A Passive House development in Port St. Mary by Isle of Man based Design & Build developers, Complete Construction Services and Energy Services & Renewable Technology specialists SNX Ltd. has been shortlisted for the 2017 Best Eco Home award by Build It magazine, drawn from projects throughout the British Isles. www.builditawards.co.uk
Build It is the UK’s longest running and most focused bespoke build magazine http://www.self-build.co.uk/, sitting firmly at the heart of the construction community. It is the most detailed and practical title for real builders and renovators with current or prospective projects. Their annual awards bring together architects, manufacturers and key industry figures in recognition of innovation and excellence in the custom home sector.
Corvalla, a 4 bed new build passive house, sitting high on the Howe Road above Port St. Mary with spectacular views to the coast and designed in a Manx vernacular style, is the most Energy Efficient house on the Isle of Man, through adoption of the multi-award winning, Beattie Passive system build. Adaptable to virtually any style or architectural design, the completed development hides a structure built to the highest system design methodology that even goes beyond Passivhaus standards, delivering a home that is so smartly insulated, design efficient and air tight, that a traditional type of central heating system is simply unnecessary.
The factory produced system was constructed entirely on the Isle of Man under the SNX license by Complete Construction’s Island based workforce, before being erected on site with all materials locally sourced wherever possible. The Beattie Passive system is all modelled in Revit, a Building Information Modelling software (BIM) that allows users to design a building, its structure and components in 3D, annotate the model with 2D drafting elements, and access building information from the building model's database. This allows fast on-site erection with minimal material wastage, as every component is itemised within the Revit design package for each unit.
Beattie Passive’s system offers full design flexibility whether commercial or residential, and is the first system in the UK to be awarded certification as a complete build system by the Passivhaus Institute in Germany. After multiple awards and accolades for their new build system as well as their TCosy retrofit system over the last few years, Beattie Passive has just won the 2017 Best Passive House Design Company UK Award at the Sustainable Building Awards.
The new build Beattie Passive system will reduce energy demand by up to 90% and provide a much healthier living environment than a traditional build property with the Mechanical Ventilation & Heat Recovery system incorporated in to the house structure, changing the air several times an hour. With far higher levels of fire safety, sound-proofing, thermal efficiency and air tightness than called for by Building Regulations, every single property must pass a rigorous testing programme to measure the thermal efficiency through a Thermographic survey, the air leakage through an Air Tightness Test and sound and noise levels through Acoustic testing when appropriate, as well as a dedicated structural survey. Every property must achieve the required standard in each instance to gain certification from Beattie Passive. Only a small step remains to a full zero carbon development which could be achieved through a solar PV installation for example.
James Vickers, Managing Director of Complete Construction said ‘Working with the SNX and Beattie Passive teams has been a joy throughout the entire process and the end result is a stunning, robust home that our client is absolutely thrilled with. The adoption of this type of development will benefit the Island in so many ways and not just with the vastly reduced running costs and improved comfort levels. At a time when we are heading to crisis levels of skilled workers in the construction sector, the Beattie Passive system opens up a great opportunity to train and develop a much needed resource of expertise on the Island to build and erect our systems, which will go a long way to easing this problem.’
SNX and Complete Construction have regularly been recognised, both individually, and in collaboration at the Governments Annual Energy Awards for their major Private Sector ECO House developments in both contemporary and traditional styles, incorporating the very latest Renewable Technologies at every appropriate opportunity. It was a natural step therefore, to venture into Passive development and provide the Island with an ethical, cost effective option that reduces running costs vastly and delivers an even higher standard of performance and comfort level.
Corvalla owner Kevin Kniveton says ‘My experience of my new passive system home has surpassed all my expectations. I knew that my utility bills would be a fraction of what I would ordinarily pay in a traditionally built home, but even I was surprised at how low my quarterly bills have been over the most demanding months. I just can’t understand why all homes are not built this way’
The future would appear bright for future Passive developments in the Isle of Man, at least in the Private Sector where an understanding of the merits and true value of the system is now being recognised and acted upon. The opportunity is now there for the Isle of Man to create a cultural shift in acceptance and adoption of ethical construction which would both reduce the financial burden on tax payers, remove fuel poverty and establish a higher quality of living and working conditions for all concerned.
Ron Beattie, Chairman of Beattie Passive says ‘Beattie Passive are very pleased to see the first house delivered on the Island, and Corvalla is a great example of a successful partnership with SNX and Complete Construction Services. As a team we look forward to delivering many more high quality, Passivhaus homes across the Island.’
Whether it is working alongside local Architects and their clients, converting their designs and ideas in to the Beattie Passive system, or taking on a Design & Build package from the outset, the teams at CCS and SNX can provide the most future-proof, energy efficient home you could ever wish for without any sacrifice to comfort or practicality.
Steve Brown, Managing Director of Castletown based SNX said ‘Once again our continued awareness of the latest Energy Efficient developments within the construction sector brings an absolute gem of a system to the Isle of Man, which is wholly appropriate, affordable and beneficial to the island’s unique circumstances and infrastructure. Our collective investment in bringing a live, working case study to the Island, has demonstrated unequivocally that our systems work and perform brilliantly here and that the local workforce can build and develop to Passive standards. We now have further Private Sector passive developments in front of us, and have made the Isle of Man Government acutely aware of the on Island resources they have available to them.’
About Complete Construction Services
Complete Construction Services http://www.ccs-iom.com/ under the direction of MD James Vickers, have been designing and building bespoke properties on the Isle of Man for 23 years. In recent years, the focus of attention has been one of incorporating the most energy efficient and ethical technology available into the properties they have designed, to ensure that their completed projects are as efficient and future proofed as possible. With attention shifting to improving the building fabric still further, and working way beyond Building regulations, CCS has worked closely with SNX to bring Passivhaus system designs to the Isle of Man to and to build awareness of the merits and availability of such methodologies to the Isle of Man market.
Complete Construction Services Limited, Akerman Court, Balthane Industrial Estate, Ballasalla, Isle of Man, IM4 3HP
About SNX
SNX, http://www.snx.im/ based in Castletown, has been the biggest winner at each of the last six Isle of Man Government Energy Awards with 11 outright wins and 11 further High Commendations for a wide diversity of projects, from undertaking Energy Audits on the Island’s schools for the Department of Education and Children, to the widespread deployment of heat pump technology into Private and Public Sectors and to the design and installation of on-shore wind turbines. SNX evolved into a fully incorporated Manx company early in 2012 having worked initially from within the Stroma Group of Companies, though is now wholly independent. SNX represents the interests on the Island of many blue-chip service and technology providers and offers a huge resource in terms of Design, Consultancy, Procurement and Installation within the Energy Sector. SNX is currently providing the Island with the very latest state of the art commercial LED lighting systems and breaking ground rapidly on delivering new build and retro fit passive developments.
SNX Ltd., St Mary’s, The Parade, Castletown, Isle of Man, IM9 1LG
About Beattie Passive
Beattie Passive’s http://www.beattiepassive.com/ patented construction technique presents an opportunity for radical new thinking in the way we build today. From grand designs and housing developments to apartments, social and commercial buildings, Beattie Passive can design to any specification or style using Passivhaus methodology to deliver a complete build system certified by the Passivhaus Institute in Germany; the only company in the UK to achieve this award. Beattie Passive’s unique system won the 2014 Passive House of the Year and their retrofit TCosy system has won the 2015 Buildings & Energy Efficiency award for Innovative Product of the Year. Many awards have since followed including the 2017 Best Passive House Design Company UK Award at the Sustainable Building Awards.
Beattie Passive Build System Limited, Hethel Engineering Centre, Chapman Way, Hethel, Norwich, Norfolk, NR14 8FB
Notes
Originating in Germany, the term 'Passivhaus' refers to a construction method for energy efficient buildings that require little energy for space heating or cooling. With 90% less space heating required than a standard building, a Passivhaus is designed to assure a comfortable indoor climate in summer and require only nominal heating through the winter months without the need for a conventional heating system.
Photo - Corvalla.
