Spring Design’s Post

What do you get if you combine the AECB two tier retrofit approach and ‘Fabric Fifth’ approach to retrofit New Zealand’s houses? If the goal is an affordable, low carbon, healthy and comfortable home based on the home you already have, what do you do as a home owner? With the building code regulating new builds, BRANZ pausing work on retrofits, MBIE BfCC focusing on new builds what do we do with the 60% of homes at 2050 that have already been built to cut emissions from the built environment? Deep retrofit - a study by leading economists concluded deep retrofit is unaffordable in almost all situations. This is consistent with the two EnerPHit projects in New Zealand that cost more than demolishing the houses entirely and building new ones. So, with deep retrofit used for historic buildings and those under conservation protection, the absence of official guidance for improving our existing homes, what is the advice from building professionals? From what I understand (please correct me (kindly) if I’m wrong), the two tier retrofit approach is heat pump first approach which immmediately decarbonises heat and is combined in the initial step with a package of no/little regret retrofit measures along with improved ventilation to deliver the greatest benefit whilst not increasing the running costs (considering the cost of gas is greater than electricity in the UK)…you then look to a second retrofit step or package of improvements when the heat pump comes up for replacement (service life of approx 15 years) when you can then resize the heat pump for the now much improved home…so when comparing NZ with the UK, the cost of grid electricity is half that of the UK and the cost of electricity from rooftop solar being 87% than grid electricity…so, is electrification the gateway drug to retrofits, could we not front load more retrofit improvements compared with the UK and then add more again considering the cost of rooftop solar provided energy? So, the NZ equivalent aporoaxh would be heat pump with rooftop solar led (plus get smart, measure & get comfy from Fabric Fifth) along with more extensive and faster improvement to the existing home (step one) and bring forward step 2 (add batteries from Fabric Fifth). Could we lift many people out of fuel poverty and seriously address the cost of living crisis in New Zealand by developing such an approach. How varied would that guidance be, well, we essentially build timber frame houses on concrete slabs or suspended timber floors… What’s your approach to existing homes in New Zealand? What to you think of a hybrid Fabric Fifth and AECB tiered retrofit approach adapted for NZ? AECB CarbonLite Retrofit: https://lnkd.in/gM8K8QT4 Fabric Fifth article: https://lnkd.in/geBRJs3E Rewiring Aoteoroa: https://lnkd.in/gyQ7Ct-W

🚨 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 Consultation Alert! Scottish Passivhaus equivalent - Stage 1 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🚨   This week the Scottish Government released its Stage 1 Consultation regarding the proposed Scottish Passivhaus equivalent standard.   The purpose of this standard is to continue the Scottish Government’s commitment to its Net Zero goals and to provide ultra low energy, low carbon homes that are built inline with design intent.   The first stage of this process aims to gather industry views on how the Passivhaus standard could be implemented within the Scottish Building Standards. Stage 2 is anticipated in Summer 2025 which will provide further detail about this standard in practice and the performance targets required.   SK/AD supports the Government’s Net Zero goals and look forward to providing our practical feedback in this initial consultation. As designers, Passivhaus consultants and building performance specialists, we understand the challenges faced when achieving such a standard, or it's equivalent, at scale.   You can read more by following the link below:   https://lnkd.in/dsGzBE45   #scotland #passivhaus #energyefficiency #netzero #buildingstandards #buildingperformance

📢 Scottish Passivhaus Consultation: Shaping Scotland’s Building Standards for a Low-Carbon Future The Scottish Government’s proposed Passivhaus Equivalent standard presents a real opportunity to raise the bar for energy and environmental performance in new builds. Our response reflects our belief that independent, performance-focused standards can drive meaningful progress toward Scotland’s Net Zero goals. We support a Passivhaus Equivalent for all new developments, maintaining performance levels while allowing flexibility to ensure this standard works across various project types. By relaxing elements like the airtightness target to 1.0 ACH (as opposed to Passivhaus’s strict 0.6 ACH) and offering flexibility on triple versus double glazing, we believe the standard can become more achievable and effective. This balance between quality and feasibility ensures sustainable practices are accessible to all. We advocate for independent assessors onsite, whose oversight can uphold build quality and ensure projects meet high standards. Tools like PHPP provide robust, user-friendly metrics to assess performance, offering clear and transparent data that can drive improvements in construction. This consultation is an essential step towards smarter regulations that reflect Scotland’s climate needs. We look forward to contributing to this ambitious journey toward a more sustainable built environment. ➡️ Read our full response here: https://lnkd.in/euubSVUa #Passivhaus #LuthsServices ##ScottishPassivhaus #NetZeroScotland #SustainableBuilding #BuildingStandard #ClimateActionScotland #LowEnergyBuildings

ArchitecturePLB are thrilled to announce that The Southbrook Cottages project has officially been completed. The pilot 'Zero Energy' project for Winchester City Council's provides sustainable, low energy affordable housing for those on the local housing register. The scheme is set to be certified as Passivhaus Plus providing thermal and energy benefits directly to the residents. The project is one of the first local authority led Passivhaus Plus projects in the country. Click here to see more: https://lnkd.in/gzgSymTR

ArchitecturePLB are thrilled to announce that The Southbrook Cottages project has officially been completed. The pilot 'Zero Energy' project for Winchester City Council's provides sustainable, low energy affordable housing for those on the local housing register. The scheme is set to be certified as Passivhaus Plus providing thermal and energy benefits directly to the residents. The project is one of the first local authority led Passivhaus Plus projects in the country. Click here to see more: https://lnkd.in/gzgSymTR

The UK’s ambitious goal to build 1.5 million homes over the next five years must align with its Net Zero 2050 commitments. The Carbon Trust has emphasised that sustainable house building is critical to meet climate targets 👉 https://lnkd.in/eX3qEj2g The Carbon Trust highlights timber framing as an opportunity reduce emissions during the build process. Why timber frames lead the way: ✅ Low embodied carbon: Timber sequesters carbon, making it one of the most sustainable building materials available. ✅ Modern Methods of Construction (MMC): Prefabricated timber frames enable faster, more efficient builds while reducing on-site waste. ✅ Energy efficiency: Timber’s thermal properties contribute to homes that are easier and cheaper to heat. #TimberFrame #SelfBuild #SustainableBuilding #BuildYourDreams #SustainableConstruction

Market driven mechanisms generally deliver better outcomes for the community. It's pleasing to see people talk about existing dwellings when much of the focus is on new builds. New builds are important, however, the real game changer is improving the thermal efficiency of millions of existing homes. Viridian Glass Australia Australian Glass and Window Association Green Building Council of Australia Energy Efficiency Council Ed Husic MP #todaytomorrowtogether #doubleglazing #windows #australianmade #localmanufacturing

Michael Stephenson of H2ecO, a 21 Degrees company, recently contributed as a panel expert at the “Strategic Energy Decision Making in Historic Country Houses” event at the esteemed Athelhampton House and Gardens near Tolpuddle, Dorset. Mike and his team installed an award-winning ground and air-source heat pump system at Athelhampton House in 2023. The event gathered over 60 historic estate owners and managers. It was hosted by Moulding The Builder one of the South’s leading building firms, a family-owned residential builder specialising in high-end Country House new builds and restoration, and SPASE Design, the lead designers of the decarbonisation initiative “Athelhampton Zero.” The focus was exploring Athelhampton’s transformative energy project, which reduced energy costs from £100,000 annually to just £500 while achieving near-net-zero carbon emissions. This remarkable outcome was made possible through a combination of tailored insulation solutions for the Grade I listed site, a substantial 130kWp solar installation, a 12-unit Tesla Powerwall battery array, and a blend of ground and air-source heat pumps powering the manor house, a rental cottage, and the coach house restaurant and reception area. The event featured presentations from four industry experts and a chairperson with first-hand experience integrating ground-source heating into his Grade I Jacobean property. Attendees gained insight into all aspects of the project, including design, regulatory compliance, operational considerations, technological integration, and funding. Guests were also given a guided tour of the Athelhampton Zero project, where they experienced the technologies in action, including the quiet operation of the ten air-source heat pumps near the “quiet garden,” which comfortably heat the main building and accommodations. The response was overwhelmingly positive, with attendees impressed by the seamless and unobtrusive installation. Since earning the National Energy Efficiency Awards’ Multi-Measure Project of the Year in 2022, the Athelhampton Zero project has garnered accolades, including recognition from RICS, Architects’ Journal, and other prestigious bodies. #architects #countryhouses #energyperformance #energysavings #netzero #energysolutions

🏗️ Building for Tomorrow, Today Last week, we shared some incredible blower door test results for our Ascent and Westbrook projects—proof that Highstreet’s Carbon-free Homes™ are setting new standards in multi-family construction. So what exactly does that mean for the industry?   We’ve been building to Step Code 4—the highest level of the BC Energy Step Code—years ahead of the 2032 legislative requirement. Why? Because it’s the right thing to do. With every project, we refine our processes and improve our training, getting us the results you see today. The trades we work with become more familiar with our drive to change the industry, and with their buy-in and excitement to see change, we see even greater success. For example, the solar panels installed on our Westbrook Community generate enough electricity to offset the annual power consumption of 80 single family homes.   Delivering energy-efficient, high-performance homes isn’t a distant goal for us; it’s how we do business today. For the industry, it’s proof that net-zero energy-ready construction can be achieved without compromise. Demand for these homes keeps growing, and we’re proud to show what’s possible—one Carbon-free Home™ at a time.    To everyone pushing boundaries in construction and design: let’s keep raising the bar. The future of housing is here, and it’s better than ever.   #StepCode4 #NetZeroReady #CarbonFreeHomes #SustainableBuilding #LeadershipInConstruction

Buildings account for nearly 25% of GHG emissions in California and are key to achieving the state’s targets for reducing carbon emissions. At the same time, low-income residents face a disproportionate energy burden, with energy spending up to 3x higher than non-low-income households.   In collaboration with the Association for Energy Affordability, Inc., Integral Group, David Baker Architects, and University of California, Davis, RMI developed a design and installation guide for existing multifamily buildings in California, drawing on insights from pilot projects funded by the California Energy Commission’s EPIC program.    The guide includes detailed design and installation guidelines that integrate innovative building technologies, reduce energy demand, and effectively pair with renewable energy generation. The guide also offers financing strategies, highlighting incentives from the federal Inflation Reduction Act and solutions for gap financing in affordable housing projects.   Download the installation guide to learn more👇 https://lnkd.in/g8yRp8Xz