Newform Energy’s PV-T system has been installed in a new development of five 2-bed apartments, located in the North Kent coastal town of Whitstable, by specialist thin joint block constructor Masonry Frame Systems.
This has been the first time that the builder has adopted solar technology and whose over-riding objective for its Whitstable development was to create a unique exemplar model of best practice. After comprehensive market research, Masonry Frame Systems selected Newform Energy as the ultimate specialist supplier in this sector.
Newform Energy’s pioneering solar solution, which uses the company’s unique PV-T panel technology, has enabled the development to achieve a SAP (Standard Assessment Procedure) energy efficiency rating of ‘AA’, understood to be the first in the UK. Furthermore, it has also been awarded an EPC (Energy Performance Certificate) rating of ‘A’ for energy efficiency and carbon emissions, where previously a ‘B+’ was considered to be the ceiling of achievement.
Built to Level 4 of the Code for Sustainable Homes, the development, which has just been completed, has embraced the principles of PassivHaus and even features triple glazed windows to achieve a 0.93 level of airtightness, the lowest Masonry Frame Systems has ever achieved and substantially lower than the industry average of 3.5. Despite the majority of the flats enjoying a sea facing aspect, the 3-storey building’s 97% energy efficiency level will result in an average energy running cost of just £175 per year.
On his collaboration with Newform Energy, Joint Managing Director of Masonry Frame Systems, Norman Hinckes, commented: “In both the quality of its product and the level of its knowledge and support, Newform Energy has proved to be a perfect partner with whom we are now looking forward to working together on many of our future developments.”
Having recently secured Council funding to help support the continued growth of the company, Newform Energy’s Managing Director, Keith Willett, is very proud of his team’s achievements: “Newform Energy prides itself on its pioneering development of cutting edge solar technology to help ensure our ever increasing demand on energy can be met by renewable resources.
"By working closely with our trade partners, together we can help reduce the UK’s dependency on energy from unsustainable and increasingly expensive sources.”
