Publications
Standards And Guidance
Please view our Standards and Guidance section for more information.
AECB Research and Papers
Biomass - a burning issue, Sep 2010 - download
In this short discussion paper, Nick Grant and Alan Clarke consider whether it is right -- or helpful -- to define biomass fuel as "zero carbon". Visit the AECB forum (Building Services board) to find out the views of AECB members.
Comparing energy use and CO2 emissions from natural ventilation and MVHR in a Passivhaus house A CarbonLite Information Paper, Jan 2009 - download
This paper vividly demonstrates what SAP won't tell you: just how much of the heat loss from a well-insulated building is down to ventilation! But don't worry - the paper also shows that a good MVHR system can save you most of that heat - for a fraction of the energy cost.
Projecting energy use and CO2 emissions from low energy buildings - A Comparison of PHPP with SAP, Jan 2008 - download
A detailed anaylsis of how PHPP (2007) and (2005) SAP differ, and recommendations for improvements to both packages. Findings and recommendations included:
- SAP 2005 is insensitive to aspects of super-low-energy design, and can 'hide' the full benefits of insulation and airtightness;
- PHPP 2007 would benefit from a less forbidding interface.
The Green Electricity Illusion, Jan 2007
- Download full paper
- Download summary article (first published in Green Building)
In this paper written for AECB David Olivier explains the true carbon cost of specifying electric heating.
Electric heating is energy-inefficient, and if more electricity gets used, more will have to be generated. Because there is no spare renewable generating capacity, the only way to increase electricity supply is to burn more fossil fuel, whatever the tariff of the new consumers.
David Olivier shows how current building standards give an artificial "get out" for electric heating, allowing electrically-heated buildings to sell themselves as greener than they really are.
At the same time, electric heating is expensive to run - though it is often cheap to install. But buildings designed to be dependent on electricity will be extremely expensive to convert to truly green energy sources in future - they will turn out instead to be expensive relics that no-one can afford to live in.
Consultation Responses
Renewable Heat Incentive: Consultation on the proposed financial support scheme AECB response: background and evidence, April 2010
In this widely-reported consultation response, AECB warned that DECC's proposed "Renewable Heat Incentive" is so badly designed that in some circumstances it pays people to install systems that emit more CO2.
As well as questioning the kinds of heat defined as renewable" and the assumption that this might equate to "low carbon", AECB also took fundamental issue with the principle of rewarding energy consumption: the 'earn as you burn' basis for DECC's proposals.
As AECB CEO Andy Simmonds put it: "Trying to cut emissions and increase energy security by rewarding heat consumption, is like trying to lose weight by eating more and more low calorie biscuits."
Consultation on proposed changes to the Government's Standard Assessment Procedure (SAP), Sep 2009
AECB calls for improvements in many areas of SAP, so that the impacts of design mistakes (like inadequate insulation or overlong pipework) show up clearly, and so that good design of fabric and services are given their due.
The Association's response also challenges the confusion of "renewable" with "low carbon", pointing out that, for instance, rainwater recycling and biomass burning have relatively high carbon footprints.
Heat Strategy - Call for Evidence; Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (BERR), Feb 2008
Code for Sustainable Homes Consultation