Passivhaus

The increased cost of living continues to highlight the need for energy-efficient social housing, leading to greater scrutiny of the thermal performance of building components in new and existing buildings. With legislation also continuing to tighten in the wake of the Future Homes Standard, Russell Hand, Head of Product Management and Technical at REHAU Windows, explains how implementing Passivhaus-informed performance criteria in window specification can ensure properties remain sustainable and efficient.

The state of UK housing is in a profound sense of flux. Rising energy costs are further underlining the need for thermally efficient homes, especially for older properties. This is especially a concern in social housing, as the majority was built between 1945 and 1980 . Consequently, pressure is on building specifiers to select thermally efficient components when retrofitting existing homes or building new developments.

The Kingspan TEK Building System is providing a precise offsite building solution for one of the country’s largest Passivhaus developments in Bowthorpe, Norwich.

Editor Victoria Galligan went along to the annual Housebuilding Forum to meet HAs, builders, architects and suppliers…

The Housebuilding Forum took place at the Slate conference hall in Warwick. As part of the university campus, the striking building – a BREEAM-certified design that boasts floor-to-ceiling windows looking out onto a lake – was the ideal venue to get some of the biggest names in housebuilding together.

As well as hosting expert speakers, the organisers Stable Events line up 15-minute meetings throughout the two-day event to ensure suppliers and delegates can take the time to discuss their work and potential collaborations. The speakers and delegates ranged from across the public and private sectors, and suppliers were on hand to display innovative products and services.

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