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Energy Conservation
A Guide for Private Developers

Guidance from Shrewsbury and Atcham Borough Council

This Council encourages developers to utilise more energy efficient construction/materials, at least complying with Part L of the Building Regulations.
Further energy conservation can be made by renewable energy provision (wood, water, wind, sun etc.), use of poor/contaminated ground in preference to good quality open space, more use of tree planting schemes (carbon absorption), use of materials reclamation from builder's waste and the use of recycled building materials (timber, bricks, tiles etc.).
Should developers wish to achieve more ambitious energy saving sustainable construction they can seek further guidance and information from the following:
 
DETR Publications
Eland House, Bressenden Place, London SW1E 5DU
Tel. No. 0207 890 3000
 
BRECSU (Building Research Energy Conservation Support Unit) Publications
Garston, Watford, London WDZ 7JR
Tel. No. 01923 664258 Fax. No. 01923 664787
 
R.I.B.A.
Construction House,
56-64 Leonard St., London EC2A 4LT
Tel. No. 0207 251 7100
Fax. No. 0207 608 2375
 
R.I.C.S.
12 Great George St.,
Parliament Square, London SW1P 3AD
Tel. No. 0207 222 7000
Fax. No. 0207 222 9430
 
C.I.B.S.E.
Delta House, 222 Balham High Rd., London SW12 9BS
Tel. No. 0208 675 5211
Fax. No. 0208 673 3302
 
National Energy Foundation
Energy Efficiency Advice Centre (Telford)
Jubilee House, 74 High St., Madeley, Telford
Tel. No. 0800 512012
 
Marches Energy Agency
The Shirehall, Abbey Foregate, Shrewsbury
Tel. No. 01743 252573

Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions

The following pages form the DETR's initiative for Energy Conservation in this Country and is described under the three main headings of :
 
"Opportunities for Change", "Sustainable Development" and "Sustainable Construction".
 
This is provided as guidance for developers on the intentions and implementation of Energy Conservation in the construction industry.
 
Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions - DETR Initiative
Opportunities for Change

Energy efficiency in buildings

At the Kyoto Conference in December 1997 developed countries agreed to cut their emissions of greenhouse gases by an average of 5.2% in the period 2008 to 2012. This will lead to a real reduction in global emissions levels. The target for the European Union is an 8% reduction, which now needs to be shared out amongst Member States. The UK is likely to achieve more than the average. Domestically the Government has a Manifesto commitment to aim to reduce CO2 emissions to 20% below 1990 levels by 2010. The next step is to deliver these cuts. The Government will publish a consultation paper designed to stimulate an active debate on measures which could be used to meet their climate change targets.
 
In buildings this will be achieved mainly by improved energy efficiency. Energy use in buildings accounts for between 40% and 50% of the UK's emissions of carbon dioxide, with housing contributing half of this 20-30% could be saved through the widespread application of energy efficiency measures which are cost-effective. The means of achieving this are tailored to suit each sector's needs. It is clear that there is a big prize to be had in the building sector. Government Departments must also play their part both as managers of their estates of building stock and as clients of the construction industry.
A comprehensive review of Part L of the Building Regulation (Conservation of Fuel and Power) is underway with the aim of establishing the optimum contribution that the Building Regulations can make to the Government's target for the reduction of carbon dioxide. Building Regulation requirements with regard to energy efficiency currently apply to new buildings and to certain types of alteration work. They provide a potentially powerful means of influencing both the design community and the occupants and managers of buildings. Much can be done to improve the energy efficiency of the existing stock - both housing and non-housing. The Housing Corporation operates energy efficiency standards for new social housing which are higher than those required by building regulations. The Housing Corporation also have a set of energy efficiency standards for rehabilitated dwellings provided by housing associations. The current review of Part L will explore how the Building Regulations might be extended more fully to address refurbishment.
 
Public information and advice programmes include the National Home Energy Rating Scheme, the Environmental Standard and the Government's own Standards Assessment Procedures.
 
The liberalisation of the energy market has led to reductions in energy prices. Although this reduces the direct economic incentive for improving the energy efficiency of the building stock, it is anticipated that increased competition between the providers will lead to a growth in the energy services which they offer customers and that this, in turn, will drive significant improvements in energy efficiency. Sustainable development is best served by an efficient and competitive energy industry.
 
Information, guidance and case studies are promoted through the Government's Energy Efficiency Best Practice Programme, with specific advice available for the time being through the Energy Design Advice Scheme (EDAS). Grants and cashback schemes are available through the Energy Savings Trust (EST) and the Government's Home Energy Efficiency Scheme helps those on low incomes and over 60 to make their homes more energy efficient. Significant improvements can be achieved for relatively low capital outlay. The EST also run energy awareness campaigns and provide advice and information through their Local Energy Advice Centres.
 
The Home Energy Conservation Act requires local authorities with housing responsibilities to identify energy conservation measures for residential accommodation in their area. The Government are also encouraging these authorities to make use of competition to provide energy services for the residents in their area. Initiatives such as the Nottingham Energy Partnership are looking at energy use in a holistic way. The Environmental Task Force, part of the New Deal for the unemployed and youth training, will promote energy efficiency. Local authorities can also make greater use of their capital receipts to encourage energy efficiency in housing projects.
 
New technologies such as photovoltaics and innovative cooling systems could be employed, but are currently little used in buildings in the UK. They need further development and promotion to make them more economical and better understood by building designers and owners.
 
Examples of what has already been achieved:
  • The Northumberland Building at the University of Northumbria is a 1960s building which, when refurbished in the mid 90s, had its facade reskinned. Photovoltaics were integrated in the new cladding, contributing a peak DC daily output of 166kWh, and a peak recorded DC power of 39kW.
  • In their design of a 4,750m2 business park development at Daxford, David Lloyd Jones Associates expect to reduce annual electricity consumption by 30% by installing a photovoltaic array on 72% of a south facing facade.
  • Dr Sue Roaf has integrated 30m2 of roof mounted photovoltaic panels into the design of her house. This provides electricity to power an electric car and meet part of her domestic electricity requirements.

Use of water in buildings

The UK uses some 20 billion litres of water every day. Effective measures for reducing demand include providing information to industry on what constitutes best practice in water management, developing and promoting the use of water efficient appliances such as low flush WCs, and developing ways of safely using grey water for non-drinking purposes.
 
Note: Grey water is water from buildings which can be re-used. Light grey water is rain water collected from roofs and used for toilet flushing and non-drinking water applications. Darker grey water is from sinks and baths which can be used for watering plants but would require extensive processing for other uses.

Environmental labelling

Environmental labels can be helpful in raising awareness of environmental issues among clients and designers and in creating a market for environmentally benign products and buildings. Although energy labels for domestic buildings are already incorporated in Building Regulations, labelling schemes covering a broader range of environmental issues, such as Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method (BREEAM), are voluntary at present. The eco-labelling of products and materials has been relatively successful in other countries such as Germany. Government has supported the development of European Ecolabels, but these have so far proved difficult to implement.
 
Ecolabelling, and environmental labelling for buildings including housing, will only work where there is an environmentally concerned clientele. Education, advice and targeted marketing campaigns, can create awareness and a climate for action.

Efficiency, Productivity and Profitability of the Construction Industry and its Clients

Government and industry, through initiatives such as the Construction Task Force led by Sir John Egan, the Government Construction Clients Panel (GCCP), the activities of the Construction Industry Board (CIB), the Construction Clients Forum (CCF), the other CIB umbrella organisations and the Construction Round Table, are seeking to bring about changes in the processes of construction to improve quality, competitiveness and profitability and to increase value for clients. These objectives are also key economic components of achieving greater sustainability in construction.
 
The Construction Task Force is considering how radical improvements in the industry's performance and efficiency can be achieved by, for example, integrating the whole construction team and targeting the elimination of waste of both time and materials. Improvements will not only result in economic benefits for construction organisations, they will bring better value from construction for the whole community, more careful husbanding of resources and greater protection of the environment. Parallel ideas were included in Sir Michael Latham's report "Constructing the Team" and are currently being implemented by the CIB.

Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions - DETR Initiative
Sustainable Development

The Wider Context

The concept of sustainable development outlined in "Opportunities for Change" included four main strands:
  • Social progress which recognises the needs of everyone
  • Effective protection of the environment
  • Prudent use of natural resources
Maintenance of high and stable level of economic growth and employment
It will be noted that there is a close link between sustainability, efficiency and competitiveness.
 
All buildings, including houses, hospitals, schools, offices and factories, and other forms of construction such as civil engineering including infrastructure, must be designed, built, maintained and adapted in ways which meet the many and changing needs of society. They must provide environments in which people live and work enjoyably and efficiently and which encourage working and social communities to flourish.
Buildings and structures change the nature, function and appearance of town and country alike. They consume energy in their operation and in the extraction and preparation of materials, and they generate waste and pollution. They have a significant impact on the use of non-renewable resources. Landscaping can add significantly to the quality of the built environment, benefit wildlife and provide an opportunity to use plants of biodiversity interest and local provenance.
 
The construction industry in the United Kingdom consumes around 6 tonnes of material per person per year. The potential savings from reducing consumption and increasing the re-use and recycling of materials are on a scale which could contribute significantly to national objectives for sustainable development.
 
Construction is also a major sector of the national economy. It account for some 8% of Gross Domestic Product and has an annual output of £58 billion. It provides employment for some 1.4 million people. Of the total annual output of £58 billion in 1997 (current prices), half was spent on repair, maintenance and improvement within which nearly £16 billion was spent on existing public and private sector housing. On new work, £8 billion was spent on new public and private housing, over £6 billion on infrastructure, over £7 billion on private commercial and some £3.5 billion on private industrial construction. If this could be spent only 1% more efficiently, then £250 million becomes available for further new construction; and in theory much greater efficiency savings than 1% are available.
 
All sectors of the construction industry therefore can make an important contribution to achieving progress on all the key strands of sustainable development. Everyone associated with these sectors has a part to play in making a reality of the Government's aim to modernise Britain.
  • Clients, financiers, developers and planners are key players in determining what is built, where and when, and which buildings are re-used and which are redeveloped. More frequent demands could be made for construction solutions where consumption and the use of other resources can be minimised over their lifetime.
  • The early involvement of tenants, residents and businesses in project design can lead to significantly better quality capital investment decisions in housing and construction generally.
  • Designers, with the project team, help develop, then interpret, clients' and users' requirements. It is they who determine and influence the solutions adopted.
  • Constructors can plan the construction process more efficiently to eliminate wastage, a theme being actively considered by the Construction Taskforce, and constructors can themselves select sustainable products to use.
  • Materials producers and product manufacturers influence the quality of products, whether they are produced cleanly and efficiently, and whether they are easily maintained and have minimum impact on the environment over their whole life cycle including re-use and final disposal.
  • Occupiers and managers of buildings make important contributions to sustainability through their purchasing decisions, and by ensuring that buildings are used and operated efficiently for the benefit of their occupants and in terms of the quality of the environment, the use of energy and water and waste minimisation.
Sustainable construction is about much more than the fabric of the built environment. Housing and the social, commercial and transport infrastructures around them must all be built in ways that are sustainable in environmental and economic terms. They must also be sustainable in social terms. They must add value to the quality of life for the individual and the community.

Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions - DETR Initiative
Sustainable Construction

BRE's Environmental Building and Recycling

BRE's environmental building incorporates the first demonstration of 100% recycled aggregates in ready mixed concrete in the UK. The building also used 80,000 reclaimed bricks and reclaimed parquet flooring. Prior to construction, a building required demolition. The site clearance contract specified maximum reuse and recycling of materials from the existing building, resulting in 96% reuse of materials.

Rehabilitation of the Existing Stock

It may be more sustainable - in environmental social and economic terms - to make better use of what we already have, by rehabilitation and refurbishment rather than building anew. The creation of sustainable communities, and vital and viable town centres, can be assisted by the conversion of property when that is cost-effective, for example from redundant commercial use to mixed use development. The development of improved construction techniques, processes, materials and components for new build and refurbishment could help to change the balance of decisions on when to replace buildings and infrastructure.