Energy, Sustainability and Carbon – Page 13

Embodied carbon and the retrofit against demolition case

Demolition is now a policy question in a growing number of authorities. The answer is a documented options appraisal with whole life carbon results on one study period, not an assertion that the building is beyond repair.

EPC ratings in planning: where they count

The certificate is a cost-based rating for a standard occupancy, not a measure of energy use or carbon. It still governs whether a converted flat can lawfully be let, so model the band at design stage.

District heating connection policies and what they require

Heat network policies commit a scheme to plant space, a safeguarded pipe route and a hydraulic design that a future network can serve. Here is what councils expect as evidence, and how to negotiate the obligation.

Carbon offset payments and how councils calculate them

Residual regulated emissions multiplied by an assumed period and a locally set price per tonne. Only the first of those three numbers is within a developer's control.

Energy statements for change of use and conversions

Local plan carbon targets are written for new build. On a conversion, the Building Regulations obligations, feasible fabric measures and the overheating case are what matter.

Solar panels on listed buildings and conservation areas

Panels on a listed building always need listed building consent. On an unlisted house in a conservation area roof panels are usually permitted development, but walls fronting a highway are not.

BREEAM pre-assessment at planning: which credits matter

A BREEAM pre-assessment is a licensed assessor's estimate that the scheme as drawn can hit the required rating. Several credits are locked by the planning drawings and cannot be recovered later.

Part O overheating against CIBSE TM59 in planning

The decisions that decide Part O compliance are made when the elevations are drawn. Here are the two compliance routes, the modelling criteria and the noise conflict on urban sites.

Circular economy statements and what they require

Material flows, not principles. Here is what a Circular Economy Statement has to demonstrate, how the bill of materials is built, and how it differs from a site waste plan.

Whole life carbon assessment scope under the RICS standard

Upfront, embodied and whole life carbon are three different totals. Here is how the RICS standard scopes them, and the four alignment errors that get assessments sent back.

Designing now for the Future Homes Standard

The Future Homes Standard changes the heating and fabric decisions taken years before completion. Here is what to lock in now and what to leave flexible.

How the Part L 2021 uplift changed planning energy statements

A percentage improvement over Building Regulations means nothing without saying which edition. Here is what the 2021 uplift changed and how to restate an older policy target.

Energy statements for minor residential schemes

Small residential schemes are increasingly asked for an energy statement at validation. Here is what the document has to prove, and how to write it from SAP output.