Oxford office building

Thermodynamic simulation, daylighting analysis and retrofit study for the refurbishment of a 2000 m2 office building in Oxford, UK.

nZEB

Oxford office building

Description

Thermodynamic simulation, daylighting analysis and retrofit study for the refurbishment of a 2000 m2 office building in Oxford, UK. The thermo-dynamic simulations, done with DesignBuilder (EnergyPlus) focused on reducing the heating and cooling demands, improving thermal comfort and air quality, and reducing the environmental impact of the building. Energy bills from the existing building were analysed, and the dynamic model was calibrated accordingly. Subsequently, a series of passive and active systems were modelled and compared through a life-cycle costing analysis.

Year: 2016

Location: Oxford, UK

Services:
Thermodynamic simulation, daylight & retrofit study

Shirehampton

These 7 terraced homes constitute the world’s first commercially available straw eco-homes.

Passivhaus, nZEB and M & E engineering

Shirehampton

Description

These 7 terraced homes constitute the world’s first commercially available straw eco-homes. Behind the traditional brick elevation of the development is a state of the art, well insulated, prefabricated, low-carbon straw bale construction system: the BM Trada Q Mark certified ModCell Core system.

The homes include individual Passivhaus certified Mechanical Ventilation with Heat Recovery (MVHR) units for good indoor air quality and minimal energy loss. Thermal comfort is provided through high levels of thermal insulation, double-glazed argon-filled low-e windows with “warm edge” spacers between the glazing and PVC frames, reduced thermal bridges, and reduced air leakage through the envelope. Individual air source heat pump units provide space heating and hot water generation. Each home is fitted with a 2.2 kWp grid-tied solar PV array, A++ appliances and broad-spectrum LED lighting.

Passivhaus consultancy included PHPP energy simulation and performance optimisation, and thermal envelope design. M&E engineering included heating and DHW production with an air-source heat pump, together with ducted mechanical ventilation with heat recovery.

Year: 2016

Location: Shirehampton, Bristol, UK

Services:
Passivhaus consultancy, M & E engineering

HQ1

Passivhaus consultancy and M & E engineering design for the deep retrofit of a single-family home, certified to Passivhaus EnerPHit and VERDE

Passivhaus, nZEB and M & E engineering

HQ1

Description

Passivhaus consultancy and M & E engineering design for the deep retrofit of a single-family home, certified to Passivhaus EnerPHit Component Method, and VERDE. Healthy bio-based materials have been used as far as possible, including sprayed cellulose internal wall insulation, clay boards for dry lining (instead of gypsum plasterboard), and clay paints. The extension, built on the top floor of the house, is made of prefabricated lightweight timber-frame panels with wood fibre insulation. The final “Blower Door” airtightness test achieved N50 = 0.99 ach. Construction details were looked at in detail during design phase to reduce and eliminate thermal bridges.

Passivhaus consultancy included PHPP energy simulation and performance optimisation, thermal envelope design, advice regarding bio-based materials, passive strategies to combat summer overheating, thermal bridge calculations, and dynamic hygrothermal simulation with WUFI to assess and eliminate the risk of moisture damage.

HVAC design included an air-source heat pump for heating, cooling and DHW production, ducted mechanical ventilation with heat recovery, and an underfloor heating and cooling system with dehumidification. All services were integrated and controlled with Loxone home automation system.

Solgetic has installed the home automation system and programmed the integration of all services on the system. Energy certification and compliance verification with the Spanish Building Regulations CTE HE0 & HE1 was carried out, achieving a class “A” certification.

Year: 2020

Location: Sant Cugat del Vallès, Vallès Occidental

Services:
Passivhaus consultancy, M & E engineering, energy certification

Gin Distillery

Daylighting calculation and analysis for the refurbishment of a single-family home, winner of the RIBA London Award 2018, designed by Open Practice Architecture

nZEB

Gin Distillery

Description

Daylighting calculation and analysis for the refurbishment of a single-family home, winner of the RIBA London Award 2018, designed by Open Practice Architecture. The study was based on the British Standard BS 8206: 2008 “Lighting for buildings – Part 2: Code of practice for daylighting” and the BRE guide “Site Layout Planning for Daylight & Sunlight 2011”. Average daylight factors was calculated with the Ecotect simulation program to guarantee minimum levels of natural light for each living area.

Year: 2017

Location: London, UK

Services:
Internal daylight assessment

Video by Grand Designs

Mirador de Gràcia Nursing Home

Passivhaus design and consultancy for an elderly peoples residence located in Barcelona capital, designed by the Genars architecture studio and developed by FIATC Seguros

Passivhaus and nZEB

Mirador de Gràcia Nursing Home

Description

Passivhaus design and consultancy for an elderly peoples residence located in Barcelona capital, designed by the Genars architecture studio and developed by FIATC Seguros through FIATC Residencias (Inverfiatc). This 6575 m2 building is in the process of Passivhaus Classic certification.

Progetic undertook the PHPP energy simulation, design of the thermal envelope and airtight layer, advice on materials, and analysis and optimisation of thermal bridges and construction details.

A thermodynamic and daylighting study of the building was also carried out, using DesignBuilder (EnergyPlus & Radiance), including analysis of summer comfort and development of strategies to reduce overheating. The M&E design was audited, with proposals made for improvements, in compliance with the Passivhaus standard, working closely with the engineering team to design efficient systems with low maintenance costs.

Year: 2020

Location: Barcelona

Services:
Passivhaus consultancy, thermodynamic simulation, daylighting analysis, M & E consultancy

Sports centre Turó De La Peira

Thermodynamic and day-lighting simulation of the Turó de la Peira Indoor Swimming Pool and Sports Centre in Barcelona city. The 3,900 m2 building includes a heated pool and multi-sports hall, built with a cross-laminated timber structure.

Project nZEB

Sports centre Turó De La Peira

Description

Thermodynamic and day-lighting simulation of the Turó de la Peira Indoor Swimming Pool and Sports Centre in Barcelona city. The 3,900 m2 building includes a heated pool and multi-sports hall, built with a cross-laminated timber structure. The project won the WAF (World Architecture Festival) 2019 category for Sports, and was High Commended in the Category “Use of Certified Timber”. The thermo-dynamic simulations focused on reducing the heating and cooling demands of the building, optimising daylighting and thermal comfort and reducing the environmental impact of the building. The optimization of the thermal envelope created savings of 182,011 kWh/a, approximately € 27,302/a. A 100 % passive heating, cooling and ventilation solution was developed for the multi-sports hall.

Year: 2015

Location: Barcelona

Services:
Thermodynamic and daylighting simulation

LILAC

Energy consultancy for the LILAC housing cooperative in Leeds, UK, a 20-home development built with the ModCell prefabricated timber system with straw insulation.

Project nZEB

LILAC

Description

Energy consultancy for the LILAC housing cooperative in Leeds, UK, a 20-home development built with the ModCell prefabricated timber system with straw insulation.

The energy consultancy included a comparative study, energy strategy and outline design of thermal and electrical services, including a dynamic simulation study of the buildings using DesignBuilder-EnergyPlus to determine heating loads and summer comfort. The technologies studied included gas boilers, solar thermal, photovoltaic, geothermal, biomass and a hybrid PV-solar thermal-heat pump system.

Year: 2011

Location: Leeds, UK

Services:
Energy consultancy

Can Tanca

Passivhaus consultancy and M & E engineering design for a single-family off-grid home, certified Passivhaus Premium and BREEAM, and built with renewable bio-based materials, including a lightweight timber frame structure and wood fibre insulation.

Proyect Passivhaus, nZEB, Renewable energy and M & E engineering

Can Tanca

Description

Passivhaus consultancy and M & E engineering design for a single-family off-grid home, certified Passivhaus Premium and BREEAM, and built with renewable bio-based materials, including a lightweight timber frame structure and wood fibre insulation.

Passivhaus consultancy included PHPP energy simulation and performance optimisation, thermal envelope design, strategies to combat summer overheating and thermal bridge calculations.

HVAC design included an air-source heat pump for heating, cooling and DHW production, ducted mechanical ventilation with heat recovery, and a dehumidifier/cooling and heating cool with radiant ceiling panels. All services were integrated and controlled with the Loxone home automation system, providing extensive monitoring and preventative maintenance capability. An on-site solar photovoltaic installation and battery system means the home is entirely energy self-sufficient, with no grid connection. The home also has a rainwater collection and grey water treatment system, with no mains water connection.

Year: 2016

Location: St. Llorenç de Balàfia, Ibiza

Services:
Passivhaus consultancy, M & E engineering

Can Xeu

Single family home over two floors, certified to Passivhaus Classic standard.

Project nZEB, Renewable energy, Passivhaus and M & E engineering

Can Xeu

Description

Single family home over two floors, certified to Passivhaus Classic standard.

Thermodynamic simulation with DesignBuilder (EnergyPlus) was undertaken for the optimization of the thermal performance and analysis of summer overheating risk.

HVAC design included an air-source heat pump for heating, cooling and DHW production, mechanical ventilation with heat recovery, and complete integration of all services with the Loxone home automation solution, including fingerprint access control and an innovative system to divert excess solar PV production in the summer months to an electric immersion heater in the DHW tank, providing all electric solar hot water production.

Fotografía de Loxone

Year: 2016

Location: Girona

Services:
Energy consultancy, M & E engineering