Healthcare & Childcare

An Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) assessment was carried out for Spa Dentistry, Glastonbury, an existing dental practice heated by a gas-fired boiler. The assessment considered the building’s existing construction, including the fabric, glazing and fixed building services, in accordance with the methodology for non-domestic EPCs.

The assessment considered the building’s regulated energy uses, including space heating, ventilation, lighting and domestic hot water, with the existing fabric and services modelled to establish the building’s current energy performance. The EPC assessment provided an energy rating for the existing building and identified opportunities to improve its energy efficiency and reduce associated carbon emissions.

A number of improvement recommendations were identified through the assessment. These included upgrading the existing windows to improve the thermal performance of the building fabric and reduce heat loss, together with the installation of photovoltaic (PV) panels to provide on-site renewable electricity generation.

The assessment also identified the potential replacement of the existing gas-fired boiler with an air source heat pump (ASHP). The proposed low-carbon heating system would reduce the building’s reliance on fossil fuels and improve its overall energy performance, subject to the suitability of the existing heat emitters and distribution system.

The EPC and associated recommendations provide a clear pathway for improving the energy performance of Spa Dentistry, with measures focused on reducing heat loss, increasing renewable energy generation and transitioning from gas-fired heating towards a lower-carbon heating solution. The recommended improvements would support a reduction in energy consumption and operational carbon emissions while improving the building’s overall EPC performance.

Energy assessment services were undertaken for the refurbishment of the Gloucester Road Medical Centre, completed in May 2022, to evaluate regulated energy performance and ensure compliance with current UK Building Regulations.

The assessment focused on the building’s upgraded fabric and building services, including heating, ventilation, lighting, and hot water systems. Special attention was given to the integration of energy-efficient solutions within the refurbished spaces, ensuring optimal thermal performance and operational efficiency.

The resulting EPC provided a clear benchmark of the building’s regulated energy performance, confirming compliance with Part L requirements and demonstrating the project’s commitment to sustainable design and energy efficiency in healthcare facilities.

Energy assessment services were carried out for the new-build childcare facility, Snapdragons Nursery. The EPC assessment covered all non-domestic areas, including activity rooms, quiet/sleep areas, staff offices, a full commercial kitchen, a children’s teaching kitchen, specialist quiet rooms and high-quality staff break-out facilities. All spaces were evaluated in line with current regulatory requirements for early years and childcare buildings.

The analysis focused on regulated energy uses—heating, cooling, ventilation, lighting, and domestic hot water—assessing the building fabric and efficiency of fixed services to demonstrate compliance with Part L of the Building Regulations. To satisfy Part L, ‘Conservation of Fuel & Power’, the building achieved an air tightness of 2.53 m³/hour, exceeding best practice and well above the standard for school buildings. The building also benefitted from a photovoltaic array.

Ventilation strategies, internal gains, and occupancy profiles were carefully considered, with zoning applied to reflect the different usage patterns across activity and support areas. The resulting EPC and compliance outputs confirm the development meets regulatory standards, providing a safe, comfortable, and energy-efficient environment for early years education.