Insulate Magazine Issue 11

www.insulatenetwork.com
Design for Energy Efficiency
approach. The planning departments which fall under
the London plan can then dictate if they choose to,
reductions through the use of renewable technologies
or other polices such as communal heating systems
or the ability to connect to future district heating
schemes.
“Most projects that come to us for sustainability or
energy statements will not initially meet the requirements
outlined in the local planning policies and we
will propose different options on how to comply that
work with the development both practically and financially,”
commented Darren Evans.
Some contractors will want to avoid these policies for
varying reasons, some genuine and some not. In this
case, the approach taken is to try and demonstrate
the reduction through a fabric first approach which is
achievable in some areas but as previously mentioned
in London can be very difficult. It also varies from region
to region as to whether a development meeting
the targets through the building fabric and no renewables
will be approved through planning. However,
more often than not the requirements will be strictly
enforced.
Meeting Energy Targets
With many councils requiring schemes to provide
minimum performance against BREEAM, contractors
are not always up-to-speed on what is required for
this standard and at what stages things need to be
completed. This applies to non-domestic buildings
over 1,000 m2 and the condition is either Very Good
or Excellent and that is what needs to be met.
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