Hornbeams, AECB Certification
Private New-build house in Suffolk
Our role was to guide the detailed design from planning approval stage, to achieve AECB Carbonlite Certification.
The architects were Project Orange; they specified sustainable & healthy materials, and the building was designed for minimal environmental impact.
Key Outcomes:
We completed the AECB New-Build Carbonlite Certification (Legacy protocol) in June 2025, to a very satisfied customer, “We are delighted with the outcome”.
Our Approach
We liaised with the architect and client on an ongoing and iterative process, and modelled the detailed design proposals in PHPP which required continued adjustment to reach the optimum design.
The client had specific requirements to avoid a water based heating supply. This required innovative thinking from the entire design team and we recommended a HPV system, (heat pump ventilation), which is a heat-pump combined with heat recovery ventilation to provide conditioned and filtered air being delivered to the habitable rooms.
SolarPV with a large electric-battery storage was combined with a Sunamp solid state phase change thermal-store for the hot water. The thermal- store delivers mains-pressure hot water instantly on demand, and is powered from renewable sources (solar PV & heat pump), coupled with agile grid electricity as required.
Our Process
We modelled the building in PHPP, which is the Passivhaus building modelling software, in an iterative process.
With the PH-Ribbon plug-in, we calculated the Embodied and Upfront energy for the building.
The Results
GIA – 286 sqm
Heat Demand from PHPP – 38 kWh/m2.yr TFA
Energy Use Intensity – 28 kWh/m2.yr GIA
Embodied Carbon – 66 kg CO2e/m2 GIA
Upfront Carbon – 55 kg CO2e/m2 GIA
Energy Consultancy & AECB Certification: Cayford
Architects: Project Orange
Energy Systems: Total Home Environment
Contractor: Moore & Stone
- Customer Private Client
- Field Residential
- Location Suffolk
- Year 2025
Paul provided professional expertise that ultimately resulted in the specification and construction of a dwelling that so far (almost 1 year in) is a delight to live in and proudly displays an AECB accreditation plaque by the front door. Private client, AECB Certification![]()