Energy

The energy used to heat space and water, to light buildings and power appliances accounts for 44% of the carbon dioxide emissions produced in the UK. Energy efficiency and use of renewable energy sources cuts costs and carbon emissions. We strive to minimise use of energy during construction, and to use energy-efficient materials and processes. We can assess and advise on opportunities for generating renewable energy on site, using solar water heating, wind turbines, biomass heating, photovoltaics or ground-source heat pumps.

The highest standards of insulation and draught-proofing ensure that minimal energy is needed to heat a building, cutting costs and carbon emissions. The better insulated your home or building, the less energy you will need for space heating.

The quality and size of doors and windows, and the building’s ‘airtightness’ affect energy efficiency. If warm air can leak out of gaps in the structure, the building will be less energy efficient.

The movement of air  is generally more important than the temperature in a room. Keeping air moving makes a room more pleasant in warm weather, and cutting drafts makes it feel warmer in cold weather.

There are four main groups of insulation materials:

• Natural insulation (e.g. sheep’s wool, cork, flax).
• Recycled cellulose insulation (e.g. Warmcell – recycled newspapers).
• Mineral insulation (e.g. Rockwool, foamed glass, expanded clay).
• Petrochemical insulation (e.g. Polyurethane, polystyrene).

From an environmental point of view, natural materials are the best and petrochemical materials the worst. Our insulation guidelines give more information.

Renewable souces of energy and efficient use of energy minimise the environmental impact of a building. We can advise on fitting solar and wind harvesting technologies and ground heat extraction systems.

For many buildings, the quickest and easiest way to switch to a renewable source of energy is to install a biomass boiler. Biomass boilers use a non-fossil fuel, usually woodchips or pellets produced as waste by the timber industry.

They are essentially carbon neutral, as the carbon dioxide released by burning them has recently been absorbed from the atmosphere while the trees were growing. There is more about sustainable energy sources in our information sheet on renewable energy.

Solar power technologies fall into two categories: solar-heated water and photovoltaics (to provide a source of electricity). Solar water heating is cheaper and easier to fit than photovoltaics.

Passive heating uses solar heat to warm a building at no cost asnd without using technology. With thoughtful orientation of walls and windows and appropriate materials, natural heat can provide 30% of the building's heating requirement. The building absorbs heat during the day and releases it slowly at night.