New Homes
The way we design and build new homes is set to change. A significant update to the Building Regulations Part L came into force in June 2022, as a step towards the introduction of the ‘Future Homes Standard’ in 2025. At this point gas central heating will be phased out in new homes as we make the essential transition to lower carbon forms of heating.
While the Building Regulations set out the minimum standards that our new homes need to meet, a whole range of performance standards can used to guide the specification of new homes. Some such as Passivhaus have existed for many years, while others such as the LETI standard are much newer.
Understanding what these building standards mean, and the benefits they can deliver, is often the first step in defining the best approach to the energy strategy for new development.
Resolution Energy has expertise in supporting regional and national housebuilders, local authorities and housing associations with their approach to meeting higher standards of energy performance for new build homes as well as the requirements of the Building Regulations.
We have experience of undertaking energy modelling to these standards, which can be vital in understanding what they can deliver, as well as the practicalities of building to these standards.
We understand that there will always be competing issues to balance for new build schemes, not least cost. Some clients prefer a more bespoke approach and we have helped to build performance standards tailored to specific sites or the client’s goals.
Building Performance Evaluation
We believe that an essential part of the energy strategy for new homes should be monitoring and evaluation. This can tell us how homes are performing, whether performance targets are being achieved ‘in-use’ and whether the occupants are satisfied with the comfort and running costs of their homes.
An exciting step forward over the last few years has been the development of a number of technologies to allow building performance to be measured in a much less invasive way than was previously possible and at a lower cost.
We can help with monitoring packages as well as post-occupancy evaluation over a range of timeframes. Findings can be fed back into the design process to help refine the approach to designing new homes.
Building performance evaluation
Define objectives & targets
Design & review
Construction
Test & handover
Evaluate performance
Monitor in use