Paul Testa Architecture is me, Paul Testa.  I have always been an active outdoor person.  This gives me a social & physical appreciation of our environment.

This strongly influences my other passion; for Architecture and the built environment.  I am especially interested in the way buildings are procured and made; the nuts and bolts of the process. I have always seen the technology of building to be something that can enhance buildings and the built environment functionally, aesthetically and environmentally.

I work closely with my clients to produce designs that closely meet their project requirements.  I take the values of good design, good value, long term flexibility and environmental sustainability to produce healthy, flexible and useful buildings and places in which people enjoy living and working.

I am regulated by the architects registration board (arb) and am an active member of the AECB in Yorkshire as part of my aim to promote sustainable building.  I am also an associate design tutor at the Sheffield School of Architecture and teach environment and technology to both undergraduate and March students.

If you are interested I write regular news updates and short articles on sustainable construction and sustainable issues on my website news page.  I am always keen to connect with likeminded building professionals, designers and potential clients.  If you want to chat or ask a question, please get in touch.

Paul Testa Architecture is an active member of Ethical Junction, learn more

Green Building Store’s new Ecoplus³ range of windows & doors launched today (Thursday 30th June 2011) aims to meet the energy efficiency requirements of 2050 and beyond and comes with ultra efficient triple glazing as standard. Ecoplus³ also aims to systematically address the environmental impact of window manufacture, through use of FSC Pure timber, natural timber finishes, boron preservatives and UK manufacture.

Ecoplus³ is the third evolution of Green Building Store’s Ecoplus range since its launch in 1995, and is the most energy efficient Ecoplus range yet, with whole window U values as low as 0.86 W/m2K. Not surprisingly, Ecoplus³ triple glazed windows have also achieved an ‘A’ energy-rating in the BFRC energy rating scheme. Ecoplus has been at the cutting edge of sustainable window design for over 15 years. In 1995 it pioneered the use of safer boron timber treatments and, in 2005, was the first UK manufactured range of windows to be made using FSC Pure 100% timber.

According to Chris Herring, Green Building Store Director and designer of the Ecoplus³ range:
“Ecoplus³ is one of the most energy efficient oak or pine timber window & door ranges made in the UK and offers a unique environmental specification. Ecoplus³’s elegant outward-opening window design also works well in either traditional or contemporary settings, offering a beautiful and sustainable solution for retrofitting homes to low energy standards.”

Buildings can lose 10-25% of their heat through windows but this can be considerably improved through use of energy efficient glazing. Green Building Store believes that only triple glazed windows and doors will be the correct specification to complement the necessary super insulation measures which the existing housing stock needs to address the threat of climate change.

As well as offering high thermal performance, the Ecoplus³ range combines a number of  sustainable features. Ecoplus³ is handmade in Green Building Store’s Yorkshire workshops to high standards of quality and durability, using FSC Pure engineered pine or oak. Ecoplus³ is also treated with inorganic boron-based mineral salts, widely recognised as the safest and most environmentally benign treatment available.  It is then finished with OSMO natural plant based finishes, which are so safe they have been deemed safe enough to use on children’s toys (safety standard EN71).

As a special introductory offer, Green Building Store is offering 10% off all Ecoplus³ orders placed before 15/08/11. For more information on Ecoplus³ or for a FREE quote,  contact Green Building Store’s Ecoplus³ department on 01484 463336 or email: emma@greenbuildingstore.co.uk.

As a special introductory offer, Green Building Store is offering 10% off all Ecoplus³ orders placed before 15/08/11.

Green Building Store is an active member of Ethical Junction, learn more

David Orr uniquely combines a pioneering approach to education, design, community, innovation and practice that has always embodied a whole worldview. His work not only has direct impact but is visionary and therefore inspiring for individuals and groups around the world. The Oberlin Project is innovating through rich collaboration, a response to making the community much more resilient into the future.

He is well known for his efforts in designing the first substantially green building on a U.S. college campus. The Adam Joseph Lewis Center was later named by the U.S. Department of Energy as “One of Thirty Milestone Buildings in the 20th Century,” and by The New York Times as the most interesting of a new generation of college and university buildings.

David Orr is now working to bring together a collaborative venture within the community of Oberlin from schools to private sector. The Oberlin Project joins the many strands of sustainability including urban revitalization, green development, advanced energy technology, sustainable agriculture and forestry, green jobs, arts and education into an integrated response.

The heart of the project is the redevelopment of a 13-acre block designed to catalyze the renewal of the downtown area and initiate a process leading to a prosperous post-fossil fuel powered economy, while improving its facilities and continuing one of the most important educational experiments in the United States.

The investment in construction, renovation, and energy technology is intended to stimulate the expansion of existing businesses and create new enterprises that meet emerging demands for energy services, solar technologies, green products, and locally grown foods and forest products.

David Orr’s approach to sustainability is an essential, rich dialogue on how we integrate responses to crisis and environmental challenge – where there is a role for every voice from industry and science to art and music. The Oberlin Project has already been heralded as having the potential to be an international model for change and development. Mid-project David Orr comes to Schumacher College to discuss the implications of such a cutting edge and innovative approach to a more resilient future.

Schumacher College is proud to be hosting David Orr talking about The Oberlin Project alongside Steven Mayers and Transition Town’s Rob Hopkins in an exploration of urgent collaborative responses to climate change, food security, economics.

The Road Ahead: Building Community in the Long Emergency, June 27 – July 2, 2011
David W. Orr, Stephan Mayer & Rob Hopkins
http://www.schumachercollege.org.uk/courses/the-road-ahead-building-community-in-the-long-emergency

To listen to an interview with David Orr about The Oberlin Project at Sustainable Industries http://sustainableindustries.com/podcasts/sustainable-industries-interviews-david-orr

Schumacher College, Dartington is an active member of Ethical Junction, learn more

Led by powerhouses like GE and Google, the corporate sustainability movement in the U.S. is gaining momentum and proving “going green” saves the planet while saving money. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has encouraged companies to work off waste through its second annual Battle of the Buildings competition. 245 buildings across the country are now engaged in a friendly fight for green supremacy.

Commercial buildings in the U.S. spend more than $100 billion annually on energy, accounting for 20% of the nation’s total energy consumption. Buildings with energy star certified plans emit 35% fewer greenhouse gasses and burn 35% less energy than typical structures. Water, waste, insulation, lighting, and building materials all become fair game, leaving the participating building both energy efficient and cheaper to operate.

The sustainability groundswell packs a big punch. GE’s Ecomagination initiative has saved the company $130 million in energy resources and shaved 22% off their own energy consumption. Google has invested millions in wind power to cool its massive data centers. Sustainability is proving not to be just a grassroots movement.

The Battle of the Buildings competition pits office buildings, schools, churches, hotels, and banks against each other to measure whom, over the course of a year, can reduce their energy use intensity (EUI) by the largest percentage. EUI is a measure of a building’s energy use and is calculated by taking total energy consumption and dividing it by total floor space.

The EPA selects finalists in July and the 2011 winner in November. “We’re harnessing our nation’s innovative capacity to save money on electric bills, create a cleaner environment and protect the health of American families,” says EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson.

ENERGY STAR symbolizes the government’s standard for energy efficiency. Although the EPA’s competition focuses on commercial buildings, individuals can benefit from the same ENERGY STAR quality, performance, and efficiency. Homebuilders, partnering with the program, now offer green-building designs and responsible construction, delivering results similar to their commercial peers.

Malli Homes in Yelm, Washington personifies the new green builder by constructing homes given the ENERGY STAR approval. North Carolina’s Vincent Properties Construction delivers ENERGY STAR homes designed to be 20-30% more energy efficient than those built to standard residential code. Michigan’s Ferraro Builders constructs high-performance, custom homes implementing the latest in building sciences, bringing the ENERGY STAR to more discriminating buyers.

Skyscraper or single-family home, green building means hope for both the environment and budgets.

About the Author:

S. M. Combs produces articles for the solar panels blog and the solar battery chargers blog. She has a master degree in sciences and worked as consultant for the South West Scotland Energy Agency. Now she is retired and provides free resources to help people get additional info on energy efficiency starting from small devices (i.e. cell phones) to home solar systems.

Photo Credits: Shannon Combs

Dancing Rabbit Ecovillage is an active member of Ethical Junction, learn more

Searching around for information on the web I was impressed by the quality of the discussion threads on Ethical Junction so I decided to join.

I run a small architects practice based on my sustainable and ethical principles which operates mainly in Cornwall and the south west. (My wider contacts do persuade me sometimes to venture east to the rest of the country for certain projects). Do look at my website to see some examples of my work. www.robhomewood.com

I have been involved in energy conservation and sustainability for many years. In the early days it was very hard work persuading commercial and domestic clients to take any notice. I was also part of a government funded regional energy group which organised seminars for professionals to train and encourage their awareness but at times that also seemed like flogging a dead horse. I decided that maybe what I needed was more credibility so I took another degree in renewable energy about 20 years ago but to be honest I don’t know that it made much difference! Always keen on diverse skills I have also taken time out from my practice to undertake university research projects which were enjoyable and productive, but very disruptive to my practice’s programme!

Currently my practice portfolio has more domestic clients for whom I provide sustainable and energy efficient housing or extensions, although many clients still can’t see the benefit of obtaining a code of sustainable homes certificate. Larger projects e.g. affordable housing fares slightly better as the housing associations seem more geared up but commercial clients are still resistant to the benefits, often looking at short term issues only. Overall though the general shift in public awareness and option has facilitated more constructive discussions at least and there are encouraging highlights………

At the other end of the scale I have also taken on some part time teaching in sustainable construction where at least the students are keen and knowledgeable. What I need now is a magic formula to teach them how to persuade clients to put their money where their principles are!

Meanwhile I carry on encouraging my clients to build sustainably and if you have a building or site which may turn into a project, do contact me even if you are not in the south west – I may be able to help you. Remember too that the earlier I get involved the better I can apply my skills and this has huge implications for the creativity, the smooth running and the economics of the project.

Rob Homewood Architect is an active member of Ethical Junction, learn more

Talk to your local builder long enough and the pressures of meeting the ever changing standards of building regulations will inevitably come up. And not in a nice way. Is there any rhyme or reason behind the seemingly endless changes in regulations for new builds? Well yes, there is.

The construction industry has been given a timeline punctuated with various levels of sustainable building practices, which should culminate in 2016 with carbon neutral buildings – otherwise known as Level 6 Building Code. Carbon neutral buildings should create as much energy as it takes to build them, or to create the materials that are used to build them. They should be airtight and superbly insulated to create the most thermally efficient building possible.

Good architects and builders are already achieving Level 5, but there is a large hill to climb in the next five years if we are to achieve the ultimate low energy model of the German Passivhaus system.

Many in the industry are more concerned with the leaky old houses that we all live in – well 26m of us anyway. The Great British Refurb Campaign is working hard with the government and industry leaders to create a plan that will help the rest of us to improve the energy performance of our properties. Adding insulation and solar panels or renewable energy to a property costs money that many of us don’t have. The governments plan is called ‘The Green Deal’ which should provide applicants with a loan of up to £6,500 to improve their property. The 25 year loan will be carried by the property and will be passed on to the new owners should the current owners move on. Those who decide to invest in new technology and create their own energy can potentially save vast amounts on their energy bills (up to 80%) and earn at the same time, by selling any excess back to the national grid under the new Feed In Tariff.

The energy performance of a property is already recorded in the EPC report carried out by estate agents for every property that is marketed. This report will be increasingly important over the next few years. We could soon be reaching the point where the thermal efficiency of a property might actually make it more desirable and add a premium to the final asking price. A strong argument for even the harshest climate change sceptics!

Gecco Interiors Limited is an active member of Ethical Junction, learn more

Are you enjoying being a green builder, but are frustrated about:

• Building code constraints
• Building projects that you don’t value because your clients aren’t willing to think outside the box about what’s possible
• Feeling isolated and alone because you are not getting the connection you want with others who share your values

Are you excited at the idea of:

• Supporting an off the grid ecovillage that is modeling a a new way of life
• Growing in your career as you build critical infrastructure necissary to demonstrate how to live sustainably
• Building friendships with new people who share your values, and support your work in the world

Learn more about the construction we do!

We use a variety of different natural building technologies including:

• Clay plaster
• Adobe floors
• Straw Bale Construction

Get an application:

Go here to get a green building construction career application.

Dancing Rabbit Ecovillage is an active member of Ethical Junction, learn more

Passivhaus (translated as ‘passive house’ in English) is an approach to designing ultra low energy homes and buildings that is beginning to sweep the nation. Today (Tuesday 12th October 2010) Green Building Store launches ‘Future Passiv’ a short 10 minute documentary which makes the case for Passivhaus as a standard for all UK new builds – and even for the refurbishment of existing buildings.

Presented by eco broadcaster Penney Poyzer (BBC2’s “No Waste like Home”), ‘Future Passiv’ features Green Building Store’s Denby Dale Passivhaus project in West Yorkshire and outlines the many advantages of the Passivhaus approach to low energy building. As well as offering incredibly cheap heating bills (heating costs for the Denby Dale Passivhaus are expected to be around £75 per year), Passivhaus buildings can also make a significant contribution to tackling climate change, as well as being very comfortable to live in. ‘Future Passiv’ includes interviews with the owners of the Denby Dale Passivhaus and looks at the way in which Passivhaus design is really beginning to take off in the UK including housing associations, schools, offices and community centres as well as private homes.

Passivhaus design can create buildings which use 90% less energy for space heating than standard UK buildings. Based on the principle that reducing heating loss to the minimum is the most cost-effective way of creating a low carbon building, Passivhaus design relies on a simple ‘tea cosy’ effect maximising the use of super insulation and stringent airtightness. By combining this with passive solar gain and mechanical ventilation and heat recovery (MVHR) systems, Passivhaus design can create healthy and comfortable buildings that require minimal heating.

Penney Poyzer said,

“Passivhaus is a philosophy in itself. It is a mix of applied physics, common sense and practical wisdom and it can be applied to any type of building, not just housing. It can be applied to new build or retrofit. It is a proven technique which shows that it is entirely practical and feasible to aim for buildings that use 90% less energy than typical UK housing stock. If the UK is to achieve massive reductions in carbon then it is essential that we tackle the built environment. Across Europe, buildings account for 60% of carbon emissions. I believe that Passivhaus can slash those emissions now.”

The ‘Future Passiv’ documentary is part of a larger film ‘Passivhaus low energy building in the UK’  project which includes a 60 minute technical film for building professionals, covering all stages of construction of the Denby Dale Passivhaus  – the UK’s first Passivhaus to be built using traditional British cavity wall construction methods. With a Foreword by Jonathon Porritt, the film sets out to offer the UK construction industry a template for building ultra low energy Passivhaus buildings using construction methods and materials familiar to UK builders and designers.

The Future Passiv documentary and Denby Dale Passivhaus technical film are freely available to view at Green Building Store’s website www.greenbuildingstore.co.uk.

‘Future Passiv’ and ‘Passivhaus low energy building in the UK’ were filmed and edited by student film-makers and were made possible thanks to the kind sponsorship of Kirklees Council.

Green Building Store is an active member of Ethical Junction, learn more

Underfloor heating continues to be a popular choice for housebuilders and developers across the country. Adrian Troop looks into what it is that gives the technology longevity and increased relevance to today’s eco-building needs.   

As a stand-alone space heating solution, underfloor heating (UFH) has much to offer; it’s an installer-friendly system that is reasonably simple to fit, it can help to secure quicker sales cycles and achieve optimum selling prices, it enables better use of available space and it helps to reduce heating bills.   

Back to basics

In simple terms, UFH works by pumping temperature controlled warm water from any heat source through jointless plastic tubing embedded in the floor. Unlike radiators that rely on convection and circulate heat in an inefficient way, UFH uses radiated heat for indoor climate control. Radiators heat the ceiling space first, but UFH provides warmth to a room from the floor up, creating an even heat without stuffiness, draughts or cold spots. As the emitting area is large, sufficient warmth is provided even on a cold day without the need for supplementary heating.

When used with a traditional boiler the standard operating temperature for UFH is 50˚C compared to 70˚C for radiators. However, if you substitute the boiler with a heat pump, the energy saving potential of underfloor heating is even more impressive. An independent report by Eu Ray (European Radiant Floor Heating Association) confirmed that when UFH is integrated with a ground source heat pump, energy usage is cut by 30% and when combined with an air source heat pump, 20%.

When underfloor heating systems are specifically designed to be fed by a heat pump, additional tubing and more efficient floor constructions can be used to allow even lower flow temperatures, typically 35oC – 45oC, whilst still achieving the required air temperature inside the property.

Heat pump integration

Insulation is essential to the efficient operation of UFH as a general rule, but is even more important when a heat pump is integrated. Insulation levels should ideally ensure that less than 45 watts of heating are required per square metre of floor space. In general it is more cost effective to increase insulation levels than it is to install a larger heat pump. With adequate levels of floor insulation, heat pumps operate at a higher Coefficient of Performance (CoP). A ground source heat pump, for example, can attain a CoP of 4 – 5, providing 4 to 5 kilowatts of free energy for every 1 kilowatt of electricity used to power it.

The performance of underfloor heating when used with a heat pump is affected by three key variables; temperature of the heating water, quantity of tube in the floor and thermal resistance of the floor structure and covering. Complex heat loss calculations are needed to determine what tube spacing is required to achieve the necessary heat outputs.

There are three standard floor constructions available: floating floor, suspended timber and screed. Screed is better suited to new-builds, extensions and conservatories due to an average floor height build-up of 150mm and renovation projects where floors are being removed or sufficient height is available.

Most floor finishes can be used with UFH although some, including slate, stone and ceramic tile are better than others at transferring heat.   

Retrofitting UFH

Retrofitting UFH

Interest in the feasibility of retrofitting UFH has steadily increased and we are seeing more and more installations into older properties. There is no doubt that retrofitting UFH can present major challenges, but as long as installers are aware of requirements and limitations there should be no problems.  

Number one on the list is the need for insulation. The existing property should be brought broadly in line with the requirements of Part L of the Building Regulations; wall insulation, double glazed windows and doors are all helpful. Floor insulation is essential and could affect floor height build-up.

Suspended timber floors have little impact on floor height build-up, although ceilings or floors will have to be removed in order to lay the floor heating tube. This is fine if they are being replaced anyway but if they have to remain in-situ a floating floor is a better solution. The floating floor construction is a popular option for retro-fitting UFH as it benefits from minimal floor height build-up and is straightforward to install, laying over the existing deck.

Future-proofing

Finally, it is possible to install UFH on its own with view to changing to heat pump technology at a later date. Future-proofing UFH at installation stage will cause less impact than attempting to change everything when the heat pump is installed. Considerations include pipe spacing, floor coverings, insulation (again) and practical issues such as space to put the pump and house the cylinder, buffer tank and other equipment.

Underfloor heating definitely has a firm foothold as a product that helps to meet the demand for energy efficiency and low carbon targets, particularly when introduced to its ideal partner, the heat pump.

Nu-Heat is an active member of Ethical Junction, learn more

BUILDING WITH RAMMED EARTH AND CHALK A two-day course

This hands-on course is for those who want to learn how to build with earth or chalk and should be of value to designers too.

22 – 23 May 2010 (Saturday – Sunday)

Earthship Brighton, Stanmer Park, Brighton BN1 9PZ

www.brightonpermaculture.org.uk

PRUNING OLD FRUIT TREES A two-day course

Hands-on course that teaches how to improve the health and productivity of old fruit trees by appropriate pruning.
Course 1:  Saturday 15 – Sunday 16 January 2011

Course 2: Tuesday 18 – Wednesday 19 January 2011

Stanmer Park, Brighton BN1 9PZ

www.brightonpermaculture.org.uk

BUILDING SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES – A PERMACULTURE DESIGN COURSE

This course looks at how we can design human ‘ecosystems’, working collaboratively with one another to care for the planet and ourselves.

January – May 2011 13 weekend days, dates to be confirmed.

Earthship Brighton, Stanmer Park, Brighton BN1 9PZ and locations in and around Brighton

www.brightonpermaculture.org.uk

Brighton Permaculture Trust is an active member of Ethical Junction, learn more