Sustainable living in Scotland

A development of 16 social homes designed and built to Passivhaus standards has been constructed in Dalbeattie, Dumfries and Galloway, for Loreburn Housing Association (HA).

The project is part of a new-build programme that commits to delivering Passivhaus-standard affordable housing across the unitary council area. Loreburn HA’s five-year development programme, which began in 2023, aims to deliver up to 250 affordable homes that meet Passivhaus standards, providing a mix of extra care, supported and general needs accommodation.

Each home is fitted with an air source heat pump in place of a gas boiler, as well as solar panels and electric vehicle charging points – all of which will help the housing association achieve its net-zero targets.

The project has completely transformed and regenerated a previously derelict brownfield site, creating bright, new energy-efficient and accessible homes.

Building standards

Loreburn HA has been vocal in its support for Passivhaus, providing statements and feedback to the consultation on the Proposed Domestic Building Environmental Standards (Scotland) Bill, which has now been adopted by the Scottish Government.

“We’re committed to building strong and sustainable communities,” says Loreburn HA’s chief executive, Lorraine Usher. “Our new-build standard consolidates our approach towards offering affordability for our tenants and sets us on the road towards achieving net zero carbon.

“By adopting Passivhaus standards, we’re making sure that our tenants can afford to live comfortably in their homes, while future-proofing our housing stock by ensuring long-term energy efficiency.

“Fuel poverty is a real and serious issue faced by many households across Dumfries and Galloway. Our Passivhaus programme is a step towards addressing this issue as we work to provide our tenants with a comfortable and healthy indoor environment, while minimising the energy demand of their homes."

Sustainable solution

Designed by architect Robert Potter & Partners and built by main contractor Ashleigh (Scotland), the two- and three-bedroom properties meet the highest standards of energy efficiency and comfort – part of Loreburn HA’s commitment to delivering new homes fit for the future. This type of home will play a key role as local authorities and housing associations look to deliver new homes in line with the New Build Heat Standard (Scotland) or the 2025 Future Homes Standard.

The homes, which were designed to achieve the best energy efficiency, are well insulated and use mechanical heat recovery ventilation to help remove condensation and moisture, and regulate temperatures.

In order to meet Passivhaus standards, everything from the insulation to the windows needed to be correctly specified, including the size of each home’s heat pump.

Space was also a consideration as the design needed to guarantee there was ample room for the internal and external elements of the pumps, without compromising the comfort of the tenants.

Heating contractor James Frew was tasked with providing the air source heat pumps and it partnered with Baxi, which was able to offer onsite support to implement the technology.

The team at James Frew worked closely with Baxi experts – Craig McVicar, specification manager, and Ryan Kirkwood, engineering solutions manager – to ensure the heat pump specifications were correct for the design requirements of each house. Baxi’s air source heat pumps, compatible cylinders and uSense controls were specified to provide the heating and hot water provision for each of the properties, with three radiators per dwelling.

Specialist training

James Frew’s engineers were able to access Baxi’s specialist training, which allowed them to familiarise themselves with the specified solution, so they were confident when it came to installation. The team also benefited from expert support on site, ensuring the full system was designed correctly and could be installed within the space. Baxi’s commissioning engineers, Michael Murray and Adam Stock, were on hand to oversee the commissioning of each of the heat pumps and to ensure they would operate as expected once installed at each home.

“The design support and training meant the team had peace of mind that the most suitable products would be going into the homes and that our engineers were comfortable with the installation of them,” explains Evan Peat, senior contract manager at James Frew.

“It was also really important to have the support on site from Craig and Ryan. Having their expertise on the ground meant we were able to overcome this challenge and still meet the Passivhaus standard.”

The project is an example of how collaboration and consultation can help social housing providers achieve net-zero homes.

“The standard of these homes is testament to Loreburn HA’s commitment to building warm and highly energy efficient homes, where technology and intelligent design come together to create a sustainable future for our tenants,” says Alison Maxwell, project delivery officer for Loreburn HA.

Fit for the future

Although some tenants were unsure of what Passivhaus would mean for them, there has been an extremely positive response to their new and enhanced energy-efficient homes.

Gavin Johnston, director of property and development at Loreburn HA, explains: “These tenants are embarking on a new chapter of sustainable living in homes where they can flourish.

“With a focus on the future, the design ensures that tenants can create a lifetime of memories within their walls, fostering a sense of belonging and a deep connection to their community and new home.”

The Dalbeattie residents told the team at Loreburn HA that the improved air quality in their Passivhaus homes has provided them with significant health benefits, particularly among those suffering from asthma and eczema. Data regarding air quality and CO2 levels has been described by the housing association as ‘encouraging’.

Speaking about his experience of living in one of the properties, Alan Vinnie, a Loreburn HA tenant, said the reduction in his energy bills would be a huge relief and that his new home had also improved his quality of life: “You can really notice the change in the air and it’s so quiet. I think all future builds should be of this standard.

“I had no idea what having a Passivhaus home meant and, before moving in, I didn’t appreciate it for what it was. It’s so interesting how it all works – you can just tell there’s something different about the way the house operates.

“I’ve been smiling ever since I moved in. It’s such a lovely community and I’m in a very central location. I couldn’t be happier about being back.”

WHAT IS PASSIVHAUS?

Passivhaus (or Passive House) is one of the world’s most rigorous design standards for both residential and commercial buildings. Enhanced air tightness and exceptional levels of fabric insulation underpin the Passivhaus design ethos, which can bring the space heating requirements in dwellings down to around 90% of that of typical building stock, and in many cases to zero.

For more information, visit: recoup.co.uk/technical/passive-house