Making Code and comfort compatible with Stroma
With Housing Associations required to build to ever more stringent regulations under the Code for Sustainable Homes, the primary concern is that - following increased effort and expenditure in reaching the specified level - the finished product will be unattractive to potential occupants. Stroma explains how a co-ordinated approach to Code compliance makes it possible to build properties which, though sustainable, do not force inhabitants to give up their creature comforts.
Sustainable housing is becoming more and more of a priority for the Government, evident in the implementation of mandatory code level 3 for social housing in April 2008. Unfortunately, it has yet to become a priority for occupants; in the private sector, a Code for Sustainable Homes rating is not generally a selling feature of a property. Caught in the middle of this are Housing Associations, obliged to build to rigorous criteria to produce social housing which is ultimately unattractive to the potential occupant. After all, why would they welcome an eco-friendly home, with its ingrained connotations of reduced comfort and luxury?
It is becoming all too apparent that those who strive to save energy and develop their environmental awareness are in the minority. Worryingly, many still refuse to even believe in the need to reduce energy consumption. As a result, when it comes to promoting a house that delivers high levels of efficiency but is thought to demand a compromise in the standard of living on the part of the inhabitant, it is hardly surprising it does not have people rushing all at once.
As a result, Housing Associations are met with a double challenge: to achieve the Code level efficiently and cost-effectively whilst, at the same time, delivering properties which, though sustainable, do not sacrifice occupier comfort. If houses are built which meet specific Code levels but are uncomfortable to live in, occupants will make changes, such as removing low-flow shower heads and aerated taps. This will in turn affect the Code rating and all additional effort and expenditure on the part of the Housing Association during the construction process will have been in vain.
Stroma, however, insists that, with a co-ordinated approach, compliant yet comfortable properties are easily achieved. RIBA Chartered Practice Stroma Design insist that the Code should not be deemed an overwhelming obstacle; rather it should be seen as an opportunity for innovative design and the employment of high-efficiency renewable technologies. Correctly implemented, these measures can result in buildings which reach the specified Code rating cost-effectively without compromising on comfort.
The two companies often work in conjunction with each other on a project; Stroma Design has extensive experience in the provision of Code for Sustainable Homes assessments and advice and can implement a coherent energy and sustainability strategy from the outset. Meanwhile, Stroma LZC can identify and deliver the most appropriate and economical renewable energy system for the development in question.
It is essential to consider the incorporation of renewable energy products during the architectural process. After all, with new products appearing on the market thick and fast - each more innovative and efficient than the former - architects may not be familiar with the system which could prove the most suitable. Other potential problems include the architect accidentally designing in a way which ultimately constrains the use of renewable energy products, thus restricting the ability to implement energy-saving measures. For example, in a block of communal flats, the location of the bathrooms alone could be adapted at design stage to accommodate a high temperature air source heat pump, such as the Stroma ICON. This could be done simply and cost-effectively at design stage but may be impossible as a retrofit measure once the bathrooms have been installed. The Stroma ICON ensures fast replenishment rates and high temperatures yet produces 50% fewer emissions than a modern gas boiler. Installing it is therefore a single investment which will both assist with Code compliance and deliver substantial savings to the eventual occupant whilst allowing them to maintain the lifestyle to which they are accustomed.
Ian Watkinson, General Manager of Stroma LZC, explains: 'Stroma LZC’s portfolio of market-leading products is designed to meet even the most rigorous of specifications and allows us to cater for the requirements of any contract, irrespective of type or scale. Liaising closely with other companies in the Stroma Group, we carefully select the highest-performing products to assist with the achievement of energy efficiency targets in the public, commercial and residential sector.'
He continues: 'The issue, however, is that customers are not yet motivated simply to save energy. Many of us like the idea of being eco-friendly, not the reality. As a result, Housing Associations must design houses which meet the Code regulations and ultimately enable the occupant to save energy without even being aware they are doing so. It is this balance which Stroma aims to achieve via our co-ordinated approach to building sustainability and compliance. Engaging one company for all your energy performance needs ensures that no aspect is overlooked and the optimal approach is identified and delivered efficiently and cost-effectively.'
