Anyone interested in building design and energy conservation will have come across the Passivhaus standard. This internationally recognised benchmark has for some years been the top grade for sustainable buildings and the principles have been adopted by many UK construction professionals. Neil Foster, director at international M&E consultancy CPW, explores
INTERNATIONAL M&E consultancy CPW is celebrating a stellar year with the opening or expansion of four offices, multiple new hires and a companywide rebrand to mark its new strategic direction. The firm, formerly known as Couch Perry Wilkes, has seen significant growth since June 2020 – recruiting 67 people, including
THE Derby branch of national M&E consultancy Couch Perry Wilkes (CPW) has expanded its offering within the city with an exciting new appointment after taking on increased office space. John Rode has joined the team as a senior mechanical engineer following more than nine years’ experience in the industry,
12 trainees have started their professional training in a M&E Consultancy in Solihull. Couch Perry Wilkes (CPW) has welcomed the trainees, who will specialise in an array of areas, including mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, lighting, public health and finance. Moreover, they will also have the opportunity to complete industry-recognised qualifications,
Nottingham Trent University has unveiled their completed multi-million-pound science facility. The Interdisciplinary Science and Technology Center, or ISTeC, is facility that is located at the University’s Clifton campus and will offer state-of-the-art facilities for undergraduate and postgraduate students as well as other research scientists. The new two-storey building has been
BDC 319 : Aug 2024
Anyone interested in building design and energy conservation will have come across the Passivhaus standard. This internationally recognised benchmark has for some years been the top grade for sustainable buildings and the principles have been adopted by many UK construction professionals. Neil Foster, director at international M&E consultancy CPW, explores why projects aiming for full certification are surprisingly rare – meaning its transformative potential for futureproofing the country’s building stock has yet to be realised. After some delay and much consultation, the updated building regulations on conservation of fuel and power (Part L) have come into force, with stipulations for improved energy performance that some consider to be unambitious. Although certain aspects of the Part L regulations are now closer to the Passivhaus standard – such as those around fabric insulation levels – should legislation be going further, faster? It takes very little time to see the benefits of Passivhaus. When a simple change to triple glazing reduces heat loss by 40%, why would anyone ignore the opportunity to reduce energy consumption through passive means and avoid the need to generate energy, however sustainably, in the first place. When this approach is rigorously applied to every aspect of the building design, it is possible to reduce heating demand to near zero – even in a cold climate. Furthermore, the benefits remain despite changing views on the best energy production methods, shifting landscapes on energy security and fuel price escalation. The initial cost of Passivhaus compliance can be unpalatable and may fall victim to value engineering – a popular term among clients and contractors. Ultimately, this comes down to what is considered to be valuable. In my opinion, true value engineering should go beyond simple cost cutting and also include measuring the sustainability benefit in the long term. Homeowners would surely value a house that costs extremely little to heat all year round – an entirely possible scenario if the Passivhaus standard is achieved. The iterative nature of the value engineering process itself may play a part, gradually eroding the original design aspiration. Once one sustainability goal is discarded, others become vulnerable. Passivhaus is an established, unambiguous standard that is not easily diluted – ideally suited to being used as the required standard for new construction. It may be that this is not just a target, but a necessity in the future. The clock is ticking As the name implies, the Passivhaus standard stems from research on domestic houses. However, the passive approach to heating internal spaces is universally applicable. It remains to be seen whether key decision makers are willing to see it used on as many buildings as possible. Progress is being made. Legislation in the form of Part L of the Building Regulations, governing the conservation of fuel and power, continues to set more stringent standards with each new update. However, progress is slower than many hoped and comes at a cost to the environment. It’s important that we also remain realistic and not look to the future through rose tinted glasses. In many cases, the impact of political rumblings and consequential high prices mean that meeting a design brief is simply not possible for clients without breaking the bank. Therefore, having this conversation during a time of vastly increased construction costs is difficult, but the clock is ticking. What to expect next The Building Regulations will continue to improve the standards for buildings, with the goal of introducing a zero carbon ‘Future Home Standard’ and ‘Future Building Standard’ in 2025. It is likely that there will be a greater emphasis on refurbishment projects. This can be significantly cheaper, and the embodied carbon associated with materials and construction is much reduced. However, the suitability of repurposed buildings as safe and healthy environments will be increasingly scrutinised, especially in the wake of the recent pandemic. EnerPhit, the Passivhaus accreditation tailored to renovation projects, details a lower threshold of energy efficiency in recognition of the limitations imposed by the existing fabric. Nevertheless, whilst it is typically three to four per cent more expensive to make a new build meet Passivhaus standards, meeting the EnerPHit criteria can mean a cost increase closer to 20 to 25%. We are also seeing rising demand for support on decarbonisation projects, often across several sites operated by the client. There are, of course, lots of stakeholders to consider during this debate, so it’s inevitable that there will be some acting with more urgency than others. Shaping our future The need for decarbonisation is nothing new and many consultants offer good advice. Recent changes to legislative standards will initially increase demand for MEP support but these will quickly become the norm. Our ethos is to consider the long-term view and work towards the greater good, maintaining momentum in the right direction and supporting a consistently higher standard. We always advise and aim for certified projects in hope of influencing a high-quality construction build which demonstrates very little difference between design simulation and in use energy consumption. Training all our engineers in Passivhaus principles has helped them understand building physics and means they are becoming more sustainability-focussed MEP designers. A Passivhaus certified building results in ultra-low demand for heating and lighting and is an essential step towards true zero carbon buildings. It allows efficient use of low temperature heating systems such as heat pumps, which in turn removes dependence on gas. Zero carbon also means using electricity that is not generated using gas or other fossil fuels. The next innovation will be to use smart technologies to manage the usage and minimise the local PV generation needed to achieve the ultimate goal of zero carbon emissions, low running cost and a comfortable environment for the end user. For more information about CPW, visit www.cpwp.com
INTERNATIONAL M&E consultancy CPW is celebrating a stellar year with the opening or expansion of four offices, multiple new hires and a companywide rebrand to mark its new strategic direction. The firm, formerly known as Couch Perry Wilkes, has seen significant growth since June 2020 – recruiting 67 people, including 12 apprentices, created a new acoustics department to meet growing demand as well as opened dedicated London and Manchester offices, doubled the Leicester team, and tripled the Bristol office to better serve clients across the regions. The sustainable building services firm has also renewed its commitment to sustainability through its own processes and on projects, pledging to reach net zero by 2035. This is supported by the firm’s ‘charter’ – a commitment to put its five pillars of sustainability, innovation, social value, people, and clients at the heart of all it does. Carl Humpage, director at CPW, said: “We’ve had an incredibly strong year so far, with turnover in excess of 10% over the previous year and a number of successful project tenders for new clients such as the University of Oxford and other prestigious clients. “We are extremely proud of our staff and the support they have provided during the last year – they are true ambassadors of CPW. Therefore, the strength of our people with their experience and expertise as well as our quality services is what defines us, and our new brand – which includes a refreshed brand identity, logo, website, and office fit outs – really reflects this. “We’ve had a fantastic year with a raft of new team members joining us. We’re particularly excited about our apprentices as we’re passionate about training the next generation and offering equal opportunities to all. We have a robust apprenticeship scheme and it’s something we’re looking forward to building upon in this new chapter.” Founded in 1978, CPW works across a wide range of sectors including healthcare, residential, education and more. With a team of more than 280 staff across nine UK regional offices and two international offices in India and Poland, the consultancy has sustainability at its heart and specialises in designing and integrating a full range of energy solutions into existing and new buildings. As a result, CPW has secured a number of important projects including the University of Oxford carbon reduction framework, Cambridge Road Estate regeneration, a project in Kingston Upon Thames and The Island Quarter in Nottingham. This impressive client roster also supports the firm’s mission to build zero-carbon buildings to help create better lives for many generations to come. Carl added: “The rebrand marks a significant milestone in our 43-year history, especially moving away from the full company name of our founders. However, we wanted the name and brand to reflect the modern, sustainability focused, forward-thinking business that we are today. “It also encompasses our aim to deliver truly amazing buildings that minimise their impact on the environment, while improving the lives of those who use them. To do this we have developed five pillars of activity, which are intrinsic to our business: sustainability, innovation, social value, our people, and our clients. “We’re very proud of everything we’ve achieved in the last year and beyond, despite the challenges of lockdown. The entire team is therefore looking forward to this new chapter in our history and building on this rebrand to expand our team and service offering to be the UK’s go-to sustainable M&E firm.” For further information visit www.cpwp.com or follow @CPWengineering on Twitter.
THE Derby branch of national M&E consultancy Couch Perry Wilkes (CPW) has expanded its offering within the city with an exciting new appointment after taking on increased office space. John Rode has joined the team as a senior mechanical engineer following more than nine years’ experience in the industry, including a relocation from Canada. His appointment therefore marks an important step in the Derby office’s growth. The team is based in St Peter’s Churchyard and has taken on the floor above its original space to accommodate current social distancing restrictions as well as future proof its growing team. John said: “I’m delighted to join CPW at such an interesting time. The Derby office is doing incredibly well and expanding despite a challenging year, so I’m looking forward to really getting stuck in! “It’s exciting to be back at a larger company with all the resources and in-house expertise that it offers. I moved to Derby from Bombardier Canada almost six years ago and wanted to remain working in the city. CPW is one of the few national M&E firms with a Derby office so the opportunity to have a greater work/life balance really sealed the deal. “The team is currently working on some exciting projects – such as a number of universities, retail shells, and care homes – and I’m really enjoying the opportunity to contribute on a wide range of developments. It’s also great to get involved at an early stage and see a project from inception to completion.” Craig Waldron, director at CPW, said: “We’re thrilled to welcome John to the Derby team as he brings a wealth of experience and knowledge with him. We’ve got some great schemes at the moment and John’s input will be invaluable. “We’re also very pleased to be taking on a bigger office within Derby city centre. It’s really important to us that we support the city as we’re proud to be part of the professional community. We love our location so it’s great that we’ve been able to expand upstairs! “We’ve got a number of exciting projects in the pipeline such as schemes at Derby City Hospital, the University of Derby and an exciting cutting-edge vertical farming scheme. John’s appointment and our bigger office will really help with the delivery of our developments and deepening our ties with the city.” CPW is a national M&E consultancy, with more than 200 staff across its ten regional offices. The firm specialises in designing and integrating the full range of energy solutions into existing and new buildings by using innovative and contemporary engineering techniques. For further information visit www.cpwp.com or follow @CpwEastMids on Twitter.
12 trainees have started their professional training in a M&E Consultancy in Solihull. Couch Perry Wilkes (CPW) has welcomed the trainees, who will specialise in an array of areas, including mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, lighting, public health and finance. Moreover, they will also have the opportunity to complete industry-recognised qualifications, as well as receive in-house mentoring from the firm’s experienced team. “I really enjoyed studying lighting within an interior design module as part of my course so I was particularly interested in the opportunity of a trainee role at CPW advertised through my university,” said Danielle Smith, the firm’s new trainee lighting designer, who recently graduated from Birmingham City University with a degree in textiles design. “Lighting design takes my existing skillset one step further as you have to ensure the end product not only looks great but is also functional and viable. Bringing my creativity into an engineering world gives a fresh perspective which I think CPW really like. “We’ve learnt so much already on the training programme. I have been on site visiting projects and speaking to clients, which has been brilliant. Engineering isn’t very well promoted to women which needs to change as it’s definitely not just a man’s industry – so far I’ve loved every second,” she added. The Director at CPW, Wayne Eustace, also commented on the company’s commitment to supporting the youth in the industry. “”We pride ourselves in being ahead of the curve in supporting the next generation of engineers, offering traineeships, apprenticeships and vocational training as well as offering mentoring opportunities throughout colleges and universities across the country.” “Many of our past trainees have achieved high grades in their qualifications, which really highlights how much of an impact mentoring can have on young engineers throughout their academic studies,” Wayne concluded.
Nottingham Trent University has unveiled their completed multi-million-pound science facility. The Interdisciplinary Science and Technology Center, or ISTeC, is facility that is located at the University’s Clifton campus and will offer state-of-the-art facilities for undergraduate and postgraduate students as well as other research scientists. The new two-storey building has been designed to feature laboratories to be used for bioscience as well as computer science, mathematics, physics, chemistry, robotics, sport science and engineering. The newly built facility also has a specialist robot arena that can be used for the research of humanoid and other robots as well as testing suites for exercise, food and nutrition. The M&E consultancy company, Couch Perry Wilkes has been acting as the lead designer of this project while also working as the mechanical and electrical engineering design consultants. Maber architects was appointed to design the building. The Science and Technology Centre constructed at Nottingham Trent University has been constructed in order to help students improve their practical skills while also helping to improve their knowledge of the workplace while working to bring together STEM subjects, that can lead to collaboration and learning in these different disciplines encouraged. Nottingham Trent University have received £5 million in funding towards the costs of this building project from the Higher Education Funding Council for England. This funding has been granted in recognition of the importance of teaching and learning with in STEM subjects. These new facilities are an important development for the University’s school of Science and Technology as it will supply state of the art facilities to help with project based learning in order to help to excite and challenge students in order to better prepare them for jobs in science and technology. The newly constructed building has been officially opened by Dame Judith Hackitt DBE, the former chair of the UK Health and Safety Executive. Dame Judith is also the current chair of the Engineering Employers Federation.
