £2,700 per tonne of carbon for new homes.
The London Borough of Camden is applying fees of £2,700 per tonne for carbon produced by major new housing schemes. As a part of Zero Carbon Homes rules introd ...
The London Plan
The London Plan is of increasing significance to many of our clients, especially since the new zero carbon requirements came into effect in October 2016. Planni ...
SAP Technicals – Fuel Choice Part 2
In the second part of our technicals series, we look at the effect of Fuel Factors in SAP Calculations. In Part 1 (Using Different Fuels in SAP) we expla ...
SAP 2016 – Changes Ahead for UK House Building?
The Government has launched a consultation to help shape SAP 2016, the new method for assessing the energy performance of homes. SAP 2016 will replace the curre ...
SAP Technicals – Fuel Choice Part 1
What effect does my fuel choice have on SAP compliance? Can I pass with electric heating? We aim to answer these questions and more in this 3 part technical ser ...
Section 63 Action Plans in Scotland – What are they?
Landlords of commercial premises will need to undertake a ‘Section 63 Action Plan’ for energy efficiency improvements from the 1st of September 2016 ...
Advanced Details
Advanced Details is an online Thermal Bridging database aimed at simplifying the process of calculating junctions, whilst offering options for improved performa ...
Party Walls – A Rough Guide for SAP
Party Walls – How are they treated in SAP? Much like thermal bridging, research has shown that heat loss attributed to party walls is much higher than pre ...
Enhanced Construction Details – What are ECDs?
What are Enhanced Construction Details? Enhanced Construction Details were created by the Energy Saving Trust to address Thermal Bridging performance in SAP Cal ...
Thermal Bridging Explained
Thermal Bridging – How can I Design to Pass? To succeed in the latest versions of SAP, it is necessary to address thermal bridging. Thermal bridges are ju ...
Energy & Sustainability Statements
Energy and Sustainability Statements Energy and Sustainability Statements are commonly required across UK planning authorities, but requirements vary between ju ...
The New Technical Standards & ‘Optional’ Building Regs
The New Technical Standards were announced in 2015, and apply to new build homes in England. As a result of the housing standard review, it was announced that l ...
What’s the difference between SAPs for England, Scotland & Wales?
Despite being a part of one United Kingdom, the rules for homes in England, Scotland & Wales vary from nation to nation. How can this affect your build? Whi ...
ACDs and Thermal Bridging
Whenever we are working on a project which is struggling to meet SAP targets, we rarely go to renewable technologies, or even look at insulation levels (that co ...
Air Testing – Which and How Many?
The regulations around air testing can appear complex. Some dwellings need testing, yet some do not. One dwelling may also require a better result than another. ...
Cavity Insulation: Up the Wall with the New Regs
Changes in the regs will place big demands on the thermal performance of new builds after April 2014. One of the take home points for me was that current insula ...
TFEE – How to Pass the Target Fabric Energy Efficiency
New homes in England are now assessed on both a carbon target (TER) and a fabric target (TFEE). Designing to reduce carbon should be no secret. Good assessors ...