But flexibility of the renewable heat solution is key, not just efficiency, says Kensa Heat Pumps New commitments to reduce CO2 emissions from homes by up to 30 percent over current standards has been welcomed by the UK’s leading supplier of ground source heat pumps, and UK-based manufacturer, Kensa Heat
Chubb, a leading global provider of fire safety, security and monitoring solutions and services, today announced a collaboration with Airbox Systems, a provider of asset tracking solutions for frontline professionals, to integrate situational awareness tools with Chubb’s security solutions. The collaboration provides CCTV and access control solutions that orientate users
Heat pumps have been very much in the news recently. Interest in them began to increase when it was announced that from 2025 gas boilers could no longer be installed in new homes. Then more recently gas prices soared, and the government announced that there would be grants available for
“Ambitious investments in production capacity and R&D will allow Daikin Europe to expand market and product leadership,” says Patrick Crombez of Daikin Europe. Market leader Daikin Europe sees an inflection point in the European hydronic heat pump market, with growth rates anticipated to increase from 10% CAGR to 20% CAGR.
The Building Engineering Services Association (BESA) has welcomed new guidance from the Cabinet Office aimed at decarbonising the UK’s largest property estate. In its ‘Net Zero Estate Playbook’, the government has set out advice for public sector organisations and procurers about how they can substantially lower their carbon footprint in
The UK’s largest British designer and manufacturer of premium radiators and towel warmers, Vogue (UK), share its expert heating and bathroom trends predictions for 2022 and beyond. Steve Birch, Sales Director at Vogue (UK) begins with saying, “We are finding new appetite for heating solutions that provide homeowners with all the advantages of warmth and
FoI request reveals only 33 per cent of UK local authorities have EV charging plans in place A freedom of information request (FoI) by leading electrical industry trade body ECA revealed that almost two thirds (66 per cent) of local authorities do not have any plans to roll out electric
An estimated 9,500 people in London die each year due to poor air quality. The findings in a study carried out by researchers at King’s College London attribute the premature deaths to pollutants known as PM2.5s and the toxic gas nitrogen dioxide (NO2). Emissions from cars, planes and heavy industry
One of the government’s top scientific advisors has called for a concerted programme of ventilation improvements in buildings including professional accreditation for contractors. Professor Cath Noakes told the Building Engineering Services Association (BESA) National Conference that the pandemic had increased understanding of how disease is transmitted around indoor spaces and
TOO COOL FOR SCHOOL: SUSTAINABLE DESIGN FOR EDUCATION Construction within the education sector is set to face a number of challenges in the next decade as schools look to reach net zero and utilise renewable technology and techniques. Matt Wrate, director at international M&E consultancy CPW, looks at how to
BDC 322 : Nov 2024
But flexibility of the renewable heat solution is key, not just efficiency, says Kensa Heat Pumps New commitments to reduce CO2 emissions from homes by up to 30 percent over current standards has been welcomed by the UK’s leading supplier of ground source heat pumps, and UK-based manufacturer, Kensa Heat Pumps. Coinciding with the manufacture of it’s 10,000th heat pump, the Cornish-based company calls for the revised Building Regulations standards for newbuild homes, due to be brought in from June 2022, to be a catalyst for flexibility to be viewed as a key factor when assessing renewable energy solutions rather than efficiency alone, and hopes for Standard Assessment Procedure (SAP) ratings to reflect this following the Part L and F revisions to the regulations. Simon Lomax, CEO of the Kensa Group explains: “We welcome the launch of the latest Part L standards which will encourage more housebuilders to consider low carbon heating choices. We remain convinced that our solution – small ground source heat pumps in each dwelling, linked to a communal ground array – provides the best outcomes for the house builder, house purchaser, environment, and electricity system especially as our ‘split ownership’ model divorces the cost of the ground array from the housebuilder. To support deployment, it is vital that SAP can accurately assess the performance of emerging system architectures and technologies. Many ground arrays can utilise waste heat to bolster the source temperature to improve efficiency and reduce running costs and carbon emissions. This advantage must be reflected in SAP. Equally, the most appealing solutions, for house builders and house owners, will be heat pumps integrated with heat batteries to maximise the ability of the heat pump to operate when electricity is both low cost and low carbon. Pure efficiency is no longer the key metric: flexibility is more important to deliver the best outcomes for all stakeholders.” Kensa’s ‘split ownership’ model is currently being demonstrated through an ERDF funded scheme in Cornwall called Heat The Streets, featuring street-by-street ground source heat pump deployment delivered by Kensa Utilities. Kensa Utilities, and other entities, will fund, own and maintain the underground infrastructure in return for a small standing charge levied on each connected property. Simon says, “the superior efficiency, flexibility, reliability, and durability of a ground source heat pump will ensure total running costs and ownership costs fall below those of an air source heat pump.” Kensa’s Green Streets augmented reality experience, premiered at COP26 and modelled on the real ‘Green Street’ in Glasgow, demonstrates how a 30% reduction in carbon emissions in new builds along with the decarbonisation of heat in existing homes and business can be achieved, and the flexibility the technology brings to the electricity grid, whilst lowering environmental and societal costs. Visit Green Street here.
Chubb, a leading global provider of fire safety, security and monitoring solutions and services, today announced a collaboration with Airbox Systems, a provider of asset tracking solutions for frontline professionals, to integrate situational awareness tools with Chubb’s security solutions. The collaboration provides CCTV and access control solutions that orientate users to real-time situations, informing decisions at all levels to frontline personnel in the field. Chubb is a part of Carrier Global Corporation (NYSE: CARR), the leading global provider of healthy, safe, sustainable and intelligent building and cold chain solutions. The collaboration integrates Chubb’s access management system, ADACS, with Airbox’s command and control software to create a real-time situational awareness system. This technology provides a live CCTV feed via a secured network, directly to frontline field professionals including military, law enforcement, special forces, fire and emergency services who support air and ground operations. “Working with Airbox allows Chubb to further strengthen its security offering as Airbox seamlessly interfaces with Chubb’s extensive CCTV network, offering an unrivalled asset management capability,” said David Dunnagan, Managing Director, Chubb Systems, Chubb. ADACS is a specialist solution developed by Chubb’s in-house team that can safeguard security at the highest-risk sites. Its powerful and sophisticated information management system collates data and security information from multiple channels, and easily integrates with an organisation’s intruder detection, access control, CCTV monitoring and digital video recording technologies. “This collaboration with Chubb allows Airbox to make a positive impact on operative safety, and we are excited to work together to deliver cutting-edge situational awareness technology to our mutual customers,” said William Moore, CEO of Airbox Systems. Chubb has over 50 years of experience helping to secure the buildings, assets, facilities, systems, software, data and networks that are needed to keep the UK running. To learn more about Chubb’s collaboration with Airbox Systems please visit https://www.chubbfiresecurity.com/en/uk/systems/our-solutions/software-solutions/airbox.html.
Heat pumps have been very much in the news recently. Interest in them began to increase when it was announced that from 2025 gas boilers could no longer be installed in new homes. Then more recently gas prices soared, and the government announced that there would be grants available for homeowners to purchase heat pumps. So, what is the deal with heat pumps? Heat pumps are by no means new. I was first introduced to heat pumps 30 years ago while visiting a community of sustainable housing. As a carbon reduction engineer, I have been recommending heat pumps for a very long time. This is because they can offer a low carbon solution to providing warmth, and with appropriate consideration can offer a versatile solution. Many places have already fitted heat pumps – they can be found in homes and on libraries, they are heating schools and even the most forward thinking of factory buildings. Yet to many there is still mystery surrounding them. There can be a misconception that heat pumps can only be fitted where there is enough land space to dig down into and fit a ground source heat pump, or to new builds. But there are three main types of heat pump – air to air, water source and geothermal or ground heat pumps, giving a range of application. Air source heat pumps are suitable for a wider range of buildings. They can be fitted to any building, either new build or existing. Air pump ones, for example, are suitable even for older buildings with no garden and examples of these can be found on Victorian terraces in London. Air pumps can have disadvantages though. One concern is noise, especially given the domestic setting, as the pump is fitted on the outside of the house, and so near neighbouring homes. Imagine one fitted in your street. Then imagine every house in the row having one. And if they are not well maintained they are noisier. In addition, homes they are fitted to will need more insulation, and ideally under floor heating. Heat pumps are also more expensive – relative to a new gas boiler they cost about £4,000 more. This disadvantage might be addressed by the recently announced government grants offering £5,000 to buy a heat pump. But the funding available will not meet the full cost of buying and installing a heat pump. It is likely that homeowners will need to find around £2,500 to install a funded heat pump. The funding pot will amount to around 90,000 grants – so the remaining hundreds of thousands of homes will not be able to benefit. As non-domestic heating incentives closed a while back the funding would be for homes only, not businesses, though there is the possibility it could be used for owners’ accommodation, or a home that is yet to be converted into a BnB. Even so, with rising costs for gas, and a need for solutions to carbon emission, and so the climate crisis, they may work out cheaper than the alternative of leaving global warming unchecked. Dr Torill Bigg, Chief Carbon Reduction Engineer, Tunley Engineering www.tunley-engineering.com
“Ambitious investments in production capacity and R&D will allow Daikin Europe to expand market and product leadership,” says Patrick Crombez of Daikin Europe. Market leader Daikin Europe sees an inflection point in the European hydronic heat pump market, with growth rates anticipated to increase from 10% CAGR to 20% CAGR. This will lead to annual heat pump installations of 4 million heat pumps by 2030, up from 1 million in 2021. Daikin Europe is responding by investing in production and innovation capacity, warehousing and logistics and increased training for installers and service technicians across the EMEA region. Patrick Crombez, General Manager Heating and Renewables at Daikin comments, “Switching our heating systems to heat pumps represents a historical transformation to low-carbon heating, with benefits for climate change but also healthier living environments. We are proud to lead this transformation in Europe.” Daikin Europe’s business unit ‘Heating & Renewables’ is growing fast and – as the European market leader in this category – is outperforming the European heat pump category growth. “For us 2021 has been a turning point for heat pumps”, says Patrick Crombez. “Consumers and policy makers have never been more eager to decarbonize heating systems.“ Over the past decade, the European market for heat pumps has grown at a strong pace, with an annual growth rate of 10% (CAGR) from 2011 to 2020, resulting in the expected installation of 1 million heat pumps in 2021. In the coming years, Daikin – in line with other industry experts – anticipates a sharp acceleration in heat pump adoption. By 2030, it expects 4 million heat pumps will be installed each year, representing an annual growth rate (CAGR) of 20%. At that point, 1 out of 3 heating systems installed will be a heat pump, up from 1 out of 10 in 2020. While this represents steep growth compared to recent years, Daikin Europe considers this the minimum to ensure a move to a decarbonized residential heating market in Europe. Patrick Crombez: ”From all available data, it is clear that heat pump adoption is hitting an inflection point this year and the already robust growth of the category will only accelerate.” A key driver for heat pump growth has been the introduction of legislation governing new builds in many European countries, ranging from general regulations in France such as RT2012 (which sets a new minimum standard for thermal insulation of dwellings), to a ban on combustion boilers in the Netherlands. Additionally, incentives in France, Germany and Italy have successfully increased the appeal of heat pumps in the replacement- and renovation market. At the same time, heat pump technology has evolved to make heat pumps an attractive option: the arrival of ‘high temperature’ heat pumps means existing fossil fuel boilers can be replaced without the need to update or modify existing radiators. Daikin Europe invests in production capacity, innovation In the coming years market leader Daikin intends to more than triple its European heating production and expects their heating business to become one of the key pillars of Daikin’s revenue by 2025. Today, 5 of 14 Daikin’s EMEA factories are dedicated to heat pump production. All Daikin heat pumps sold in Europe are developed and produced in Europe, with main Daikin factories in Germany, Belgium and the Czech Republic. A recently announced investment plan for the next 5 years includes a sizable investment in the heat pump category. Patrick Crombez, Daikin Europe notes, ”Without offering a detailed breakdown of our investments, a substantial part of Daikin EMEA’s planned 840 million EUR investment over the next 5 years will be allocated to heat pumps. This will allow us to expand our European market leadership in heat pumps.” Part of the investment aims to expand production capacity to keep up with demand. Another area of investment is the planned construction of a cutting-edge development complex ‘European Development Center (EDC)’ in Ghent, Belgium, allowing Daikin to strengthen its leadership in innovation and to allow a faster and wider development of heat pumps. The EDC complex represents an investment of €140M, will offer 380 jobs locally and will also function as the Daikin global centre for heating product development. Daikin Europe expands European warehousing, training and deliveries to support transition to decarbonized heating In 2021, production of Daikin Europe heat pumps will amount to 1.5 million units (covering residential, commercial and industrial hydronic heat pumps produced within the EU). It currently handles some 71,000 deliveries per day from its 30 warehouses all over Europe, and it is ready to scale this to meet demand. Patrick Crombez comments, “In the next few years, we will increase our number of warehouses to allow us to reduce delivery distance to our customers. Our integrated stock and warehouse management approach allows us to move stock faster, offer better service and lower logistics costs.” Finally, Daikin Europe offers support and training to installers in 54 training centers across Europe. Training ranges from starter courses on installation of heat pumps and direct expansion technology, to advanced troubleshooting courses and service controls on new products. Patrick Crombez says, “Despite the difficult conditions due to COVID-19, we are proud to report that the number of trainees – both online and in real life – doubled in 2020. Our investments strengthen our existing production and distribution network and allow us to look forward to the next decade with confidence and excitement.” Supporting “a historical transition” The investments and growth plans of Daikin Europe Heating and Renewables fit into its vision of decarbonizing residential heating throughout Europe. As fossil fuel-based residential heating is a major contributor to greenhouse gas emissions, this transformation will allow Europe to achieve its ambitious emissions reduction targets for 2030. Patrick Crombez states, “The coming years will be pivotal in decarbonizing the heating of residential and commercial buildings. It’s a truly historical transition that will contribute to a stable climate, safer and healthier homes, and more affordable energy bills. We are proud and we could not be more excited to take the
The Building Engineering Services Association (BESA) has welcomed new guidance from the Cabinet Office aimed at decarbonising the UK’s largest property estate. In its ‘Net Zero Estate Playbook’, the government has set out advice for public sector organisations and procurers about how they can substantially lower their carbon footprint in line with its policy to deliver a 78% reduction in emissions from government buildings by 2035. The public sector accounts for 9% of the country’s total building-related carbon emissions and, as the largest built environment client, steps taken by the government can also have a profound knock-on effect throughout the sector. Its guidance for improving the performance of schools, hospitals, prisons, offices, and other public buildings, including listed and historic structures, provides advice on how to update energy and emissions audits, monitor in use performance and how to secure the necessary funding for building upgrades. The Playbook takes a technology neutral approach because it notes that different buildings need different solutions. Therefore, it provides advice on a wide range of building engineering options including heat pumps, solar, low carbon heating, energy efficiency, LED lighting etc. It also urges developers to carry out detailed assessments to ensure they use the right solution for the building in question, including whether they can be connected to heat networks and the potential for alternative energy sources like renewables, hydrogen, and biofuels. Crucial Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster Steve Barclay said decarbonising public buildings was “absolutely crucial if we’re going to meet our environmental targets”. “Property professionals should use the Playbook to turn best practice into standard practice. It will put the public estate in a stronger position to deliver a 78% reduction in emissions by 2035, and be fully net zero by 2050,” added Barclay, who is the Cabinet Office Minister overseeing the net zero strategy. The Playbook also outlines how project teams can meet the Future Buildings Standard for new developments, which will come into effect from 2025. The guidance will be updated at regular intervals as information and knowledge improves, the Minister added. “The clarity of purpose set out in this new Playbook is extremely helpful,” said BESA’s head of technical Graeme Fox. “Setting down some of the technical detail needed to deliver the government’s net zero ambitions is the best way to focus effort in the right direction and drive practical action.” At the recent BESA National Conference, architect and TV personality George Clarke called for a “global retrofit revolution” for buildings to help rapidly decarbonise the built environment and make it more resilient to the impact of climate change. He urged the government abolish VAT on building restorations and renovations to speed up the decarbonisation of existing buildings – pointing out that 80% of the buildings we will be using in 2050 have already been built. “Hopefully, the new Playbook with its detailed plan for upgrading and retrofitting the UK’s largest property estate will provide welcome impetus for a truly nationwide programme of building upgrades that put energy efficiency, low carbon heating and cooling, and improved building fabric at its heart,” said Fox. He added that a “technology agnostic approach” was sensible to discourage people from ‘championing’ particular solutions when many, including most of the technologies the building engineering sector is already using, still have their place. “The difficult bit is working out which solution is the right one for the task in hand so updating assessments and audits is the crucial first step. Flexibility is key and engineers need to be given the freedom to engineer,” said Fox. “For example, there is more than one type of heat pump, which means it is a technology that can be widely applied, but equally it is not always the right choice. The contents of the Playbook suggest that the Cabinet Office, at least, is starting to understand some of the nuances of built environment engineering.” The BESA Academy has developed a Heat Pump Installer course in collaboration with the Home Builders Federation and Worcester Bosch. It is designed to upskill qualified plumbing, heating and RAC engineers to correctly specify, install and maintain domestic heat pumps. You can find out more about the course here.www.theBESA.com
The UK’s largest British designer and manufacturer of premium radiators and towel warmers, Vogue (UK), share its expert heating and bathroom trends predictions for 2022 and beyond. Steve Birch, Sales Director at Vogue (UK) begins with saying, “We are finding new appetite for heating solutions that provide homeowners with all the advantages of warmth and style without the environmental impact and so this needs to be factored in to the overall ‘design picture’ from the outset. I believe this new desire has stemmed from the abundance of sustainable materials now available, for instance, aluminium heating designs which are now being considered as an eco-luxe choice for the modern bathroom. Given its water efficiency, flexible installation and lightweight material, aluminium is a great example of a sustainable material which can be endlessly recycled as an end product = designer radiators and towel warmers!” So what else is predicted to shake-up the heating trends market in 2022? Steve explains: Lifestyle heating: When looking ahead to 2022, it will be a case of ‘anything goes’ as many of us now have more confidence to take charge when updating our homes and so selecting the right heating design will be critical when designing in line with specific lifestyle preferences. We are now in an era where you really can ‘be your own home stylist’ and meet your every need. With this in mind, robust materials and finishes on the darker spectrum like anthracite and black, will be just as desirable as vintage metallics and timeless white finishes as we move into next year. In addition, hidden heating trends solutions which are designed as singular floating bars that can also come together in a range of styles and formations, are on the rise in the modern bathroom. With property experts indicating that house prices will continue to rise in 2022, personalisation in interiors is going to be fundamental moving forwards. Creative products like single bar heating will therefore answer demand from homeowners who appreciate traditional craftsmanship, coupled with the latest technology. Added value: The 2022 home is about adding value where there is none, offering easy living and high comfort that is both beautiful and practical. In light of this, en-suite bathrooms and cloakrooms continue to be a popular way to enhance convenience and add value to your home and research proves that over three quarters of home buyers are likely to offer more money for a house if these are on offer. It therefore makes sense to consider the virtues of wall-hung heating solutions next year, whether looking to upgrade an existing model or working on a new bathroom project, it is the extra features that will elevate the space. Foldaway heated shelves, integrated robe hooks, optional towel bars and even a built-in aroma oil dish so you can bring your favourite scents to the bathroom, are just some of the added-value features your radiator or towel warmer can benefit from so make sure to ask what extras are available: as standard and made to order. Eco-design compliant: As energy prices rise, so too does market demand for heating solutions that can give homeowners all the advantages of warmth and style, whilst being kind to the pocket and environment. As a result, ‘doing the right thing’ has now become an essential part of the design and manufacturing process and to answer demand, you can now choose from a range of green heating solutions that will become a market mainstay moving forwards. Be it material or a specific eco design element, products which are environmentally compliant are set to make a name for themselves next year with no signs of abating.
FoI request reveals only 33 per cent of UK local authorities have EV charging plans in place A freedom of information request (FoI) by leading electrical industry trade body ECA revealed that almost two thirds (66 per cent) of local authorities do not have any plans to roll out electric vehicle charge points (EVCPs). With government plans to end the sale of petrol and diesel cars by 2035, the lack of charging infrastructure could prove a significant setback. ECA produces exclusive guidance to help its Members deliver net zero carbon skills and technologies. Learn more here. Only one third (33 per cent) of local authorities could confirm they had an EVCP strategy in place. Nearly half (48 per cent) said they did not currently operate any EVCPs. Nearly two thirds (60 per cent) have no funds earmarked for EVCPs to be installed in future. Comments revealed a lack of ‘joined-up’ policy from central Government. One local authority representative said, “One of the barriers [to EVCP installation] is the uncoordinated approach – it’s not joined-up enough.” With the annual COP26 climate conference underway in Glasgow, these findings follow a disappointing Budget announcement and long-awaited Net Zero Strategy. Luke Osborne, ECA’s Energy & Emerging Technologies Solutions Advisor, said: “The electrical and building services industry has the potential to build and maintain the green infrastructure we need to deliver Net Zero Carbon by 2050 and make Government’s promises a reality. “But with public interest in electric vehicles reaching an all-time high, the worrying lack of plans to install charge points will seriously hold us back in our pursuit of Net Zero – and stunt the growth of a booming market.” “A key focus for local authorities should be enabling constituents without off-street parking to readily charge with ease.” A report produced by the Green Jobs Task Force earlier this year showed that the UK could produce up to 1.6 million Electric Vehicles (EV) by 2040 and 50,000 vehicle technicians will need retraining or upskilling by 2025 to meet predicted demand. ECA’s 2,700 Member businesses, with a combined turnover of over £4 billion, ranging from SMEs to large, nationwide contracting businesses, are at the forefront of grid decarbonisation and the electrification of heat and transport.
An estimated 9,500 people in London die each year due to poor air quality. The findings in a study carried out by researchers at King’s College London attribute the premature deaths to pollutants known as PM2.5s and the toxic gas nitrogen dioxide (NO2). Emissions from cars, planes and heavy industry are widely known to have a detrimental effect on the exterior air we breathe, but is our interior environment becoming equally as harmful to inhabit? We spend 90% of our lives indoors due to a combination of home, work or school commitments. As for the buildings we inhabit, they are being built to regulations designed to make them as airtight as possible in order to reduce emissions from fuel usage and increase our comfort and wellbeing. But in sealing the thermal envelope on our homes and offices, are we opening ourselves up to dangers previously unconsidered? It would appear so. According to the World Health Organisation, Indoor air quality is up to five times more polluted than typical outside conditions. Reduced air leakage – although key to attaining regulation U-values – could also be affecting the indoor air we breathe, as a lack of natural ventilation allows concentrations of indoor air pollutants to build-up rather than escape. Harmful sources Toxic gases within the home can be emitted from a number of sources including emission-generating air purifiers, water treatment systems in washing machines and appliances that use UV or unnatural light. Home cleaning and personal care products also release harmful airborne chemicals, whist some interior paints contain volatile organic compounds (VOCs) which can be released into the atmosphere many years post-application. Cooking appliances such as ovens and toasters, if not regularly cleaned, have also been found to produce particles that fill interior air. The aforementioned emissions are exacerbated in multi-occupancy buildings. Where ventilation is poor, this will intensify the trapping of appliance-based toxins, whilst vapour created from baths, showers and general washing duties increases the risk of condensation occurring. This in-turn runs the risk of introducing another harmful element to the indoor environment: damp. According to a public heath report by academic studies’ specialist MDPI, exposure to indoor mould contamination instigated by damp in social housing increases the risk of doctor-diagnosed asthma, particularly in older adults and women. Improving living standards for the health and wellbeing of residents in poorer UK communities is an issue Recticel is seeking to address through its membership of the National Home Improvement Council. The non-profit organisation was set up nearly 50 years ago to promote the benefits of safe and sustainable homes as a means of creating comfortable, affordable interiors. This is particularly aimed at occupants facing fuel poverty, a threat that’s been exacerbated for many households nationwide due to the current worldwide rise in energy prices. Importance of good ventilation Figures released by the Committee on Climate Change show emissions from buildings account for 34% of total UK greenhouse gas emissions. It is a statistic that is no doubt being unnecessarily fuelled by the poor thermal performance of the country’s housing stock. This is borne out by a 2017 Green Council Report which found that 25 million UK homes will need to be refurbished between now and 2050 in order to meet mid-century insulation standards. However, when looking to improve a building’s energy rating, there is a balance to be struck. Airtight buildings need to be properly ventilated in order to improve indoor air quality. This can be achieved effectively with a heat recovery ventilation system, which extracts moist and stale air from a property’s wet rooms and recovers the – usually – lost heat from the extracted air. Therefore, with modern building methods, tighter regulations and improved efficacy of a building’s fabric, it’s often the case that a correctly-specified mechanical ventilation system also needs to be considered when improving a property’s thermal envelope. An airtight house without adequate ventilation can suffer the same issues as one with too little ventilation, as both create uncontrolled airflow. This can result in condensation issues – and eventually damp or mould patches – due to air being moved from areas of high humidity within a building such as the kitchen and bathrooms, to bedrooms and main living room spaces where the air tends to be cooler and dryer. A mechanical ventilation system helps ensure the correct amount of air flows consistently through a building by extracting it from areas of high humidity and returning it to living areas. Our future built environment’s sustainability depends on improving the airtightness of the buildings we live, work and learn in. But we must safeguard against cocooning ourselves in spaces that are potentially harmful to our long-term health. Hence, a professionally-prescribed ventilation solution will be crucial to us leading happier, more comfortable lives on the inside and outside.
One of the government’s top scientific advisors has called for a concerted programme of ventilation improvements in buildings including professional accreditation for contractors. Professor Cath Noakes told the Building Engineering Services Association (BESA) National Conference that the pandemic had increased understanding of how disease is transmitted around indoor spaces and raised public awareness of the importance of mechanical ventilation. “I never thought I would see the day when the Prime Minister and the Chief Scientific Officer were talking about ventilation,” said Noakes, who is one of two engineer members the government’s Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE). She told the Conference that the pandemic had exposed systemic failings in how we design and retrofit buildings and said we should pay far more attention to the impact of poor ventilation on human health and productivity. “Many of our buildings are under-ventilated and there is no excuse for it,” said Noakes, who is Professor of Environmental Engineering for Buildings at the University of Leeds and an expert in fluid dynamics. “This is not just about complying with regulations. We also need to show clients that there is a benefit to them through the health and wellbeing of people. We know buildings improve health and that poor indoor air quality reduces productivity by up to 9% – that’s half a day a week. Tangible “Before the pandemic 5.3 million working days were being lost every year to respiratory infections [figures from the Office for National Statistics], but it is still not as tangible as your energy bill, so we need to push that message harder,” she told the Conference. She agreed with BESA chief executive David Frise that people operating at the “sharp end” had a bigger part to play in the development of practical solutions to building operating problems. Professor Noakes said it was important that ventilation contractors were included in wider discussions because they understand what works in the real world and what clients can be persuaded to pay for. “We also need to look at professional accreditation [for the ventilation sector] because we are not applying the same standards to the ventilation industry as we do to gas and electricity, for example,” she added. She also called for better evaluation of systems in use to assess whether the ventilation was delivering what occupants need, had been correctly installed and commissioned, and was being adequately maintained. “The increased amount of indoor air quality monitoring since the pandemic is helping because it is making people more aware of their indoor environment,” she told delegates at the two-day online event. “However, it is now clear that it is very hard to naturally ventilate buildings adequately in winter.” Professor Noakes also warned building owners and managers to be wary of many of the new solutions being promoted – some of which she described as “snake oil”. “We seem to know a lot about the new technologies emerging into the market, but some of the existing solutions are probably better – we just need to measure what they are doing. They also need to be well-maintained,” she said. Professor Noakes added that approaches to ventilation had been prioritising comfort and energy efficiency, rather than health and productivity, for more than 30 years and it was now time for a change of emphasis. All the BESA National Conference sessions can be viewed on demand here.www.theBESA.com/conference
TOO COOL FOR SCHOOL: SUSTAINABLE DESIGN FOR EDUCATION Construction within the education sector is set to face a number of challenges in the next decade as schools look to reach net zero and utilise renewable technology and techniques. Matt Wrate, director at international M&E consultancy CPW, looks at how to keep schools cool yet sustainable when developing heating solutions. One of the biggest issues we face when designing schools is overheating, due to increased occupancy density and equipment gains. Keeping schools cool, especially with the ever-looming threat of climate change, has been an issue since Tony Blair’s ‘education education education’ promise that pledged to put schools at the top of the agenda. It’s easy to draw parallels to Boris Johnson’s ‘build build build’ but this time the focus is on the property and construction industry with an emphasis on helping both new and existing buildings become carbon neutral. I recently took part in a Stride Treglown Climate Action Relay panel, which looked at the challenges of delivering a carbon net zero school and considered the implementation of modern methods of construction (MMC) in schools, the impact of changing regulations and behavioural changes in reaching net zero. The consensus was that there is no one answer for reaching net zero but rather that we need a wider solution that incorporates a transparent supply chain, renewable technology, MMC and a simple way to measure operational and embodied carbon on projects. In short, we need to work together to reach the government’s 2050 target. This is where clever solutions come in. In 2000, when renewable technology first gained popularity, the cost was astronomical. However, in the decades since then the price of materials has significantly reduced and so has the overall cost. Photovoltaic panels already cover the roofs of schools across the country and a number of passive solutions have been installed to keep spaces cool before resorting to energy-hungry air conditioning. But we need to take the next step. New technology is in the research and development pipeline, so we need to begin weighing up the benefits of implementing sustainable techniques while keeping inside the budget. Even with the best intentions, if the proposed solutions aren’t economically viable, the most financially suitable option will win out every time. I believe closing the ‘performance gap’ is essential if schools are to operate as zero carbon. Engaging the client’s facilities management team, who will actually operate the building, is ideal but not always feasible at design stage. We therefore need to design systems that are simple to use without training to ensure energy is not wasted. However, the biggest difference we can make when designing schools is allowing flexibility. School buildings are used in different ways, at different times, by different groups of people and the design must facilitate this as much as possible without adding significant cost. Technology is also constantly evolving so we must consider the entire lifespan of a school – typically 25 years – and allow space to incorporate different solutions as they become available. Yes, we need to consciously design with sustainability in mind, utilising the most up to date methods and technology, but flexibility is key when reaching for carbon net zero. For further information visit www.cpwp.com or follow @CPWengineering on Twitter.
