9.1 Energy Efficiency and Sustainability
In line with our vision, we have developed an energy strategy for our Urban Picturehouse development that is focused on delivering environmentally friendly and cost-effective energy to its future residents as well as seeking to minimise any harmful impacts the development could have on the longer-term environment.
Air Source Heat Pumps
In comparison to the traditional approach of individual systems within dwellings, air source heat pumps offer a robust and cost-effective solution to heating and hot water delivery offering several benefits such as:
- No individual gas boilers in dwellings, reducing risks associated with gas distribution pipework, saving on installation costs and reducing the need for individual flue terminals (with associated plumbing)
- No need for an annual gas safety inspection
- Reduction in operating costs owing to reduced boiler service
- No requirement for meter readings or billing
- Effective integration of low to zero carbon technology
- No gas consumption
Energy Efficient and Sustainability Features
A number of energy efficient and sustainable features have also been adopted across the development, including a highly efficient building fabric incorporating high performance solar glazing and using construction techniques that improved overall air tightness, mechanical ventilation and heat recovery ventilation systems, highly efficiency sanitary ware, and the provision of time and temperature zoning controls. Combined, these will all help to reduce the requirement for heating and heating bills while maintaining the comfort levels expected from a high quality development.
To further aid the efficiency of the apartments, low energy lighting has been used throughout and all appliances that are installed will also be low energy and have at least an energy rating of A and some possibly A++. Whenever replacing appliances please purchase items with the highest energy efficiency rating possible.
All timber used in the construction of the development has been sourced from sustainable sources, please ensure you also buy from sustainable sources whenever purchasing any timber products.
The development also features renewable energy and low carbon sources in the form of photovoltaic panels (PVs) located on the roof of the buildings. The electricity provided by these will be used to power the various electrical appliances such as lighting and the lifts in the common areas which will help to reduce the building’s overall electricity demand, further reducing carbon emissions and at the same time reduce service charges for the residents.
The overall environmental and renewable energy strategy that has been incorporated into the development will help to achieve a 35% reduction in overall CO2 emissions. A 14% reduction has been achieved through excellent building fabric and a further 47% reduction in CO2 emissions is achieved through the incorporation of renewable technologies such as the solar PV systems and air source heat pumps community heating system with boilers and central heat plant generator. This significantly surpasses government requirements for a 40% improvement on the 2010 Building Regulations benchmark.
Permeable paving in the landscaped garden area has been installed as part of the Sustainable Drainage System (SUDS). The idea behind SUDS is to try to replicate natural drainage into the ground using cost effective solutions with low environmental impact. This is to counter the effects of conventional drainage systems that often become overloaded in heavy rain leading to flooding and pollution of the environment. The permeable paving allows surface water from rainfall to drain in a more sustainable manner into an attenuation storage tank below ground from where it is released slowly back into the ground.
Your solicitor will have been given a copy of the Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) for your apartment as part of the documentation we provided to enable legal completion to take place.
Useful Tips
Sustainable buying is a further way that you can help contribute to improving the environment and just making a few small adjustments to what and where you buy could help make a positive impact. The following recommendations will give you some guidance:
- Buy food from local producers – the shorter the distance food has to travel to get to you, the less of an impact it has on the environment.
- Avoid buying disposable items like single-use cameras and batteries.
- Reuse your plastic bags or buy a ‘bag for life’ instead of taking new ones.
- Donate any unwanted items of clothing or furniture to charity shops instead of throwing them out.
- Buy fruit and vegetables that are in season – products that are not usually have to be imported from hundreds of miles away to get to you.
- Buy products with less packaging, or packaging that is easier to recycle, like cardboard or glass.