Light House Architecture & Science DESIGNS THAT MAKE YOU GREEN WITH ENVY
Q. WHAT ROLE DOES SCIENCE PLAY IN THE BUILDING PROCESS? JE: At Light House Architecture & Science, science plays an integral role in the design and building process. Our homes are designed using solar-passive principles, but we also integrate building science from the very first concept design, right through to building completion. We use the Nationwide House Energy Rating Scheme (NatHERS) energy modelling software to optimise a home design for the site and climate, and then physically check and test the quality of the building envelope during construction.
Jenny Edwards has leant her experience in sustainable design to the 2021 Strathnairn Charity House. Jenny is an Excellence Awards winner who is known for excellent architectural design. We spoke with Jenny about her experiences designing highly energy efficient homes.
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MASTER BUILDERS ASSOCIATION NEWS EDITION 3 2021
The EER software is used to model the energy performance at every stage of design, looking for ways to improve the performance. At the end of construction, we then inspect the build with a thermal camera to check that the insulation has been installed to a high standard and with complete coverage, and rectify any gaps. We also conduct a blower door test to identify and fix any significant air leaks. This approach enables us to create homes that typically achieve 7+ Stars, with many achieving 8+ stars, and guarantees a house will perform even better than the NatHERS energy rating suggests. Our work over the last decade
