Design Buy Build Issue 19 2016 | Page 8

How Has The Consultancy Demanstrated Problem-Solving Skills From Which The Wider Industry Can Draw Lessons? In order to achieve annual energy costs of £15 per annum and a CO2 output of just 11Kg all aspect of the design had to be fully considered from the earliest stage. Our involvement did not stop at the building fabric, but included all aspects of the design of the site, orientation, service provision and even in the choice of low carbon energy supplier. High performance buildings are not achieved by a single strategic decision; they are accomplished most economically when all the design thinking is used to work together to provide a homogenous outcome. This house has been designed to prove the case that it is possible to build a high performance home at a competitive cost; but it also shows that the owners do not have to significantly change their lifestyles in order to live in such a building. This house is flexible, comfortable, it has high quality design features and includes the spaces and volumes which many modern homes omit. Yet it is eminently affordable. It was also easy to build. Any small house builder could construct a house like this with very little extra skill being required. 8 Care is needed in relation to the air tightness, but thin joint blockwork makes this relatively easy to accomplish. How Has The Consultancy Used New Technology In A Way In Which The Wider Industry Can Draw Lessons? Once again every aspect had to be considered to accomplish this level of performance within the budget. While not complying with every aspect of Passivhaus, the concept was used as the background to the design. Then using sun path studies, plan and sectional orientation, shading of soffits and minor optimisation of the immediate microclimate along with technological devices the scheme was improved within the budget.