Allan Joyce Architects are committed to designing buildings that embrace energy saving measures. We discuss methods of construction and environmental considerations with all of our clients at the outset of the project and encourage them to make decisions that will have the minimum impact on the environment.

One of the simplest and most economical ways to reduce the carbon footprint of a building is to increase the level of insulation in the floor, walls and roof. This is particularly effective when combined with a construction method which has a high 'thermal mass'.

We have many years of experience of:

• super-insulation projects
• passive solar space heating 
• natural "air conditioning"
• earth-sheltered design

Another important area to consider is the selection of the heating system as this will have a huge impact on your carbon emissions and future running costs. Finding the most suitable system for you will depend on your budget and the type of construction, but Allan Joyce Architects have used all of the following systems on previous projects:

• passive solar water heating
• thermal stores
  
• gas, oil and lpg boilers
• biomass heating
• ground-source and air-source heat pumps

The following environmental considerations will also contribute to a low carbon, energy efficient building and have an important role to play in achieving a high Code for Sustainable Homes rating.

• rain-water harvesting
• photo-voltaic arrays
• air-tightness
• embodied energy