Block Energy Services

After much demand we have decided to assist our clients by offering more services associated with the construction industry. This will ensure a faster speedy service and ultimatley our aim is to provide, as much as physically possible, a one stop shop for our clients. To kick start 2012 we have launched Block Energy Services which adds SAP Calculations, SBEM Calculations, EPC certifcates and much more to our portfolio of services.

Here's a little more about what's coming:-

SAP Calculations – What Are They All About?

A SAP (Standard Assessment Procedure) is a number of calculations, including heat loss through walls, floors, roofs, heating and hot water, lighting etc, works out how energy efficient a dwelling is, showing a scale of 1 to 100 - from poor to excellent.

It is used to demonstrate compliance with Building Regulations Approved Document L1A by comparing the designed Dwelling Emission Rate (DER) with a SAP calculated Target Emission Rate (TER).

SAP 2005 works on a comparison basis that your house design was built to the 2002 Building Regulations, it will now from 2006 and onwards, have to be 20% more efficient.
So, for example, if the house cost £100 per year to run in 2002, in 2006 onwards it will only cost £80 per year to run.

Block Energy Services operate on an ethical basis, drawing on our consultants many years of experience to get the best results for your design. If required, we will advise on the best construction to suit your requirements.

SBEM Calculations – What Are They All About?

SBEM (Simplified Building Energy Model) is a software tool developed by BRE that provides an analysis of a non-domestic building's energy consumption.

SBEM is used for non domestic buildings in support of the National Calculation Methodology (NCM) and the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD).

The tool helps to determine CO2 emission rates for new buildings in compliance with Part L of the Building Regulations (England and Wales) and equivalent Regulations in Scotland, Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland and Jersey. It is also used to generate Energy Performance Certificates for non-domestic buildings in construction, for sale or let.

SBEM was developed by BRE for the Department for Communities and Local Government.

Energy Performance Certificates – What Are They All About?

Energy Performance Certificates and Display Energy Certificates educate the general public and house buyers on the efficiency of the building they are looking to purchase or use. It is now a legal requirement that all new, recently sold and rented commercial and domestic properties have an EPC.



If you know anyone who is looking for the above services or any advice on similar industry related topics then please contact us so that we can direct your query to our specialists.

Zero Carbon Challenge

Zero Carbon Challenge? Architects Are Stepping Up…

The government have laid down a target – zero carbon construction by 2016.

Sounds simple enough but what does zero carbon mean?

The NHBC Foundation says;

“The definition for a ‘zero carbon home’ is still to be set for the purposes of the 2016 ambition, but it is broadly understood to be one with ‘zero net emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2) from all energy use in the home’. This encompasses those energy uses that are currently part of building regulations (space heating, hot water, ventilation and some lighting) as well as all other energy uses such as cooking, TVs, computers and all other appliances. It means that, over a year, there should be no net CO2 emissions resulting from the operation of the home.”

Basically this means that we will start to use zero carbon power generation methods such as wind power, solar power and geothermal power to light and heat our homes and our water.

What does zero carbon construction mean for existing home owners?

Over time existing homes will have the opportunity to be upgraded to start taking advantage of sustainable power sources such as the initiative currently in place regarding solar panels.

What does zero carbon construction mean for future self builders? Will new build homes and self build homes all start to look like Scandinavian eco homes or European PassivHaus constructions?

The government has urged architects to design traditional British style homes, retaining the characteristics that we are used to seeing but embrace the necessary techniques to achieve a zero carbon rating.

“I am clear that the beginning of zero carbon does not need to mean the end of Great British design.”

Embracing the PassivHaus standard requires a change of lifestyle and so may not be practical for all. PassivHaus standards rely on Mechanical Ventilation and Heat Recovery (MVHR) meaning frequent changing of filters, costing time and money.

So the challenge has been thrown down, design Great British zero carbon homes and buildings.

There are exciting times ahead as we embrace low energy and low carbon technologies and maybe we are looking forward to a future where wind turbines become as common place in our gardens as water features are now…

If you have found this post interesting please be sure to use the share buttons bellow to let others in your online community know about it, there's a good chance some of them will find it interesting.

Please also remember you can follow Block Architects on our Facebook Page by clicking here.

Green Roofs - Green Architecture

As Kermit Says ‘It’s Not Easy Being Green’


If you could reduce your heating bills by growing grass on your roof would you? It’s currently not the norm, agreed, and the issue is more of an eco-friendly one than a practical one at the moment but if you were given the option, would you?

Green architecture is a growing trend and homes are being built that take advantage of a wide variety of different techniques that save water, reduce heating bills and save energy. Growing grass on rooftops is one of those techniques.

Simply placing containers on the roof of an office block is currently not accepted as a true green or living roof. Waterproof membrane is required along with an irrigation system, root barrier and drainage layers. It really is a roof covered with proper vegetation.

The benefits of having a green roof are a reduction in heating bills, a reduction in cooling bills, reducing rainwater run off, being able to filter pollutants and carbon dioxide and it creates a natural habitat for birds etc. Another way to create a green roof is to create a pond environment. This can be a good way to treat greywater.

So when we look out from tall office buildings is the sky line going to be dotted with green, lush vegetation? Well more and more this will be the case as more companies decide to reduce bills and their carbon footprint. Are we going to see more house builders using turf instead of tiles? Maybe not.

But more people are deciding to self build and as green techniques to save energy, reduce bills and save water become increasing popular maybe we will see more residential homes with green or living roofs.

For more information on Green Architecture please click here.

Green Architecture and The Passivhaus Standard

In 1991 the first ever dwelling to meet the passivhaus standard was constructed. With energy consumption remaining at less than 10kWh per square metre over a year, energy saving is somewhere in the region of 90% when compared to traditionally built homes. It is no wonder that interest in applying the passivhaus standard is increasing.

The standard was first developed by Prof Bo Adamson and Prof Wolfgang Feist due to the problems of increasing demand for fossil fuels and global warming. A solution was needed for these issues and so the passivhaus standard was born.

The simplicity of the standard is its strength; build a house that has excellent thermal properties, is completely airtight and then ventilate the house mechanically. That is more or less it. Adding further energy efficient systems such as solar panels are entirely optional. Adding rainwater harvesting and greywater recycling to further enhance the green aspects of the build will help to make it more environmentally friendly.

Using this standard, an energy efficient building can be built anywhere…including Antarctica! To gain the thermal properties required by the standard, triple glazing, super insulation and a ground heat exchanger are all important.

Regular testing and user feedback indicates that the interior of a passivhaus does not fall below 16 degrees Celsius even during the coldest winter months and despite a mechanical ventilation system the indoor air quality remained good.

This standard is not only suitable for residential homes but can be used for any building, industrial or commercial, to reduce fuel bills. In the face of climate change this is a massive step in the right direction and there are now examples of passivhaus buildings in every European country as well as the USA, Canada, China, Japan and Australia.

Passivhaus is a global solution to a global issue and is going to become ever more popular. Whilst it is relatively easy to adopt the standard for a new build it is difficult to refurbish a building to the standard without undertaking major works.
However, even when a building is refurbished using “passivhaus-suitable components” but does not meet the necessary criteria to receive certification, the building will still benefit greatly from the use of the energy efficient materials.

It is worth noting that although a passivhaus retrofit may need planning permission, the local planning department should look favourably on the project and your architect will be able to advise you on this.

If you have found this post interesting please use the Facebook, Twitter, Linked In and Share Buttons below to share it with your online community, there's a good chance some of them will find it interesting too. Thank you

Please also remember you can follow Block Architects on our Facebook Page by clicking here.