Energy Advisory Associates

ENERGY ADVISORY ASSOCIATES -

LIST OF MAIN ENERGY-EFFICIENT AND SOLAR BUILDING PROJECTS

(post 1990 only)

A small timber-frame office building, Birmingham (1991). Four times the normal UK level of insulation; draughtproofing almost to Swedish standards; sunspace in high-performance glazing. Energy-efficient ventilation, lighting and appliances. All building materials chosen for low environmental impact. Energy costs 70% less than a normal building of the same size and function;
A custom-built, superinsulated passive solar house, west London (1987-91). Uses 75% less energy for space heating than if it met the 1990 Building Regulations. The extra cost of the energy efficiency measures was low;
An intensely green and energy-efficient community hall, Loughborough, Leics. (1991). It will use materials with reduced environmental impacts and its long-term energy costs are to be reduced to an absolute minimum;
Energy efficiency improvements to a 40 unit housing association development, north Bucks. (1991-92). These succeeded in reducing subsequent energy costs, without significantly increasing the capital costs;
The highly energy-efficient renovation of two Victorian townhouses, London (1992). They were brought up to the thermal standards of new Danish houses, without changing their external appearance;
Energy-efficient design of a 25-dwelling housing association scheme, north Bucks (1992). The aim was to reduce energy consumption by 30-40%, yet conform to the usual cost yardsticks;
A new custom-built detached house, Charlbury, Oxon. (1992-93). The construction timescale was eight months, yet it incorporated a range of proven energy-efficient and ecologically-sound features. It also had to blend into a conservation area dominated by medieval stone buildings. Energy costs for space and water heating, cooking, lights and appliances together have been reduced by 75%, with no measurable increase in construction cost;
Review of the thermal design of a new earth-sheltered house, Bushey, Herts. (1993). Improvements were made, at no increase in building cost, by eliminating or reducing thermal bridges and by modifying the ventilation system;
Improvements to the thermal design of a new timber-frame house, Isle of Skye (1993). It was modified to conform almost to Scandinavian construction standards, while adding less than 1% to construction costs. Measured energy costs for all purposes are 40% of normal, and LPG use has been cut to 30% of a usual figure;
The Elizabeth Fry Building, Univ. of East Anglia (1992-95). Consumes 65% less energy than normal for a shallow-plan, naturally-ventilated building and 80% less than an air-conditioned buildings. Overall, the best energy performance yet of any major UK non-domestic building, and apparently the only one which has ever met the 1989 Swedish Building Code. Excellent summer comfort, in user surveys, without the need for air conditioning. RIBA Regional Award 1995; Civic Trust Award Commendation 1996;
Conversion of a redundant water tank in north Devon to a highly-insulated, earth-sheltered dwelling, with its own independent electricity supply (1993-2001). A principal design feature is the highly sparing use not only of low temperature heat, but of electricity;
An ecologically-conscious cottage, south Herefordshire (1993-2000). In architectural terms it matches the area’s vernacular. Yet it will use 80% less energy than a conventional new UK house;
A new passive solar house, Lincs. (1993-1999). Extensive passive solar features, plus solar water heating. It should use 75% less space heating energy than a house designed to the minima in the 1995 Building Regulations;
Revisions to the design of a five-unit social housing scheme, Futureworld, Milton Keynes (1993-94). Space heating energy costs should be reduced by 70%, relative to the minimum requirements in the 1995 Building Regulations;
A new farmhouse, Herefordshire (1994). Built largely of reclaimed and locally-quarried stone. High levels of thermal insulation and extensive passive solar features, including enlarged south-facing windows and a triple-height space, with overhead glazing making up a third of the south roof. This glass was specified for maximum visible light transmission, minimum summer solar heat gain and about 20% the heat loss of single glazing. The building uses 75% less space heating energy than normal, and provides high comfort standards throughout the house;
A new house in a small market town in east Sussex (1993-94). Design restricted by unusually rigid planning and building control requirements, and existing foundations, but expected to achieve a 70% reduction in space heating energy use;
A speculative development of 25 timber-frame houses in a small town in south Wales (1994-95). The aim is to match the insulation and air leakage standards which are routinely met in Sweden;
A new detached bungalow, Twyford, Berks. (1994-96). Has a basement and finished loftspace within the thermal envelope, to overcome constraints caused by the small plot and planning restrictions. Employed in situ concrete construction, with an insulated permanent formwork system. Envelope air leakage among the lowest ever recorded for a UK house or other building. Since 1996, its measured energy consumption, for all purposes, is 75% less than the UK norm;
A new headquarters for an environmental organisation, Coalbrookdale, Shropshire (1994-98). Built wholly of timber harvested from forests within 3 km of the site. Designed to be extremely well-insulated and draughtproof, with a Swedish mechanical ventilation & heat recovery system. Measurements 1999-2001 show that the building consumes 80% less energy per m2 than is typical for small, naturally-ventilated UK offices;
A house in a small East Suffolk village (1994-99). In appearance, it matches the local vernacular. However the aim is for it to stay warm and comfortable over an East Anglian winter, while using minimal space heating energy;
A solar house in north Herefordshire (1994-2001). Designed to use no fossil fuel for space heating, involving ultra-high levels of energy efficiency. By utilising solar energy for water heating and electricity generation, and limited tree planting on the site, it will reduce net carbon dioxide emissions to almost zero;
Buildings for a new ‘city farm’, Bath (1998). To be well-insulated and designed to reduce energy costs by around 75%, without additions to initial cost;
New 550 m² house, Aberdeenshire, Scotland (1996). Being designed with a very low demand for space heating energy, despite the cold, cloudy climate;
New housing association development (1996-97). Part of an international project to spread best practice throughout five EU member states;
New commercial offices, Norwich (1997). Despite a tight timescale and a normal construction budget, is hoped to perform similarly well to the Elizabeth Fry Building;
A new school development and refurbishment, south-east London (1997). Advice to the architects and engineers on improvements to thermal insulation continuity and reduction in air leakage;
New college building, Wilts. (1997-98). Designed to similar standards to the Elizabeth Fry Building, albeit with simplifications as appropriate to the very different management regime and pattern of use;
New government buildings, residential type. Costings showed a 14% per year return on investment from an improved thermal envelope combined with simpler space heating and ventilation services. Also offered scope to eliminate the condensation problem in similarly-occupied buildings;
A new house in the conservation area of Ross-on-Wye (1997-2000). Detailed design advice to the architects, with the aim of reaching high energy efficiency levels within the original budget,, and without changing the approved plans;
A stone barn conversion, Skenfrith, Monmouthshire (1998-2000). Incorporated fairly high energy efficiency standards without losing the character of the original building. Measurements 2000-01 show that despite the restrictions and difficulties of conversion work its energy performance is well ahead of new UK housing;
A 22-unit social housing development in York (1999-), of timber-frame construction. Design advice resulted in improved energy efficiency standards at a reduced initial cost versus the initial proposal;
Extension/refurbishment of a listed house and stable block to commercial use, near Tetbury, Glos (1999-2001). Aim is to conform to best practice in energy efficiency and other environmental aspects;
A housing association development near Watford. Intended to meet Scandinavian insulation and air leakage standards, but in conventional masonry construction;
A new headquarters for a financial institution (2001-), aiming to meet international best practice and out-perform earlier UK projects;
Very energy-efficient design for a housing association development in Cheshire (2001-). To act as a prototype for the association’s normal building programme;
Early concept design for a sustainable redevelopment on a site in Hereford (2001-).

NOTES:

A proportion of fees for energy design advice may be reimbursed by the government’s Design Advice Scheme (DAS). Projects should normally have a minimum floor area of 500 m². Please ask for further details.
The duration listed is from the start of the design process to the completion of a scheme. Dashes indicate where they are unfinished.