Latest news with #Passivhaus
The Guardian
25-05-2025
- Business
- The Guardian
The pros and cons of Passivhaus buildings
Regarding Adrian Birch's letter (Britain should adopt the Passivhaus standard to cut energy costs in new homes, 21 May), we have been attempting to build a Passivhaus standard home. However, we cannot justify building to that standard because the cost has risen over the past two years to £3,800 per sq metre for a 165-sq-metre timber-frame build. Obviously, if the nation's housebuilding companies did try to build to Passivhaus standard, the costs would be less due to economies of scale but, given their constant complaining that they cannot afford to do so, and our government's refusal to stipulate higher environmental standards, it seems highly unlikely that they will try to future-proof their often poorly built and designed homes. As for our desperately needed social homes, if building costs remain as high, how many will be able to be built to a Passivhaus standard? After extensive revisions to our plans, we are getting closer to building an energy-efficient home that incorporates many of the Passivhaus features, but at a lower cost and, potentially, a lower energy performance certificate score. Passivhaus standard should be the future for British housebuilding, but not at current price and Jane HillPerth Over 15 years ago as one of the trustees overseeing the renovation of the Mildmay Community Centre in north London, we went for the Passivhaus standard of serious insulation, solar panels and ground-source heating. Despite considerable opposition at the time, the building was the first retrofitted Passivhaus standard community centre in England. It is warm, beautiful and efficient. Passivhaus is a long established standard in Germany, and could and should be adopted in the UK for new builds. But as anyone can see if they visit our community centre, it is also perfect and appropriate for retrofitting old LittlewoodLondon Have an opinion on anything you've read in the Guardian today? Please email us your letter and it will be considered for publication in our letters section.
The Guardian
21-05-2025
- General
- The Guardian
Britain should adopt the Passivhaus standard to cut energy costs in new homes
Regarding your article (Poor building standards add £1,000 to energy bills of new homes, analysis finds, 16 May), the solution is very simple: the government should adopt the Passivhaus standard that has been established in Germany for over 25 years. Its use there results in buildings with little or no heating requirements as the buildings are super-insulated and extremely airtight, and have mechanical ventilation and heat reclaim systems to distribute filtered air throughout the property. This can obviate the need for solar panels and heat pumps, which have a lifespan of around 25 years. However, housebuilders in the UK do not yet have the desire to build houses this way as it requires site staff be motivated to build in a way that prevents air leakage and to care about build quality, something that is sorely lacking here. The higher build cost for the fabric would be offset by the absence or reduction in the cost of heating installation. We have yet to see how the future homes standard will compare, but I for one am not holding my BirchBrockweir, Gloucestershire Have an opinion on anything you've read in the Guardian today? Please email us your letter and it will be considered for publication in our letters section.
Times
19-05-2025
- Business
- Times
Barratt to build Passivhaus homes for the masses
Think Passivhaus is only for the rich? Fewer than 2,500 homes in Britain have met this standard, which is seen as the pinnacle of sustainable design around the world. Now Britain's biggest housebuilder is going to bring it to the mass market: Barratt plans to build all its flats in London to Passivhaus standards. The developer's new Lo-E homes will be super airtight with triple glazing. Each flat will have its own heat pump that can also cool in a heatwave. Residents will save as much as 60 per cent on their heating bills, compared with typical new-build flats with shared district heat networks, according to the developer. It will be the biggest Passivhaus rollout in Britain, with thousands of new homes certified to the
Belfast Telegraph
15-05-2025
- Business
- Belfast Telegraph
RPP Architects expands team as it heads towards 50 years in business
the UK. The practice, led by directors, Harry McConnell, Peter McGirr and Simon Robinson, has appointed five new associate directors from its current team, to focus on key areas of business and to support our clients. The practice is very fortunate to have talented and enthusiastic professionals leading and rising through the business. Some of the practice's recent projects include the new Student Centre for Queen's University Belfast, Belfast Film Studios, Grand Central Hotel and most recently the new Grand Central Station. The practice continues its current commitment to the social housing sector in Ireland and several student residential schemes including Ireland's first Passivhaus student accommodation, which incorporates 459 bedrooms over 17 floors. In the UK, the practice's focus is on the transport and hospitality markets, and they are actively delivering significant projects within these sectors. Paul Donnelly, associate director, housing Paul has over 25 years' experience as an architect and specialises in private and social residential development. Paul is highly experienced in the procurement, contract administration and project management. Andrew Hair, associate director, commercial Andrew provides and manages client interface and design delivery for the practice's retail clients. He has developed expertise in energy efficient design and sustainability and holds the Passivhaus designer accreditation. Paul Toner, associate director, building information management Over the past 10 years Paul has been at the forefront of the practice's development of building information management (BIM). As well as managing this in-house, he now provides the global BIM coordination role for major infrastructure projects. Jonathan McDonald, associate director, transport Jonathan is a very experienced architect acting as the integrated design team lead on several complex transport and infrastructure projects. Philip Murray, associate director, commercial Philip also has many years of experience as a design leader within the practice and has an in-depth technical expertise developed through design leadership in healthcare and technology focused projects. The practice is delighted to be able to have made these appointments, and believes the experience and professionalism of these individuals will be essential for the ongoing development of the business.
Glasgow Times
10-05-2025
- Business
- Glasgow Times
Wheatley Group housing pilot taking place in Glasgow
The new research project, carried out by the Wheatley Group, aims to reduce energy bills and transform social housing construction. The group, in collaboration with MAST Architects and CCG, is conducting a first-of-its-kind trial at the new Shandwick Street development in Easterhouse. (Image: Supplied) Read more: Wheatley Group staff become mentors for MCR Pathways The trial involves six newly built homes, each designed, constructed, and insulated using different technology methods. The energy consumption and efficiency of these homes will be monitored over the course of a year to determine if they meet or exceed current Passivhaus standards. The results of this study will be used to help create new housing regulatory standards in Scotland. Lindsay Lauder, director of development and regeneration at Wheatley Group, said: "As the largest provider of social housing in Scotland, we have an important role to play exploring new thinking and technology to address the issue of rising fuel bills. "Each of the six properties in the research have received unique enhancements, including upgraded fabrics for insulation, enhanced levels of airtightness, and a reduction in the levels of non-repeat thermal bridging." The Scottish Government plans to introduce a Scottish equivalent to the Passivhaus standard, an international energy performance standard for buildings. (Image: Supplied) The Wheatley Group, which manages over 64,000 homes for social rent, was named the UK's biggest builder of social housing in 2024. The group and MAST Architects commissioned Dr Richard Atkins, an environmental and sustainability architect, to create a report detailing the technical standards applied to the six homes. Dr Atkins said: "The intention is that a rigorous quality assurance process is carried out during construction of the blocks, like those undertaken on Passivhaus projects, to ensure the houses are constructed as designed. "This will ensure the performance gap, which often exists between buildings as designed and constructed, is minimised and to also understand any additional requirements this poses on the project team." The six new homes are part of a larger new-build development in Easterhouse, which includes 47 new two-storey houses and cottage flats built for Wheatley Homes Glasgow, part of the Wheatley Group, for social rent. Read more: Plans for 29 affordable homes in Glasgow submitted Construction of the pilot houses was completed in March 2025. David Wylie, CCG managing director, said: "With a focus on a just net zero transition and the potential introduction of the Scottish Passivhaus Equivalent, this research is incredibly important to understanding how enhanced building standards can be practically delivered at scale, while continuing to address localised housing needs. "We share Wheatley's enthusiasm and foresight and look forward to working with them and MAST Architects in the months ahead.'
