Hackbridge Primary is the first Passivhaus Plus-certified school, setting a new standard for sustainable design and operational efficiency. Andy Pearson talks to members of the project team about the award-winning scheme
Author: mollytooherrudd
Putting people first: lighting for wellbeing
Cutting carbon shouldn’t be at the expense of occupants’ wellbeing, says Whitecroft Lighting’s Tim Bowes
Keeping fit with less energy: Ravelin Sports Centre
Designers behind the Ravelin Sports Centre have crunched its energy-use numbers down to an impressive 87kWh·m-2 per year, less than half that required to achieve a DEC ‘A’ rating. Andy Pearson discovers how an innovative mix of passive and active technologies produced a sector-leading building that won a CIBSE Building Performance Award
Greater expectations: surveying occupants at CIBSE HQ
A survey of occupants at CIBSE’s Balham headquarters reveals that visitors and staff disliked the indoor environmental quality, but appreciated the collaborative nature of the space. David Fitzpatrick reports on the results and explains how they will be used when considering a new HQ
Lessons in heat pump optimisation
Decarbonising heat in existing schools is vital to UK net zero targets, but optimal heat pump efficiency is not always straightforward. Baxi’s Andy Green discusses lessons learned from decarbonising three swimming pool buildings for a multi-academy trust
Plantroom pioneer: CIBSE Engineer of the Year Phil Draper
Phil Draper has been pioneering heat pump retrofits in commercial buildings since 2012 and has now been recognised as CIBSE’s Engineer of the Year. Andy Pearson finds out what the industry can learn from his innovative and collaborative approach
Why embodied carbon must be regulated
Embodied carbon makes up 80% of total emissions in buildings, says Anastasia Mylona
Sustainable cooling in a warming world
As carbon emissions from cooling spiral upwards, Professor Graeme Maidment reveals the latest research underpinning government strategy on air conditioning and refrigeration
High fives for Highline 235: CIBSE award-winning fan coil unit
The Diffusion Highline 235 modular fan coil range won CIBSE’s Product or Innovation of the Year – Thermal Comfort award because of the emphasis on minimising embodied carbon, as well as optimising performance
Science in the city: the challenge of retrofitting labs
Empty retail space in the UK is attracting the attention of the booming life sciences sector. Cundall’s Rob van Zyl looks at the trend for retrofitting laboratories and, in particular, the challenge of ventilating them in built-up areas