Grade I-listed King’s College Chapel, in Cambridge, is one of the UK’s most revered buildings, so a new photovoltaic array on the roof had to be designed with utmost sensitivity. Alex Smith finds out how Max Fordham’s design satisfied the planners
Tag: Solar
Smart homes, zero bills: Octopus Energy’s scheme for housebuilders
Octopus Energy is offering a partnership with housebuilders that guarantees zero energy bills for occupiers using its Kraken technology platform. Andy Pearson speaks to Nigel Banks about the company’s first pilot and a 200-home scheme planned with Bellway Homes
CIBSE Building Performance Champion: getting real with retrofits
To meet its net zero targets, the UK has to get to grips with carbon emissions in its ageing houses, and fast. The Welsh School of Architecture’s retrofit programme is doing just that and its pioneering work was recognised last month when it was named CIBSE’s 2023 Building Performance Champion. Andy Pearson reports
Panel gains: supplementing heat pumps with solar panels
Incorporating solar energy arrays in district energy networks powered by heat pumps has the potential to reduce carbon emissions, but by how much and at what cost? FairHeat’s Mark Reynolds crunches the numbers and considers the options
Solar flair: how combined PV and solar thermal technology won a CIBSE product award
Naked Energy’s VirtuPVT technology was a clear winner in the CIBSE Building Performance Awards in the Product or Innovation of the Year – Thermal Comfort category. Phil Lattimore looks at how combining solar photovoltaic and thermal technology offers an alternative solution for low carbon heating and power