It’s a tricky time to be in the building trade. It’s widely acknowledged that the British economy is in the doldrums, and the property market is far from booming. Against this background, the Government’s commitment to cutting CO2 levels has led to the Building Regulations Part L being significantly modified, which has required a sea change in building practices. The industry has had to adapt to all these challenges, and will have to continue to do so as time goes on – Part L will again be amended in order to meet the 80% carbon reduction commitment by 2050 (compared to 1990 levels) that the Government has made.
Navigating the regulatory landscape is difficult at the best of times, but with new approaches to building needed in order to meet the new requirements, developers and architects alike can benefit from the expertise of specialist partners. This specific knowledge can help avoid costly and time-consuming hold-ups in the building process, and can even cut build costs through all carbon reduction measures being incorporated from the start, rather than bolted on halfway through.
At AJ Energy we can be most effective and helpful if we’re brought in right at the start of a project, and follow it through to completion – and it’s the most cost-efficient option for our clients too. For example, if we’re engaged to conduct the planning SAP calculation, we can very quickly and easily issue the post construction stage SAP certificate and On Construction EPC. Using one consultant for planning, and another for post construction means you’re effectively paying twice – you could even end up paying three times if your SAP consultant isn’t accredited to produce EPCs. Why not engage a single consultant for the whole job instead? Using a single firm throughout also cuts down on the amount of admin work required, and the number of meetings held, and of course time is money.
Our continued support through the build can also help you know where costs can be cut. Not only is it best to incorporate efficiency measures from the outset (it’s when they’re bolted on as an afterthought they become expensive), but any alterations made to the spec could become an expensive mistake if they affect the building’s SAP rating. Our SAP modelling software works in real time, so once we’ve done the initial calculations, at any point we can make amendments (say if you found a cheaper type of insulation board, or specified a different type of central heating system) and let you know the impact of these changes right away, to help you make the right decision without delay.
To speak to us about how we can provide a more integrated support service throughout the planning and build stages, please call us on 01206 274 034 or email us.
