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Evaluate the options for introducing energy efficiency measures to older and traditional buildings

URN: EEM02
Business Sectors (Suites): Energy Efficiency Measures in Older and Traditional Buildings
Developed by: II Aspire
Approved on: 2024

Overview

This standard is about evaluating the options for the introduction of energy efficiency measures to older and traditional buildings.

It sets out the skills, knowledge and understanding for you to evaluate the options for energy efficiency measures based on an understanding of building performance, the implications of building condition and use, current legal and regulatory requirements, and risks.  

This standard is suitable for those working in the retrofit sector with responsibility for evaluating options for energy efficiency measures in older and traditional buildings.

Performance criteria

You must be able to:

P1. identify the range of energy efficiency measures relevant to older and traditional buildings

P2. evaluate the implications of existing building issues, condition and defects, and how the repairs and enabling works required affect the choice of energy efficiency measures

P3. evaluate the implications of current and future occupancy and occupant behaviour on the selection of proposed energy efficiency measures

P4. evaluate the implications of the relevant legal and regulatory requirements

P5. evaluate the risks associated with the selected energy efficiency measures and how to mitigate them

P6. evaluate the suitability and use of different building performance modelling and evaluation techniques  

P7. evaluate the options for the introduction of energy efficiency measures to older and traditional buildings

Knowledge and Understanding

You need to know and understand:

P1.      RANGE OF ENERGY EFFICIENCY MEASURES
K1.        the range of energy efficiency measures for building fabric including building maintenance and repair, airtightness, ventilation and insulation

K2.        the range of energy efficiency measures for building services

K3.        the suitability of materials and construction techniques for older and traditional buildings with particular regard to:

  1. moisture open versus moisture closed materials and their capillarity, hygroscopicity and vapour permeability
  2. air gaps and thermal bypass
  3. air and vapour control layers

K4.        how and why it is important to concentrate on the interfaces between corners, junctions and edges of building elements, and between the building fabric, building services and the occupants

K5.        the interactions and effects of energy efficiency measures in combination with each other including:

  1. measures that are independent and do not interact
  2. measures which interact or may connect and require construction detailing
  3. measures which interact and require complementary specification and/or upgrade
  4. measures that are not appropriate together and should not be combined
  5. relationship between insulation and airtightness 

P2.    BUILDING ISSUES, CONDITION AND DEFECTS
K6.    how building issues, defects, enabling works and the repairs required affect the choice of energy efficiency measures

K7.    the effect of moisture on the energy performance of traditional materials and construction

P3.    OCCUPANT BEHAVIOUR
K8.    factors that influence occupant behaviour in relation to energy use including:
social factors including age and health:

  1. economic factors
  2. geographical and location factors
  3. psychological factors such as perception of comfort and comfort-taking
  4. type of building, building use, changes of use and occupancy pattern
  5. type of systems and system controls, including heating, cooling, ventilation systems
  6. tenure types and impact on maintenance
  7. occupant perceptions of controlled and uncontrolled ventilation
  8. occupant interaction with building systems and controls
  9. indoor environmental quality
  10. external environmental quality

K9.    the different methods of heat transfer – convection, conduction, radiation – in relation to the thermal comfort of occupants

K10. how levels of energy use vary between traditional buildings due to occupant behaviour

K11. the ways occupant behaviour impacts on moisture and humidity levels including:

  1. producing moisture and carbon dioxide through respiration
  2. producing moisture through activities such as cooking, bathing and drying clothes
  3. heating patterns and level of heat
  4. blocking intended ventilation routes

P4.    LEGAL AND REGULATORY REQUIREMENTS
K12. the ways in which energy efficiency measures can change the appearance and character of traditional buildings and impact their significance

  1. K13. the content and role of the following types of relevant legislation, regulations, standards and guidance, and how they treat the requirements for energy efficiency measures for traditional and protected buildings:
  2. planning and heritage protection
  3. national building regulations
  4. energy efficiency standards
  5. wildlife protection
  6. gas and combustion flues and vents
  7. party wall legislation
  8. British Standards and Publicly Available Specifications  
  9. fire safety

K14. the requirements of planning and heritage consents for energy efficiency measures on traditional and protected buildings

K15. when compliance with the technical requirements of the relevant national building regulations is required and when exemptions and special considerations apply

K16. when an application for approval to a building control or other regulatory body is required for energy efficiency measures

K17. how to obtain the necessary relevant legal and regulatory permissions including:

  1. sources of information to identify protected buildings
  2. application processes, documentation and timescales
  3. getting pre-application advice
  4. resolving potential conflicts between planning and heritage consents and national building regulations approval
  5. consequences of not gaining permission if required

P5.    RISKS
K18. the technical risks associated with energy efficiency measures and enabling works including:

  1. thermal bridges
  2. incorrect ventilation
  3. thermal bypass
  4. condensation
  5. interstitial condensation
  6. impact of extensions and alterations to the structure, fabric and finishes
  7. moisture movement
  8. impact on existing and proposed building services
  9. disturbance of hazardous materials
  10. material incompatibility
  11. timing of works including duration, time of year and disruption to occupants

K19. the potential unintended consequences of using poorly specified or unsuitable interventions or energy improvement measures including:

  1. harm to heritage values and significance
  2. harm to indoor environmental quality and occupant health from condensation, moulds and spores, and inadequate ventilation
  3. interstitial condensation and the impact on building fabric of rot, mould growth and decay
  4. impact of moisture on structural components such as walls, floors and roof timbers
  5. structural issues arising from the introduction of energy efficiency measures, such as solar panels
  6. performance gap and failure to achieve predicted carbon and financial savings 
  7. reduced access to services
  8. under or over performance of building services
  9. impact on fire safety
  10. poor interaction with other energy efficiency measures
  11. poor resilience to the impacts of current and future natural hazards including extreme weather events, wind driven rain, flooding and overheating
  12. impaired financial value
  13. increased maintenance liability
    14. 14.

K20. how and when to mitigate the risks including:

  1. adopt whole building approach
  2. concentrate on the interfaces
  3. risk management
  4. good communication between project managers, energy assessors, building control bodies, planning and conservation officers, building professionals, installers, and people who use and manage the building
  5. setting objectives and developing an improvement plan
  6. qualifications, knowledge and skills of the professional team
  7. vocational competence of installers and requisite certification schemes
  8. good design detailing

  9. planning

    • quality control during construction
    • testing and commissioning
    • handover advice to occupants
    • ongoing monitoring and evaluation
    • future maintenance of the building and energy efficiency measures
    • seeking specialist advice when needed

P6.    BUILDING PERFORMANCE MODELLING AND EVALUATION TECHNIQUES 
K21. the development, use and limitations of energy modelling and evaluation tools for older and traditional buildings

K22. the impact of using input assumptions, default recommendations and U-values on the energy efficiency rating and recommended energy efficiency measures 

K23. U-values, their sources and how they are calculated

K24.  how and why Psi-values are used

K25. in what circumstances calculated or in–situ measured U-values should be used and the issues to be aware of, including the documentary evidence required

K26. how to estimate the financial cost and payback of proposed energy efficiency measures for buildings

K27. the range of thermal and moisture models, how they compare, their uses and limitations

K28. how and why hygrothermal modelling is used

  1. K29. the range of calculations, testing and investigation techniques for assessing thermal and moisture risks, including:
  2. assessing the risk of surface and interstitial condensation
  3. calculation of overall heat gains
  4. assessment of ventilation
  5. calculation of the whole building ventilation rate
  6. heat transfer coefficient
  7. assessing the airtightness and air leakage paths of a building envelope by fan pressurisation testing
  8. infrared thermography to show variation in surface temperature in elements or the building envelope as an indicator of condition and to identify heat loss, heat gain, moisture, voids, defects, different materials
  9. monitoring internal relative humidity and indoor air quality using sensors and loggers
  10. overheating risk assessment
  11. psi value calculations

P7.    EVALUATE THE OPTIONS
K30. when and how proposed energy efficiency measures need to be adapted due to existing building structure, detailing and services, the heritage values and significance of buildings or technical risks

K31. when and how adaptations are required to existing building detailing and services, and when energy efficiency measures cannot be recommended due to these factors

K32. key concepts and how they apply to evaluating the options for the introduction of energy efficiency and ventilation measures including:

  1. fabric first approach and the potential risks for traditional buildings
  2. risk based approach
  3. whole lifecycle analysis
  4. embodied carbon
  5. sustainability and carbon footprint of materials

Scope/range

Scope Performance

Scope Knowledge

Values

Behaviours

Skills

Glossary

Protected building
A building that is listed as of special architectural or historic interest, a scheduled monument or located in a designated conservation area.

Links To Other NOS

External Links

Version Number

1

Indicative Review Date

2028

Validity

Current

Status

Original

Originating Organisation

Instructus

Original URN

INSOTV2

Relevant Occupations

Energy Advisor, Energy Inspector, Professionals in Energy Management and Advice

SOC Code

Keywords

Older and Traditional Buildings; Retrofit; Insulation; Ventilation; Building Defects; Thermal Performance