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comfort and air quality. Similarly, realising the challenges posed by Passivhaus, the Association for Environment Conscious Building (AECB) has introduced the CarbonLite standard, which bridges the gap between Passivhaus and current Building Regulations. This standard still uses the same Passivhaus Institute assessment tool (PHPP), the same calculation methods, and still has rigorous quality assurance, but has less onerous demands in terms of heating and primary energy and airtightness.
The Penicuik High School retrofi t had an operational energy target of 67 kWh /m2
achieve Passivhaus status, or for buildings where it simply doesn’t suit, that doesn’t mean settling for mediocrity. Aiming for a less stringent certifi cation that still far exceeds building standards is a no-brainer. We recently designed a sustainable strategy for the reuse and retrofi t of Penicuik High School – a 1930s energy- hungry school building in Midlothian, south of Edinburgh. The project will transform the school into an inclusive, energy-effi cient learning environment for over 900 pupils. Its new three-storey extension will enhance capacity and double the support space for students with additional support needs. The client’s key aspiration is to create a school designed in line with Scottish Futures Trust’s Learning Estate Investment Programme (LEIP) – setting an operational energy target of 67 kWh/m2
per annum for
‘core areas’ and ‘core hours.’ Key retrofi t measures include a combination of Crittall triple glazed windows and Passivhaus certifi ed windows, enhanced insulation, MVHR units, and the most effi cient solution for domestic hot water provision. Overall, our approach is expected to reduce energy usage by at least 60%, regardless of fuel source.
Adapting historic buildings like this one to meet modern sustainability standards can be challenging, but LEIP recognises this by setting its energy target on a sliding scale.
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Its approach of focusing on total energy demand promotes an effi cient design fi rst, before applying other cost effective and carbon saving solutions such as heat pumps and PV panels. Tackling the existing building stock plays a crucial role in safeguarding the future of our communities and the planet. Rather than stray away from these challenges, architects must embrace and fi nd creative ways to navigate them to put the right methods in place.
Our approach to Penicuik High School demonstrates how combining thoughtful energy-effi cient design and retrofi tting can deliver meaningful impact. While not every project can incorporate all these approaches, even small steps can contribute to creating more sustainable spaces. There are a range of credible, affordable, and achievable alternative standards that still deliver substantial energy effi ciency improvements. The key lies in assessing each project individually in order to identify the right standard. For instance, the Passivhaus Institute (PHI) Low Energy Building Standard, mirrors the core requirements of Passivhaus, and offers the same quality assurance, but offers more leeway on energy usage. This makes it a practical alternative that doesn’t mean sacrifi cing the benefi ts of high-performance design, such as excellent
CarbonLite provides a robust framework for sustainable construction, enabling clients to contribute to the net zero mission without the heavier burden of Passivhaus certifi cation. The model works particularly well for retrofi t projects, as it allows a staged approach. This might begin with upgrading to a clean heating system, with more costly adaptations, such as improved insulation, planned in for a later date. At the beginning of every project, we’ll present these options to our clients to help align targets with their aspiration, but the beauty is they don’t need to decide at the outset. We can work with them throughout the design process to help them choose what works best.
The choice between Passivhaus, AECB, or another certifi cation isn’t about ticking boxes; it’s about making real strides toward energy-effi cient design. As designers, that’s something we should all be aspiring to. Holmes Miller recently launched a revised sustainability charter, and as part of this we’ve adapted our approach to embed low carbon design into the bedrock of every project, whether it’s aiming for Passivhaus certifi cation or not. Passivhaus principles guide our design process from the ground up, with aspects such as compact form, optimised glazing and shading, and low energy equipment placed at the top of our priority list to ensure we’re driving better effi ciency across all our buildings. Passivhaus may be considered the jewel in the crown of sustainable design, but if we really want to improve the way we build, educating clients on the spectrum of options available to them is crucial. It’s always better to do something than nothing, and sustainable design doesn’t have to be an all-or-nothing approach. It’s about taking realistic, incremental steps to make every building better – and in the fi ght for a greener, happier, and healthier future, every step counts.
ADF MARCH 2025
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