Building performance evaluation and certification in the UK: Is SAP fit for purpose?

Kelly, Scott; Crawford-Brown, Doug; Pollitt, Michael G.

doi:10.1016/j.rser.2012.07.018

Cited by 119 publications

(94 citation statements)

References 27 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Residential, non-domestic [6,7] and historic buildings [8] all show a gap between the predicted and actual energy consumption. The energy consumption calculated by NCMs follows the same trend has been observed [9,10].…”

Section: Introductionsupporting

confidence: 79%

The Importance of Heating System Transient Response in Domestic Energy Labelling

et al. 2016

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

European National Calculation Methods (NCM), such as the UK Standard Assessment Procedure (SAP), are used to make standardised and simplified assessments of building energy performance. These NCMs contain simplifications to aid ease of use and comparability of resulting Energy Performance Certificates (EPC). By comparing SAP with a modern, dynamic modelling system, this study quantifies internal temperatures and thereby heating energy consumption. Results show that for the considered test house SAP results correspond closely to a dynamic model using an idealistic heating system, with perfect control and instant responsiveness. However, the introduction of a dynamic, physically realistic gas fired boiler and water based heating system to the model results in a consistent increase in internal temperature (0.5˝C) and energy demand (by ca. 1000 kWh/a). Variation of further parameters within the dynamic model, controls and heat source size, are presented and compared to SAP results and assumptions. The inclusion of more realistic dynamics in building energy modelling for NCMs may provide a better basis for effective decision making with respect to a wide range of heating systems.

show abstract

Section: Introductionsupporting

confidence: 79%

The Importance of Heating System Transient Response in Domestic Energy Labelling

et al. 2016

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Studies (e.g. on the use of standard assessment procedure modelling for UK residential buildings; Kelly, Crawford-Brown, & Pollitt, 2012) have also suggested that models and assessments may have perverse effects as 'ill-conceived building performance and evaluation criteria may actually incentivise an increase in CO 2 emissions in some circumstances' (Kelly et al, 2013, p. 603). Expertise in these strategies builds knowledge of how to match inputs, parameters and models to fulfil a marketable building's 'tick box' (quotation Q), within the marketability demands imposed by, for example, unique and distinctive architecture.…”

Section: Strategies For Meeting Standards and Demonstrating Compliancementioning

confidence: 99%

Energy-related standards and UK speculative office development

Cass

2017

Building Research & Information

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Non-domestic buildings have great potential for energy-related emission reductions in response to climate change. However, high-specification office buildings in the UK demonstrate that regulation, assessment and certification ('standards') have not incentivized the development of lower-energy office buildings as expected. Making use of the concepts of 'qualculation' and 'calculative agency', qualitative case studies of 10 speculatively developed office buildings in London, UK, provide new insight into why this is the case. Interview data (n = 57) are used to illustrate how 'market standards' substitute for user needs, and ratchet up the provision of building services to maximize marketability competitively. The examples of energy modelling and the market's (mis)use of British Council for Offices guidelines are used to explain how such standards perversely bolster energy-demanding levels of specification and building services, and militate against lowerenergy design, in the sector researched. The potentials for alternative, performance-based standards and new industry norms of quality are discussed. It is concluded that at least the London speculative office market by its very constitution and operation, including the reliance on standards, continues to create increasingly energy-demanding buildings.

show abstract

“…The predicted temperatures and SAP were used to identify the potential overheating risk. Nevertheless care had to be taken with using SAP given its limitations in relation to accuracy (Kelly et al, 2012, Hughes et al, 2013. Solar exposure and Direct Insolation data for Case B were calculated using Solar Analysis module in Bentley's Microstation V8i (Select Series 3) (Bentley, 2012).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%