Welcome to the TJA Eco-Centre-our commitment to responsible eco-design for the future….
We are aware it is our profession that sets the trend for delivering architectural solutions that embrace eco friendly technologies. We therefore are 100% committed to producing design that takes into account the environment wherever possible, exploring alternative energy options, recyclable materials and environmentally friendly construction. We take our responsibility for the future very seriously. We have therefore made eco-design high on our agenda and will use this as a vehicle whenever possible.
Why go eco? 
Like other countries in Europe such as Germany and Scandinavia, Wales is now moving forward faster than England in bringing in new planning policy meaning that we are having to embrace a whole new attitude to energy conservation and reduce our carbon footprint. Buildings are one of the major contributors to CO2 ommissions and it is now the main thrust of the planning agenda to design more eco friendly buildings.
Also people are now far more eco conscious and want to do their bit as their utility bills continually rise!
Hence the new Code for Sustainable Homes is now the national standard in place for sustainable design and construction of new homes with the aim of reducing carbon emissions and creating sustainable development.
We have our own in house assessor who can advise on and prepare certified Design Stage and Post Construction Assessments advising you the following design categories of the Code for Sustainable Homes :
- energy
- water
- materials
- surface water run-off
- waste
- pollution
- health and well-being
- management
- ecology
Please see the links below on further detailed guidance on the code:
code-for-sustainable-homes-info
code-for-sustainable-homes-technical-guide
bre-code-for-sustainable-homes-data
Push the green button……
There has never been a better time to invest in some eco updates -so why not ask us for some advice on how to update your home which will save you some money in the long run.
PPW 2010 :Technical Advice Note 22: Sustainable Buildings
This technical guidance is to help local planning authorities and developers to implement the national planning policy on sustainable buildings.
TAN22 provides advice on the national planning policy on sustainable buildings set out in Section 4.11, Chapter 4 of Planning Policy Wales (Edition 2, June 2010).
This guidance provides an introduction to:
- sustainable buildings and the standards of assessment;
- the design solutions that may be used to meet these Standards; and
- further design guidance on delivering low carbon buildings.
It also sets out a ‘Policy Implementation Map’ to guide developers and local planning authorities through the steps necessary.
The TAN also provides guidance for Local Development Plans (LDP).
Please follow the link below which will direct you to Tan 22
See our list of renewable technologies below that are now available to see how you can generate your own energy at home….
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solar thermal panels & Solar electricity (photo voltaics)
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wood burning boiler (Bio-mass)
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ground source heat pump
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air source heat pump wind turbines
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Mechanical ventilation & heat recovery (MVHR)
Solar Panels
People use the term solar panel as a catchall for solar technology. But to get technical, there are several different forms of technology: solar panels which generally provide hot water and photovoltaic panels and tiles which provide electricity.
How Does The Technology Work?
Solar and photovoltaic technologies work in very different ways.
Solar panels heat liquid which is passed through an evacuated tube or flat plate panel – they’re similar to a radiator, but collect heat from the sun rather than giving it out. This liquid then warms the water in your cylinder. There are some technologies available that can contribute to your heating as well.
Photovoltaic panels and tiles incorporate silicon cells that produce a voltage between their terminals when exposed to sunlight. These cells are wired together to give enough power for use, and either take the form of a large panel, or special solar roof tiles that are designed to integrate neatly into a roof.
Is Solar Heating Right For My Home?
The most common place to site solar technology is on the roof of your home, although it is actually possible to put a panel on the ground. The important factor is to make sure the technology gets the most sunlight, so you will get more from your technology if you live in a sunny location like the south coast. Your roof must not be in a spot that is overshadowed by trees or other buildings. Ideally, the roof should be south-facing, although the technology can still be effective if your roof faces towards east or west.
You should check out the degree of slope of your roof, as the panel will get the most sun if it is set at the optimum angle, and you may need to check that your roof can support the weight of the panels. As a basic rule of thumb, the optimum angle for your solar panels is the same as your latitude north of the equator, so if you live in London the correct angle for maximum efficiency would be 52 degrees from the horizontal and if you live in the north of Scotland it might be 56 degrees, but in practice a normal roof pitch is close enough to be satisfactory
If you are building a new home or having work done to the roof of an existing home, it is much more cost-effective to install solar technology at the same time.
How Do I Decide Between Solar & Photo Voltaic Power?
Your choice may depend on whether you want to get hot water or electricity from the technology, and on what’s most suitable for your home.
One factor in your decision might also be cost, as solar panels are much cheaper than photovoltaics. If cost is not a constraint and you have the space, you can always install both of course.
Ground Source Heat Pump.
There are two key elements to a ground source heat pump (GSHP): pipes buried in the ground that collect heat from the surrounding earth, and the heat pump itself. The heat pump is a washing machine-sized box of tricks that boosts the temperature of the harvested heat to around 65 degrees centigrade and transfers it from the ground into a form that can be used in your home.
How Does The Technology Work?
A heat pump works in the same way as a refrigerator, but in reverse. While a fridge extracts heat from the air inside it to make the space colder, a heat pump extracts heat from the ground to warm your home. The heat pump circulates a mixture of water and anti-freeze through the pipes in the ground to absorb the heat.
This pipework, which is called a ground loop, is buried in the garden adjacent to your home in any one of a number of layouts. The ground loop can be laid in a relatively shallow 2 to 3m deep trench, with the pipe in either a straight line or in a looping line (often known as ‘slinky’). Pipes can also run vertically in boreholes sunk much, much deeper in the ground. These will generally be more than 100m in depth.
What Are The Pros & Cons?
A GSHP does run on electricity and so is not technically completely renewable energy, but it is considered a very efficient technology. It is generally reckoned that for every kilowatt of electrical energy that you put into the system, you will get three to four kilowatts of heat out.
If you’ve just made your back garden picture perfect you may balk at the prospect of digging a long trench right through the middle of it. But the disturbance is temporary, and once the ground loop is beneath your lawn, it won’t require further regular maintenance.
Air source Heat Pump.
Air source heat pumps have been used in countries around the world for years and now they’re becoming increasingly popular in the UK as the cost of fuel, particularly oil and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) rises. The technology is tried and tested, but choosing the right heat pump for an existing home can be complex, so it’s essential to do your homework before buying.
A heat pump comes as a box-like unit, either around the size of a washing machine and sited adjacent to the house in the garden, or smaller and generally mounted on an external wall. Heating experts say it is often difficult to explain to customers how the technology works, simply because the idea of getting heat from the air, particularly during the winter, sounds implausible. However, it does absorb heat from the air, which is then used to warm air inside your home or to warm the water flowing through your heating system.
How Do They Work?
Heat pumps work in exactly the same way as a refrigerator, but in reverse. While a fridge extracts heat from the air inside it to make the space colder, a heat pump extracts heat from the air around it to warm your home. There are two types of heat pump: air-to-air which produces hot air, and air-to-water which produces water to a temperature of around 35-45 degrees centigrade.
What If The Weather’s Cold?
The principle of extracting heat from the outside air works, even when it is freezing cold outside. Manufacturers say heat pumps can work in temperatures as low as -15 degrees centigrade. The heat pumps are equipped with an automatic ‘defrost mode’ which removes any ice inside the unit during very cold weather.
Pros & Cons
If your home is right for them, and particularly if you are currently using costly oil or LPG for heating, then air source heat pumps can help you save money and carbon emissions.
The units do make some noise when they are running, but this should not be excessive and makers and installers recommend siting the unit away from noise-sensitive areas.
If you do opt for a heat pump, then it is important to learn how to use it so that you get the best out of the technology.
click here for a link to eco-build 2011
PassivHaus design Vs Code for Sustainable Homes (Q&A)
The raft of energy and building legislation driving the construction industry is causing clients and designer a real headache. For example, what is the difference between PassivHaus design standards and Code for Sustainable Homes (CSH) assessment design? – Typically a PassivHaus will acheive a code for sustainable homes rating of code lvel 3 or 4. This means that it is an ideal methodology for achieving the higher level of the overall code rating, whilst minimising the cost of renewables.
Q: What does PassiveHaus mean?
The term PassivHaus refers to a specific construction standard for buildings which have excellant comfort conditions in both winter and summer. These principles can be applied not only to the residential sector but also to commercial, industrial and public sector buildings. For houses, it is claimed that this is the world’s leading standard in energy efficient construction. They are designed and built using a ‘step-by-step’ approach with efficient components and a whole house ventilation system to achieve exceptionally low running costs to create something which is comfortable, healthy and sustainable.
Q: Is the Code for Sustainable Homes better than PassivHaus?
They both have different objectives – The Code targets a wider set of environmental standards while the other covers the energy requirement required for space heating. They are mutually beneficial.
Q: What are the challenges for a PassivHaus design?
By far is the requirement to achieve the required level of air-tightness, minimising the risk through good design and specification.
Q: Is it costly designing and building to a PassivHaus standard?
EU experience and case studies show an extra 6% i likely on the build cost. There are not yet enough UK houses to make a proper comparison, although the BRE is currently advising on a London project which has apparently been built for the same cost as a typical social housing unit.
Q: Are PassivHaus products widely available?
Yes. However, windows have at this present time to be imported thus increased price hike.
Q: Will adopting PassivHaus facilitate compliance with Building Regs and the Code for Sustainable Homes?
Yes. If a compliant design specification is derived from the PHPP (PassivHaus Planning Package) and transported into SAP, a 30-45% improvement in carbon emissions can be realised -without the use of heat-pump, biomass or other LZC/Renewable technology.
Q:What simple PassivHaus techniques are there to implement?
Insulation (typically 30cm thick)
Windows (airtight, triple glazed with thoroughly insulated frames achieving a U-value of 0.8 including the frame)
Airtight construction (max 0.6 airchanges/hr under 50 pascals pressure) with very efficient mechancial heat recovery ventilation.
Assuming that these three main performance targets are met, together with detailing to eliminate cold bridging and numerous other detailed requirements prescribed by the PHPP software, it is possible to eliminate the need for a boiler and the need for radiators or underfloor heating
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