Smart homes, zero bills: Octopus Energy’s scheme for housebuilders

Octopus Energy is offering a partnership with housebuilders that guarantees zero energy bills for occupiers using its Kraken technology platform. Andy Pearson speaks to Nigel Banks about the company’s first pilot and a 200-home scheme planned with Bellway Homes

Framing finesse: Paddington Square’s innovative façade

The façade at Paddington Square in West London is anything but straightforward. Mace’s Ovi Mazareanu, and WSP’s Michele Sauchelli and Serena Gugliotta, describe how the client’s demand for energy efficiency and performance led to the design team taking a collaborative and innovative approach

Don’t forget the Nabers

In October 2019, the government said it would consult on a scheme to rate commercial and industrial buildings on their actual energy consumption and carbon emissions. Hywel Davies looks at what has happened since

Striving for net zero at Foster+Partners’ Battersea HQ

After metering its Battersea HQ, Foster + Partners found that IT, lighting and small power made up a significant proportion of the energy used in the building. As part of the consultant’s road to net zero, Stuart Humber looked at four options for cutting the energy use intensity of office power

Are EPCs fit for existing hotel building stock?

Legislation is forcing landlords to improve the performance of buildings based on energy performance certificates. REsustain’s Annie Marston compares the actual performance of hotels with their EPCs to understand the most effective improvements

Bundles of energy: the platform approach to decarbonising schools

The Department for Education is exploring how it can apply platform construction principles to create an innovative retrofit solution that can decarbonise schools and colleges, and facilities in other sectors. Andy Pearson reports on the energy pod concept