Low carbon buildings
Greenhouse gas emissions from the world’s buildings are set to increase sharply over the next two decades, potentially doubling by 2030 (IPCC, 2010).
We work on the refurbishment of existing properties and the development of major new-builds, coming up with low carbon building solutions such as:
- Integrated building design
- Building form and fabric
- Controls and building energy management systems
- Heating, ventilation and air-conditioning
- Lighting
- Post-occupancy evaluation
- Funding and finance
- Sustainable water systems
- Integration of low and zero carbon technologies
- Low embodied energy materials
- Energy from waste strategies
Low carbon building projects that we’re particularly proud of include:
- Pioneering retrofit programmes Retrofit South East (for which we won an award), Retrofit for the Future and Retrofit for Reality
- Non-domestic carbon abatement assessment and post-occupancy evaluation for DECC and British Land
- Large-scale regeneration of Wembley City and Bath Western Riverside
- China’s first One Planet Community
Our blue-chip clients in this field include DECC, British Land and Crest Nicholson.
For more information, please contact: Dave Worthington or Duncan Price
Related projects
North London retrofit potential
Verco was commissioned on behalf of six North London boroughs to develop an area based retrofit action plan. This is one of the most thorough pieces of analysis on Green Deal opportunities, including the range of risks, values and delivery options for Local Authorities.
Affinity Sutton (FutureFit)
FutureFit is Affinity Sutton’s flagship project that aims to provide unique insights into how the Green Deal could work in social housing. Verco helped to show how low carbon activities can be mainstreamed to deliver significant energy and CO2 savings.
The Energy Bill Revolution
This mainstream campaign was commissioned by Transform UK, the Co-operative Group and Consumer Focus. Verco provided comprehensive analysis on Green Deal/ ECO opportunities and fuel poverty alleviation potential across the UK.
Whole house low carbon refurbishment
We investigated the potential for whole house low carbon refurbishment to deliver 80% carbon reductions in existing homes. The work involves identifying the whole package of carbon reduction measures that are required, the cost per house of installing all these measures, the key barriers to a whole house approach and the main policy instruments for delivery. Our research fed into the UK Government’s ‘Heat and Energy Saving Strategy’.
The Existing Homes Alliance
We helped establish the Existing Homes Alliance, which sets out the action required from businesses, housing and environmental organisations and government to put the UK housing stock on the road to deep cuts in carbon emissions and energy bills.
Northstowe: an exemplar of sustainability
Large, long term, phased developments such as the 9500 home Northstowe exemplar of sustainability pose critical challenges for the delivery of community energy systems due to the requirement for early investment in shared generation and distribution infrastructure set against uncertainty in the timing, value and size of the customer base and associated revenue streams.
Zero Carbon House
The Zero Carbon House is a low energy demonstration project to show how renewable energy can create a unique living experience on a remote island in a severe climate. A holistic approach has been taken to eliminating household carbon emissions that would normally result from heating and powering the home, running the family car and growing and transporting food.
Stratford City
Stratford City is a £4bn mixed use regeneration project in Newham, East London on derelict former railway lands. Camco Advisory Services Ltd (CAS) worked alongside the design team to develop a sustainable energy strategy that responds to public policy aspirations whilst being technically and commercially viable. This work fed directly into detailed planning negotiations on energy performance for the development. Planning permission was granted in September 2004.
One Gallions
We helped Crest Nicholson BioRegional Quintain to secure this site in east London as part of the Mayor’s competition to build a flagship Zero Carbon development.
Wembley City
The £2bn redevelopment of land around the stadium is a flagship project for London and formed an important part of the London 2012 bid. We initially developed a Site Wide Energy Strategy to fulfill the requirements of the s106 planning agreement with the London Borough of Brent which has subsequently been approved.
Middlehaven
Camco Advisory Services Ltd (CAS) helped BioRegional Quintain Ltd (BQL) to secure and develop this English Partnerships site in the North East. The team responded to a development brief that set stringent energy standards by proposing an exemplar highly sustainable community based on principles of Zero Carbon, Zero Waste and efficient use of water and materials.
London Energy Partnership - Energy Action Areas
Camco Advisory Services Ltd (CAS) was commissioned by the Greater London Authority, on behalf of the London Energy Partnership, to define and develop the concept of ‘Energy Action Areas’ for London. These were then translated into a workable programme of action to deliver results on the ground. We proposed that a series of pilot Energy Action Areas should be centered on large scale regeneration projects where there was momentum building upon and large scale energy infrastructure being established.
Heart of East Greenwich
Camco Advisory Services Ltd (CAS) worked in collaboration with BioRegional Consulting on a project for English Partnerships, now the Homes & Communities Agency investigating appropriate sustainability standards for a number of their developments, including the carbon neutral Heart of East Greenwich scheme.
- Verco Advisory Services Limited
- Company No. 01974812
- ISO9001 certificate No. FS 558184
- ISO14001 certificate No. EMS 562493
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