The A to Z of building a new home... E

The A to Z of building a new home... E- Energy conservation -  Insulation of the envelope is the first step to improve energy efficiency,  following this, energy conservation is key to a successful home and a fundamental part of our day to day life. Boilers, ventilation and air-con (HVAC ) play a big role in the efficiency of buildings. A boiler is rated at a rating of A-G, with A being the most efficient. Particularly for new build properties an emphasis may be placed on efficient energy use and reducing consumption. Good ventilation is fundamental. It gives fresh air but also can protect a building against any damp and condensation especially in older houses that may have ineffective ventilation. However, unnecessary use of ventilation can waste energy and also cost the owner a lot of money. Air-Conditioning uses a lot of energy, and also could increase a building's consumption whether residential or commercial and the carbon emissions by up to 100%. There are two effective ways to save energy and make your air-conditioning system more efficient; Temperature Control: Making sure your air conditioning unit does not operate below 24 degrees. Free Coiling Coils: Cooling Coils use the outside air as a better source for the cooling for air-conditioning, this is the case particularly when it's cool enough. This saves money and is essential to not using as much energy. E - Environmental Consultants - Environmental consultants play an important role when it comes to building new or changing an existing building on a sensitive plot . They can provide vital advice that can benefit your build or even help facilitate planning permission. An ecology survey is beneficial to both the client and the Architect. The main purpose of a survey is to examine what exactly exists on the site before submitting a planning application. This also ensures that the local planning authority ( LPA ) has sufficient information to make an informed decision. This also allows the planning authority to know that the local nature & wildlife can be prevented from any disturbance during and after the development.  A Flood Risk Assessment is required when applying for planning permission in a flood risk area. This identifies the level of risk and flood mitigation measures. Contaminated Land is used in terms to describe land polluted by one of the following; Heavy Metals, Oils and Tars, Gases and Asbestos. Brownfield sites tend to be earmarked as having contaminated land as a lot of the time, this land has became polluted because there may have been one of the following on the site; former factories, mines, steelworks and landfills. Bat Surveys can sometimes be part of the planning process before determining if full planning permission is given. All species of bat are fully protected under the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2010. It is illegal to injure, kill, capture or disturb a bat. Tree Surveys have a statutory duty under the Town and Country Planning Acts for local planning authorities to consider the protection of tress when planning applications are made.