Hodkinson Consultancy compete in annual charity football tournament
Posted on October 18th 2018
Hodkinson Consultancy took part in the Annual Berkeley Foundation 5-a-side football tournament in September to raise funds for Demelza Hospice Care for Children, for which a total of £42,900 was raised. Demelza Hospice Care for Children provides vital care and support to young people across the South East who may not live a long or full life. They provide compassionate …
Underfloor Heating for District Heating Efficiency to give lower heat charges
Posted on September 14th 2018
Specification of underfloor heating in flats can reduce network heat losses by around 20% and in doing so reduce corridor overheating and resident heat bills. Underfloor heating has benefits not just for thermal comfort, but also for the efficiency of the Heat Network. As recommended by the CIBSE Heat Networks Code of Practice, for increased efficiency the district heating system …
Carhartt – A Project Success in Kings Cross
Posted on September 14th 2018
We are pleased to announce that the new Carhartt Work In Progress (WIP) store is now open, the store has achieved a BREEAM Refurbishment and Fit Out rating of ‘Very Good’. The iconic US clothing and accessories brand can be found on King’s Cross Boulevard, just moments from the main station entrance in the largest area of urban redevelopment in …
Improvements to BRE’s Home Quality Mark ONE Scheme
Posted on September 14th 2018
BRE have recently revamped their HQM standard for new homes, now known as the HQM ONE scheme version. In response to recent consultation, BRE have updated the scheme to recognise homes with improved quality. We’re providing CPD presentations to keep our clients up-to-speed with the latest changes. We’re also developing forward-thinking HQM strategies with bespoke Pre-Assessments, to ensure early credits …
To Regulate or Not to Regulate? UK Heat Networks
Posted on August 21st 2018
There are calls for the UK’s Heat Networks to be formally regulated. The Competition & Markets Authority (CMA) have reported on how the market might look in the future and identified key drivers and trends in the industry. These include identifying Ofgem as a suitable regulator, assessing the need for greater consumer protection and developing a suitable framework for market …
How Noise Mapping Can Help Develop an Overheating Strategy
Posted on August 21st 2018
Both acoustics and overheating design should be considered together, and an integrated solution provided. Noise Maps of a proposed site and surrounding areas can be produced by measuring the long term averaged sound levels. Contour lines can then be used to provide a clear picture depicting how the development will be affected by various noise sources. This allows us to …
Designing for Health, Wellbeing and Productivity
Posted on August 21st 2018
We can carry out BREEAM and WELL assessments in tandem to ensure the highest quality sustainable development which focus not only on energy and environmental sustainability but human and social aspects too. Our team of BREEAM and WELL APs are experts in harmonising evidence and identifying opportunities to streamline the process of achieving dual certification. Launched in October 2014 after …
Revised NPPF: Key Sustainability Factors
Posted on August 21st 2018
The final version of the revised National Planning Policy Framework was formally published on the 24th July 2018. Our review of the new document has identified the following key sustainability themes: Flexibility with daylight and sunlight standards – the updated document states that local plans should optimise the use of land through the use of minimum density standards. To ensure …
Acoustic Considerations in Ventilation Strategies
Posted on July 17th 2018
When designing a building in a noisy environment the answer is often to design the building with windows closed and mechanical ventilation. However, perversely noise can be created from the ventilation systems if not designed appropriately. To ensure the ventilation system does not create unwanted noise levels the system should be designed to ensure the fans are the correct size …
How we think the Heat Network CoP could be Improved
Posted on July 17th 2018
The “Heat Networks Code of Practice” for the UK, a guide produced by Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers in association with the Association for Decentralised Energy, has been, since its publishing in June 2015, the go-to document for consultants when advising clients on all things District Heating. The guide does a terrific job in raising issues and considerations that …