What is the UHI effect, what causes it and why does it matter? And what solutions are available to mitigate the issue? The world is heating up and temperatures are rising globally. With this comes a resulting increase in building temperatures, particularly in urban areas. It seems obvious that in heavily populated towns and cities, buildings will be closer together […]

‘We must ensure that the homes and buildings we work and live in positively contribute to our physical and mental health instead of diminishing it.’ Jim Shannon MP – Chairman of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Healthy Homes and Buildings This quote opens the recent White Paper (Building our Future – Laying the Foundations for Healthy Homes and Buildings) that […]

Building design and the renovation of the current housing stock should be holistic; considering elements such as energy efficiency, indoor air quality, ventilation, lighting and acoustics, etc. The health, comfort and wellbeing of residents should be at the heart of good building and infrastructure planning. Jim Shannon MP- Chairman of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Healthy Homes and Buildings   Anyone reading the White […]

How to design heat out of homes in urban areas The world is heating up and temperatures are rising globally. With this comes a resulting increase in building temperatures, particularly in urban areas. It seems obvious that in heavily populated towns and cities, buildings will be closer together to cope with the sheer number of residents, but it does actually […]

When it comes to building houses, a number of factors are deemed important, from using sustainable materials to implementing and maintaining high levels of energy efficiency. Energy, in particular, has been a core focus of the building services and construction industries for a long time, with insulation and air-tightness being pushed right to the top of the agenda. This prioritisation […]

When it comes to building houses, a number of factors are deemed important, from using sustainable materials to implementing and maintaining high levels of energy efficiency. Energy in particular has been a core focus of the building services and construction industries for a long time, with insulation and airtightness being pushed right to the top of the agenda. This prioritisation […]

Results of a study released this week have revealed the extent to which effective filtration of indoor air can impact our health. The study shows that filters used to improve indoor air quality (IAQ) can have a beneficial effect on blood pressure levels, decreasing the risk of serious conditions such as heart attacks and strokes. The World Health Organization attributes four million deaths a year to […]

As summer temperatures soar in the UK, people are rejoicing at the prospect of wearing shorts to work, or getting out the flip-flops and deck chairs set up outside to maximise our very limited Vitamin-D exposure. However, summer months can bring harmful complications to homes. Unknown by many, the internal climate within our homes is also rising to steamy new […]

Energy efficiency remains at the top-of-the-list when it comes to current regulations, despite air quality rising up in the news agenda as a serious cause for worry. Societal and habitual changes, partly resulting from the convenience of modern technology and the move towards a more ‘online’ lifestyle, have led to greater periods being spent indoors. The risk of car pollutants […]

One of the biggest complaints homeowners have about ventilation and heat recovery units is noise. In what’s known as ‘dripping tap syndrome’, if someone moves into a property and hears something, they will always hear it. This can be caused by number of sources including ventilation systems such as MVHR. Noise from MVHR units doesn’t need to be a nuisance […]