Are air source heat pumps the only solution?
Posted on July 9th 2020
Air source is not always the best option for Heat Pumps. Although they generally have lower capital costs, other issues such as roof space availability, visual intrusion, noise impacts and cold pluming from the external units can be considerable constraints along with lower carbon performance and higher heat costs to residents. Often through lack of available other options, air source …
Ambient heat network a planning risk in London
Posted on July 9th 2020
Ambient temperature heat networks are increasingly being considered, however, are not recognised to be heat networks by the GLA, thus presenting a planning risk where developments are in heat network priority areas. They designate them as individual heating systems which they say should only be specified where heat networks are determined to be unfeasible – this is unlikely to ever …
Driving concept design to reduce overheating
Posted on July 9th 2020
Addressing overheating early in the design process makes it easier to comply with the increasingly challenging TM59 overheating criteria. Our use of the new Good Homes Alliance (GHA) tool provides an excellent framework for doing so. Understanding the site context that surrounds the proposed buildings is important as much as the dwelling characteristics. Considering the use of light coloured surfaces …
How to approach the new London Whole Life Carbon policy
Posted on May 14th 2020
Obtaining planning consent in London now requires addressing Whole Life-Cycle Carbon (WLCC) emissions. Here we explain our approach to this now and how it may evolve in the future. At present, WLCC emission assessments are undertaken for BREEAM purposes and for general understanding of a building’s embodied carbon content However, the Draft London Plan, once adopted, will require improvements to …
We are moving office
Posted on May 14th 2020
After almost 6 years based in Harrow we are moving to a new canal-side office in Rickmansworth. We are excited for the opportunities the new office brings in terms of providing a high-quality space in comfortable surroundings whilst retaining excellent transport links to central London and further afield. With excellent natural daylighting, efficient modern building services and many facilities for …
No Place for SAP 10.1 Factors in New GLA Guidance
Posted on May 14th 2020
Recently released Energy Assessment Guidance from the GLA continues to ‘expect’ applicants to utilise outdated SAP carbon factors that result in significantly higher capital costs to developers. The GLA expect that SAP10.0 CO₂ emission factors are used in planning applications as opposed to the more up to date SAP10.1 CO₂ emission factors. Energy strategies which opt for heat pumps in …
Has the Home Office fallen out of design?
Posted on May 14th 2020
Incorporation of some key design features in new homes can meet the expected aspiration for home-buyers to work from home in a healthy, effective and environmentally friendly manner. Providing for a single home-worker needs the following to be considered and incorporated into designs to improve wellbeing and productivity: Home office space provided in a room other than the kitchen, living …
Benefits of storing solar PV energy thermally
Posted on April 3rd 2020
Connection of PV panels to hot water cylinders in homes will provide benefits in terms of carbon performance as well as reduced resident energy bills. Decarbonisation of the electrical grid is reducing the carbon benefit of installing solar PV on buildings. However, current policy is still encouraging the installation of renewable technologies to help meet carbon reduction targets. As peak …
Hodkinson’s Research Results on Noise Levels with Windows Partially Open
Posted on April 3rd 2020
Our post-completion research demonstrates the significant impact that opening windows even a small amount can have on internal noise levels. Once they are open, increasing the width that the windows are open have an almost imperceptible difference in noise levels, despite offering the potential for a vast improvement in ventilation levels. Balancing window openability for acoustics, ventilation and overheating is …
Hodkinson CPD Webinars
Posted on April 3rd 2020
We are continuing to offer CPD presentations on a variety of topics so please get in touch with one of our team if you would like one on a particular topic. As we all adapt to isolation and home working these will of course be presented online. We hope that these will continue to enlighten and provoke the discussion that …