Sustainability


The potential benefits of greater energy efficiency


Greater energy efficiency is undoubtedly the key to running a care home that is more sustainable in terms of both financial viability and environmental impact, according to Mark Elton, certified Passivhaus architect at Cowan Architects


Care home heating costs can be a big issue, particularly at this time of year. The need for warmth in buildings that may have seen many different incarnations will not have gone unnoticed in the care sector, where heating is one of the single biggest costs to have a significant impact on the bottom line.


In his report ‘Securing Health Returns’, John Holden, director of policy partnership and innovation for NHS England, acknowledges that: “We don’t always have to choose between saving financial resources or protecting the environment – indeed, the most effective investments can often save money, improve health now, and safeguard the environment on which all future health depends. What’s good for the environment, and good for health, can be good for the nation’s finances too.”1 Historically, by far the biggest environmental impact any building has over its lifetime is in relation to the energy used to heat or cool the spaces within it.


Cutting down on this energy use should be one of the over-riding considerations in the design of cost-effective, eco- friendly buildings, yet studies have shown that more often than not, so-called ‘low energy buildings’ have failed to deliver on their predicted performance targets.2 In the industry, this is known as the ‘performance gap’. The Passivhaus design standard was developed in Germany some 25 years ago in an attempt to address perceived shortfalls in design, construction quality and modelling information standards. It is now the best researched, most rigorous design and quality assurance standard for buildings that there is.


Passivhaus is a voluntary standard for energy efficiency in a building, which reduces its ecological footprint. It results in ultra-low energy buildings that require little energy for heating or cooling. High levels of thermal insulation mean that inhabitants no longer have to worry about being too hot or too cold at any time of


the year. They enjoy year-round internal comfort for typically 80-90 per cent less heating demand - and therefore cost – than used by conventional new housing.


Reducing heating demand Warmer homes and higher quality ventilation could help address the rise in the number of deaths seen in elderly people during the winter months. In countries such as Belgium, Holland and Germany, it is becoming the norm. Indeed, many European cities now insist on Passivhaus standards for all new buildings whether they are houses, care homes, hospitals, schools, offices or community buildings. While there may be a small percentage increase in build costs, there is likely to be a clear and quantifiable reduction in running costs and an increase in asset value. The secret to achieving such colossal savings lies in the will of the client, the skill of the architect and engineer, the science behind Passivhaus and the craft of the builder. Each Passivhaus design is based on regional weather data so that it can be intrinsically tailored to its locality, the potential heat losses in the design (through walls, floors, roofs, windows) accurately recorded and then matched with the energy input from day-to-day living, solar gains and conventional heating. The design and form of the building facilitates this by orientating towards the sun and conforming to a relatively compact shape.


The big differences in Passivhaus standards focus on five key areas: l the level of thermal insulation l the use of triple glazing with energy efficient framing


l the elimination of cold spots (or thermal bridges)


Passivhaus buildings feature windows oriented to the south 30


l achieving a more air tight shell l the use of ‘heat recovery ventilation’. Passivhaus is all about making a building that is so comfortable to be in that the


www.thecarehomeenvironment.com • March 2020


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