As part of extension and upgrading of one of its offices in Blackpool, National Savings & Investments has achieved a 40% cut in lighting energy consumption by installing an Ex-Or lighting-management system. Lighting control is one of several technologies used during the upgrade, giving an overall annual reduction in CO2 emissions of 51 t and a saving on energy bills of £13 000. The Energy Performance Certificate has improved from D to B.

Ted Farnon discusses the whats and hows of the metering requirements of Part L.

Dynamic simulation modelling has many advantages over SBEM in achieving Part L compliance — especially in assessing the effects of solar gain in the Summer. Michael Pollock discusses the benefits of incorporating dynamic simulation into the design process.

Steve Ruddell explains just why variable-speed drives have a key role to play in meeting the requirements of the Building Regulations, citing as an example an 11-month payback on a replacement project.

Mark Grayston examines how heat-pump technology is more than capable of satisfying the requirements of Part L of the new Building Regulations.

Natural ventilation controlled by WindowMaster window actuators is one of the contributors to the new West Ham Bus Garage achieving a 33% carbon reduction over a typical industrial building. This 12 000 m2 £30 million building also has a thermally efficient envelopment, CHP systems, renewable-energy generation and natural lighting, Half of the roof is covered with sedum, and there is a rainwater harvesting system as part of a sustainable drainage scheme.

Mike Simpson explains the requirements of the new Part L for lighting — and suggests that there is too much focus on installed load rather than energy used. He would like to see more emphasis on control.

IBD Distribution has been appointed as an approved solution provider and nationwide distributor for the Polypipe Ventilation range of whole-house ventilation and heat-recovery systems. The company is based in Dorset and has been appointed on the strength of its experience and expertise in this market. IBD already represents several other manufacturers with complementary product ranges.

Following the launch of the BPEC ventilation installer training course written by Polypipe Ventilation in response to the 2010 revision of Part F, Polypipe has launched support material in the form of a brochure and dedicated section on its web site. The new Part F requires that ventilation systems are commissioned and a commissioning report given to the Building Control Body and that the work is carried out by a suitably qualified person — such as someone who has taken this accredited training programme.

Legislation is needed to ensure that ventilation systems in homes are installed to a standard and signed off after installation by qualified people, according to Helen Roberts of DR Ventilation of Leighton Buzzard. She believes that because the installation of modern ventilation is highly specialised, it should not be undertaken by unqualified people.

Building Control Officers rarely carry out the checks that are required by Building Regulations, according to a small survey carried out by CIBSE among its members. The survey was carried out to support CIBSE’s view that Part L compliance should be modelled on the use of competent personnel employed for Part L2A (new non-dwellings) to reduce technical and cost burdens on Building Control Officers. It would also reduce the administrative burden on the Department for Communities & Local Government by taking responsibility for accreditation of suitably qualified persons and competent persons for these task.

Vent-Axia has entered into a partnership with Mantel Panel that will see Vent-Axia’s Lo Carbon Sentinel Kinetic mechanical ventilation with heat recovery specified for new-build properties and light commercial projects using the Mantel Building System. This ventilation and building system will offer air-tight buildings that comply with Part F of the Building Regulations.

Baxi Group has helped Selwood Housing meet Level 3 of the Code for Sustainable Homes with a comprehensive heating and hot-water solution feature solar-thermal technology. The development of seven homes in Melksham, Wiltshire, comprises terraced and semi-detached houses with two and three bedrooms.

60% lower carbon emissions than required by the Building Regulations has been achieved in the refurbishment of a run-down 1930s common lodging house to provide high-tech homes and offices in Leeds. Working to a brief drawn up by developers CITU Eco Modern Living and architect West & Machell, Thomasons delivered this innovative low-energy solution for Shaftesbury House, which achieves Level 4 of the Code for Sustainable Homes.

Rain screens that form part of the facade for the redevelopment of a school in Dorset incorporate Solar PV panels to generate up to 12.5 kW of electricity, amounting to about 6250 kWh a year. About 180 solar PV panels, each 1 m square, have been installed on an extension to block 5 of The Blandford School and supplied by Telling Architectural.

Sainsbury’s has enlarged its Durham store by 50% and reduced its energy consumption by 10%. The reduction has been achieved using a range of technologies — including renewable power generation on site, ground-breaking refrigeration technology and the installation of 63 Monodraught Sunpipe natural daylight systems. Sainsbury’s claims that the carbon generated in building the extension will be offset by the improved energy efficiency after just two years.

Xpelair Ventilation Solutions has launched an MHVR (mechanical ventilation with heat recovery) range that can recover up to 91% of heat from extract air. There are three models in the Xcell 400 range, and they use a low-energy Ultra EC motor. These units can serve large apartments and homes with three to five bedrooms.

Bolton’s new £70 million college and sixth-form development comprises three educational buildings on one site and uses a broad mix of Oventrop valves to control heating and cooling. The focal point of the 20 200 m2 site is a glazed 3-storey rotunda, which houses a number of learning resource centres, flexible learning spaces, classrooms, office space and an informal cafe area which will be share with Bolton Sixth Form College.

Kestrel’s 4200 hand-held air-flow meter is specifically designed for HVAC applications and can test ventilation to Part F of the Building Regulations. Features include automatic volume airflow measurement, external temperature sensor, RH measurement and absolute pressure.