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Environmental Economics Named Finalist in the Herts & Beds Constructing Excellence Awards

Thu, 22 May 2025 14:36:26 GMT

Environmental Economics Named Finalist in the Herts & Beds Constructing Excellence Awards

We’re proud to share that Environmental Economics was named a finalist in the Herts & Beds CE Club Annual Constructing Excellence Awards this year.

While we didn’t take home the trophy, we were thrilled to be recognised for the impact of our work in energy and sustainability consulting.

A huge thank you to our team and clients who make this kind of recognition possible — we’re looking forward to what’s next!

Environmental Economics Achieves CQMS Certification

Thu, 09 Jan 2025 11:16:59 GMT

We’re excited to announce that Environmental Economics Ltd has been awarded a new CQMS Safety-Scheme certification !

This certification reflects our ongoing dedication to maintaining high standards of safety and compliance in all aspects of our energy and sustainability consultancy services. By achieving CQMS certification, we reaffirm our commitment to delivering quality and assurance to our clients and partners.

What does this mean for you?

Confidence in our adherence to safety and compliance standards.
Assurance of our proactive approach to maintaining certification without gaps or delays.

We’re proud to display the CQMS Safety-Scheme logo as a symbol of our achievement. To learn more about what this certification means for your projects, don’t hesitate to get in touch .

Stay tuned for more updates as we continue to strengthen our commitment to excellence!

Environmental Economics Achieves ISO 9001:2015 Recertification

Mon, 09 Dec 2024 10:54:30 GMT

We are delighted to announce that Environmental Economics Ltd has successfully achieved ISO 9001:2015 recertification through BM Trada. This prestigious certification underscores our continued commitment to delivering the highest quality energy and sustainability consultancy services to our clients.

The ISO 9001:2015 standard is a globally recognised benchmark for quality management systems. It demonstrates our dedication to maintaining robust processes, continuous improvement, and ensuring customer satisfaction.

Scope of Certification:

Our certification covers all aspects of our business operations, specifically: Energy and sustainability consultancy.

The successful recertification process reaffirms our ability to provide dependable and innovative solutions while maintaining efficiency and excellence across our services.

We’re proud of our team for their hard work and commitment to quality. Achieving this certification once again showcases our ongoing dedication to meeting and exceeding client expectations.

Thank you to all our clients for trusting Environmental Economics as your energy and sustainability partner. Together, we are building a more sustainable future!

To learn more about our services or discuss your next project, get in touch with us today.

Exploring the Carbon Intensity API: A Tool for Reducing UK Carbon Emissions

Thu, 27 Jun 2024 16:18:49 GMT

At Environmental Economics, we're dedicated to providing our clients with the latest tools and information to help reduce carbon emissions. One tool we believe you'll find particularly interesting is the Carbon Intensity API, developed by National Grid ESO in partnership with Environmental Defense Fund Europe, University of Oxford Department of Computer Science, and WWF.

What is the Carbon Intensity API?

The Carbon Intensity API is a cutting-edge tool that provides real-time and forecasted data on the carbon intensity of electricity across different regions in Great Britain. Using state-of-the-art machine learning and sophisticated power system modelling, this API forecasts carbon intensity and generation mix 96+ hours ahead, allowing consumers and smart devices to schedule and minimise CO2 emissions at a local level.

Why is this Important?

Understanding the carbon intensity of electricity can help individuals and businesses make more informed decisions about energy use. Users can significantly reduce their carbon footprint by optimising when and how energy is consumed. The API delivers both forecasted and estimated carbon intensity data, encompassing emissions from all major metered power stations, interconnector imports, and transmission and distribution losses. It also accounts for national electricity demand as well as embedded wind and solar generation.

National and Regional Data Insights

The Carbon Intensity API provides valuable data at both national and regional levels:

National Data: Measures how much CO2 emissions are produced per kilowatt hour of electricity consumed. It helps visualise trends in carbon intensity due to changes in electricity demand and generation.

Regional Data: Forecasts carbon intensity and generation mix across 14 geographical regions in Great Britain. This data is crucial for understanding the spatial and temporal characteristics of carbon intensity and can help optimise energy consumption regionally.

How Can You Use This Tool?

Developers can leverage the Carbon Intensity API to create applications that optimise energy use, enabling smart devices to switch on when energy is green and off when it's not.

Learn More and Get Started

Visit the Carbon Intensity website for a detailed overview of how the API works, including its methodology and integration instructions. Whether you're a developer looking to integrate this API into your applications or a business aiming to reduce your carbon footprint, this tool offers a wealth of information and practical applications.

Explore the Carbon Intensity API

Stay informed and take proactive steps towards sustainability with the help of Environmental Economics. Looking for advice? Speak to one of our experts today.

Environmental Economics are excited to have joined the Future Homes Hub

Wed, 08 May 2024 15:13:18 GMT

Working in partnership on the climate and environment plan for new homes

We’ve joined the Future Homes Hub as part of our commitment to sustainability.

The Hub brings together all those involved in home building to achieve the climate and environment goals for the sector in line with the Government’s legally binding net zero and wider environmental targets. The scale and speed of change is significant, and the new homes sector has set out its ambition in the delivery plan .

Members of the Hub are working together on a broad range of topics, including the Future Homes Standard, embodied and whole life carbon, zero carbon placemaking, biodiversity net gain, water efficiency, resource efficiency and air quality.

Ed Lockhart, CEO of The Future Homes Hub said:

We’re looking forward to working together with this growing community to share our solutions and expertise, accelerating progress to a net zero future.

Find out more about The Future Homes Hub

Case Study: Achieving Part O Compliance

Wed, 22 Nov 2023 16:14:20 GMT

Resolving Overheating Challenges

We're excited to share an inspiring case study that showcases our expertise in tackling overheating challenges and achieving compliance with Part O building regulations.

In this particular case, we were entrusted with the unique task of ensuring the comfort and sustainability of a single-storey detached house, designed as a summer retreat. The property's extensive glazing and west-facing façade posed significant overheating concerns. But we love a good challenge, and here's how we tackled it.

Client Profile

Our client's vision included a bespoke single-storey detached house that offered breath-taking views of the surrounding countryside. To capture these views, the design featured substantial glazed facades, especially on the west-facing side – a notorious hotspot for overheating. What made this even more challenging was the fact that the bedrooms were located on the ground floor, making night-time window opening a security risk. The conventional ventilation strategy of intermittent fans and trickle ventilation just wouldn't cut it.

Overheating Solutions

Our team dived deep into analysis and crafted a holistic plan to combat overheating. We pinpointed the ideal g-factor, significantly reducing solar heat gain into the dwelling.

Additionally, we recommended the adoption of System 3 (dMEV) ventilation. This choice allowed for consistent and continuous extraction of warm internal air, supercharging the ventilation system's performance. We improved background air change rates without the hefty cost of a full MVHR system.

But it doesn't end there. We meticulously determined which bedroom, en-suite, and bathroom windows could be safely opened, considering security concerns. By perfectly sizing these window openings, we ensured compliance without compromising safety. Plus, we suggested extending the flat roof to create permanent external shading over the west-facing glazing in the open-plan kitchen, a game-changer in reducing solar heat gain.

Additional Considerations

Calculations played a crucial role in our strategy. We determined the minimum required summertime MV (mechanical ventilation) rate in two scenarios: when en-suite and bathroom windows remained closed at night and when they were opened for night-time ventilation. This tailored approach ensured effective management of overheating risks.

Part O Compliance

The cherry on top – our final assessment revealed that the dwelling now fully complies with the stringent Part O 2021 regulations. By optimizing the g-factor, upgrading ventilation, introducing secure window openings, and incorporating external shading, we've created an indoor oasis that perfectly aligns with the regulations.

This case study embodies our commitment to innovative and practical solutions for overheating mitigation and Part O compliance.

Your next step

If you have similar projects or challenges requiring expert assistance, we're just a message away. Our team is here to offer tailored advice, support, and solutions to ensure your projects meet the highest standards of thermal comfort and sustainability.

Let's build a cooler, more sustainable future together

SAP 10 Approval Update from BRE and Government

Wed, 08 Jun 2022 11:10:04 GMT

SAP 10 Approval Process Changes to Ensure Software Delivers in Time for 15th June

Our accreditation and software providers have provided us with an update regarding Part L 2021, we have included the details below for you-

This statement has been supplied by both BRE and Government:

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In preparation for the implementation of Part L 2021 for England later this month, BRE are managing rigorous approval processes which requires all software providers to calculate and match results for a number of standard test cases test cases provided by BRE. The test cases have seen some delays and corrections, and therefore to ensure SAP software is ready for 15th June the approval process has now been changed.

BRE has now provided three batches of test cases prioritised to cover the majority of technologies expected to be used in new homes. The technologies the three batches cover include:

Batch 1:

Building fabric (walls, roofs, floors, windows etc.)
Boilers (mains gas, LPG, electric, oil)
FGHRS
Secondary room heaters
Instantaneous WWHRS
Solar heating (hot water only)
Natural ventilation with intermittent extract fans
Centralised MEV
Decentralised MEV
Balanced ventilation with heat recovery (MVHR)
PV (without battery or diverter)
Air conditioning

Batch 2:

Electric heat pumps
Electric immersion
PV with battery
PV with diverter
Wind turbine

Batch 3:

Community heating (not from PCDB)
Balanced ventilation without heat recovery

Validation for the remaining technologies (below) will follow

Storage WWHRS
Solar heating (space and water heating)
Community heating from PCDB
Positive input ventilation
Anything else not mentioned above

BEIS and DLUHC have authorised SAP software products for limited release to users when at least batch one is approved by BRE. Where SAP software is not yet approved for a batch, the technologies within that batch should not be used for completing SAP assessments or compliance calculations under SAP 10.2.

When Design SAP 10 is ready for release we will confirm which batches we are approved for and Government envisage that full capability, for all software providers, will be available no later than 31st July 2022.

If you have any questions regarding the above update please get in touch and we'll be happy to discuss it further with you.

Planning Areas we have recently worked in

Tue, 05 Apr 2022 12:25:40 GMT

We know that all Planning Authorities are different and we have experience with a wide variety of areas across the UK

✔ Midlothian Planning Authority

✔ Fareham Planning Authority

✔ Havant Planning Authority

✔ Borough of Broxbourne Planning Authority

✔ Scarborough Planning Authority

✔ Edinburgh Local Authority

✔ Aberdeenshire Council

✔ Perth & Kincross Planning Authority

✔ Nuneaton & Bedworth Borough

✔ East Cambridgeshire Planning Authority
✔ Burnley Planning Authority
✔ Swale Borough
✔ North Dorset Planning Authority

A Grand Design

Thu, 24 Jun 2021 10:59:28 GMT

A stunning bespoke new build home, the grand design covers over 500m2 in a desirable leafy corner of South West London.

The architect first approached us during the design stage to ensure that the project met all the necessary regulations without affecting the unique aesthetic. Many high-end bespoke buildings benefit from large south facing windows to maximise the amount of natural light but, together with the complex shape of more architectural designs, this can often result in an increased risk of overheating. Furthermore, with a larger property comes a more powerful space and water heating need and a larger energy requirement.

To ensure a warm home during winter and minimal energy requirement the property benefits from a Combined Heat and Power (CHP) boiler, which raises the efficiency of the heating system through reusing the residual heat from space heating system for the water heating. The property also uses a significant ventilation system, carefully designed to manage the risk of overheating without impacting the visual design.

Through working with us the homeowner ensured that their unique property is comfortable to live in, minimises the environmental impact to achieve Part L of Building Regulations, without compromising the stunning aesthetic of the modern architectural design.