Energy statements are requested as supporting documents for a planning application, they may be set as a condition on the planning application or may be completed at a pre-application stage to support a planning permission request.
So what are energy statements?
Energy statements are utilised to show how your proposed development is to achieve the required reductions in carbon emissions. The local authority may set policies on how much they are looking for your development to reduce its overall carbon emissions, or the planning officer may set the reduction on a project-by-project basis. An Energy statement should outline how these reductions are to be achieved through the use of the energy hierarchy, This covers the use of energy efficiency measures, on-site generation, and/or renewable technologies. we have set out each stage of the energy hierarchy below to assist you in designing your project in line with the local authorities guidance.
Energy Efficiency Measures – BE LEAN
Use Less Energy, policies dictate that a ‘fabric first’ approach must be taken, this is to ensure that the development is minimising the amount of energy used through high levels of insulation, glazing, and airtightness of the development.
Supply energy efficiently – BE CLEAN
This step is used to explore the option for the development to be supplied by either decentralised energy systems or Combined Heat & Power (CHP), this is an optional step depending on the availability of connection to a decentralised system or the overall energy demand for the project.
Renewable Technologies – BE GREEN
The final step in the production of an energy statement is to review the use of renewable technology within the development to achieve the required carbon reductions dictated by the local & national policies. Technologies that are normally reviewed for feasibility include Solar PV, Solar Thermal, Air Source Heat Pump, Ground Source Heat Pump, Biomass & Wind turbines.
The London Plan & Zero-carbon Homes
The London plan dictates that new developments must demonstrate a C02 emissions reduction of 35% below the minimum Building Regulations (Part L 2013), it also states that the above be lean, be clean & be green methodology should be followed.
Within the London plan, the zero-carbon homes policy is outlined. All major developments that are submitted to planning after the 1st of October 2016 will be required to be zero-carbon, This means that any regulated carbon emissions that are not reduced through the design of the development (Be lean, Be clean, Be green) must be off-set through a cash in lieu contribution to the relevant borough. Currently, the Carbon Offset price is set at £60 per tonne of carbon dioxide for 30 years. As an example, if a development meets the 35% reduction criteria through the use of the above method, they would then have to calculate the number of tonnes to make up the remaining 65% for the development to be zero-carbon.
How can I ensure I meet the required emissions reductions?
firstly, engaging a consultant early on in the design process will allow you to look into the different options on how to ensure compliance and satisfy the local authorities’ requirements. It is always best to follow the steps outlined above when you are looking to meet the reductions in the most cost-effective manner, therefore designing the thermal elements of your project is a great starting point. Once the design has been completed we would recommend utilising the services of both an energy consultant and an MEP Consultant if possible to ensure that you can review options for the heating and cooling of the project in the most effective manner. Finally considering renewable technology from the initial stages will ensure that the technology can be designed into the project efficiently and can satisfy the council’s requirements.
What information will be required to complete an energy statement?
To complete an energy statement we would require the below information
- Architecural drawings
- Planning conditions (if planning has been granted)
- Proposed development specifications or preferred options
From the above, we will be able to run the required calculations and feasibility studies to determine the most suitable route to meeting the local authority targets
How can carbon emissions be reduced?
A number of options are available to reduce the carbon emissions for your project, as well as the fabric first approach as outlined in the ‘Be Lean’ section above, we would also review the potential of using the below low carbon / renewable technologies to meet the carbon reductions
- Air Source Heat Pump
- Ground Source Heat Pump
- Solar Photovoltaics
- Solar Thermal
- Wind Turbines
- Biomass Boiler
- CHP & mCHP (Combined Heat & Power)
The technologies listed above will be able to either heat the project with a low carbon heating source or can offset carbon emissions via renewable technologies and on-site generation. We will review each technology within the energy statement.
Are Energy statements for residential or commercial developments?
Energy statements can be produced for both residential and commercial developments, the method behind the statement is the same for both types of development and will review the reduction in carbon emissions for the proposed development/s.
How much do energy statements cost?
When it comes to energy statements each site and development has its own unique attributes and therefore a fixed cost for an energy statement is not possible therefore all projects will be priced individually. However, the cost of an energy statement can vary between a few hundred pounds to a few thousand pounds depending on the size, requirements, and challenges of the project. feel free to get in touch with one of our consultants for a tailored fee proposal.