SOCIAL HOUSING
RENEWABLES
PAS SERVICES
SOLAR
HEATING
INSULATION
PAS SERVICES
PAS 2035 is the over-arching document in the retrofit standards framework. It was introduced following the recommendations of the Each Home Counts review. It details how to carry out quality energy retrofits of existing domestic buildings, alongside best practice guidance for implementing energy efficiency measures.
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how to assess dwellings for retrofit
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identifying the right improvements for the right homes
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the design and specification of energy efficiency measures for installation
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monitoring of retrofit projects
Moving forward, the government proposes to make compliance with PAS 2035 mandatory for all public funded projects. At present the following funding mechanisms are requiring compliance with PAS 2035 for all domestic energy retrofit projects:
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The Energy Company Obligation (ECO)
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The Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund (SHDF)
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The Sustainable Warmth competition, which comprises of the Local Authority Delivery Phase 3 (LAD3) and Home Upgrade Grant Phase 1 (HUG1)
This means that the PAS 2035 framework will need to be followed and approved retrofit professionals will need to be involved.
We are able to support all PAS retrofit requirements from Assessment, Coordination, Design and Compliance.
SOLAR
Roof Top
If you have a south, east and/or west facing roof, solar is the ideal technology to reduce your energy bills, your resilience on the grid and your homes carbon footprint.
Typically any energy produced, that is not used or stored can be exported back to the grid at an export rate of around £0.15.
Return on investment is generally between 5 and 7 years but this will depend on the unique design of your system and your consumption profile.
Solar is a medium to long term investment so installing it on your long term home or forever home early on will see the best results long term.
Battery Storage
Batteries allows you to store any unused solar energy for use later on. Batteries are not the obvious choice you would think as there are a lot of factors to consider. We will ask you questions which may seem like we are putting you off, but we are ensuring you have batteries for the right reasons.
Battery storage mis selling is a real problem so we want to ensure they are right for you.
Having batteries does not mean you are off grid, because in most cases you still need AC power from the grid for them to work.
HEATING
Heat Pumps
You will hear terms like compression cycle and ground loops, companies start to call radiators emitters. This is to make your fairly new technology sound super high tech, to justify the price.
Heat pumps and the systems required to support the lower flow temperature around the system are not cheap but with a well designed system, the price and installation does not have to be painful.
People say the best way to explain a heat pump is a fridge in reverse. And that's right.
You will see a huge reduction in your gas bill but your electric bill will go up as it now has to supply power to a compressor and a heating element (for seriously cold spells), so installing a heat pump with solar and maybe a battery is a great idea.
Heat pumps run at a low flow temperate around 45 degrees, so requires correctly designed pipework and oversized radiators to get the heat from the water in the pipes to the room/air.
Gas boilers have a flow temperature of around 60 - 65 degrees.
Air to Air
Air to air systems are basically an air conditioning unit which also provides a heating function. In fact we only install a 4 in 1 system which provides heating, air conditioning, dehumidification, and air purification. So not only will it keep you cool in the summer and warm in the winter, it will also reduce moisture build up, which leads to damp and will clean the air you breath, making for a healthier environment.
Boilers
Gas boilers still play a big part in the heating and hot water of homes across the country.
Not every property is suitable for a heat pump due to size, space, existing system and property type and some commercially they maybe a little too expensive.
Upgrading your boiler, improving radiators, renewing valves, cleaning out the system and replacing your cylinder, if you have one, can make the world of difference in making your gas fed system more efficient.
INSULATION
Internal & External Wall (IWI & EWI)
Insulating your solid walls could cut your heating costs considerably, and make your home more comfortable.
If your home was built before the 1920s, its external walls are probably solid walls rather than cavity wall.
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Solid walls have no gap, so they can’t be filled with cavity wall insulation.
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Cavity walls are made of two layers with a small gap or ‘cavity’ between them.
Solid walls can be insulated though – either from the inside or the outside. This will cost more than insulating a standard cavity wall, but the savings on your heating bills will be bigger too.
Cavity Wall
About a third of all the heat lost in an uninsulated home escapes through the walls. By properly insulating cavity walls, you will save energy and cut costs off your heating bill.
In general, houses built from the 1990s onwards have wall insulation to keep the heat in, but if your house is older than that, it may not have any wall insulation at all.
Houses in the UK mostly have either solid walls or cavity walls:
If your house was built after the 1920s, it is likely to have cavity walls. A cavity wall is made up of two walls with a gap in between, known as the cavity; the outer leaf is usually made of brick, and the inner layer of brick or concrete block.
Lofts and Roof
Did you know an uninsulated home loses around 25% of its heat through the roof?
That makes loft and roof insulation an effective way to reduce heat loss and your heating bills. If installed correctly, loft (or attic) insulation has a lifespan of around 40 years. This means it should pay for itself many times over, making it cost-effective.
Floor
Insulating your ground floor is a great way to keep your property warm. Generally speaking, you only need to insulate the ground floor. If you’re on an upper floor, you don’t usually need to insulate your floor space.
However, you should consider insulating any floors that are above unheated spaces such as garages, as you could be losing a lot of heat through those.
Ventilation
Did you know an uninsulated home loses around 25% of its heat through the roof?
That makes loft and roof insulation an effective way to reduce heat loss and your heating bills. If installed correctly, loft (or attic) insulation has a lifespan of around 40 years. This means it should pay for itself many times over, making it cost-effective.
For more guidance on energy measures, saving money and making your home energy efficient please visit the Energy Saving Trust.
IMPROVE THE STANDARDS OF SOCIAL HOUSING HOMES
A SUCCESSFUL PROJECT IS ONLY POSSIBLE WHEN THE PROCESSES SURROUNDING IT COME TOGETHER!
AT QUALIS WE SPECIALISE IN ALL ASPECTS OF YOUR PROJECT FROM THE VERY MINUTE WE MEET YOU THROUGH TO MONITORING/MAINTAINING YOUR SYSTEM FOR MANY YEARS AFTER THE INSTALLATION IS COMPLETED.
DESIGN
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