Tag: ACE

Designs progress near Edinburgh’s A-listed historic Gogar Castle

Written by Robert Ainslie on February 1, 2024. Posted in news.

Contemporary home near Gogar Castle moves to next stage

In The News: Architects, Block Nine Architects, are to progress its technical designs for a new high-end contemporary two-storey dwelling near Edinburgh’s A-listed historic Gogar Castle.

xburo provided its expert services:

🟢 Energy and sustainability services to set the low energy, low carbon solution for the project that will feature ground source heat pumps, PV and integrated battery and thermal storage to deliver a low energy dwelling fit for the future and the move to Net Zero.

🟢 As part of the definition of the strategy the team carried our detailed dynamic simulation modelling to design out overheating risk while working within a highly performing thermal envelope.

The MEP team will also deliver the detailed design input as we move into the construction stage of the project.

The project is currently at technical design stages, with an anticipated start on site in the spring of 2024. The consultancy team includes architects from Block Nine Architects, structural engineering Calum Benett Engineering Ltd., planning consultant JLL and xburo.

We will keep you posted on progress.

If you want to commission our services in Mechanical, Electrical and Public Health (MEPH) and Energy and Sustainability, please contact one of the team or email admin@xburo.co.uk

Scottish Building Standards to come into force

Written by Robert Ainslie on February 1, 2024. Posted in news.

Proposed changes to Building Standards: xburo briefing available

The Scottish Government has published proposed changes to the Scottish Building Standards that will come into force on the 1st of April 2024.

With heating and powering buildings currently accounting for 40% of the UK’s total energy usage – a figure that must be significantly reduced to achieve the goal of net zero emissions by 2045 – our Director Sarah Peterson – has prepared a full briefing document for clients and stakeholders to help explain the regulations, actions that need to be taken and exclusions to the new laws coming into force.

The paper includes Key Points:

🟢 No Gas heating systems permissible in all new buildings from 1st April 2024
🟢 Heat Pumps likely to be main solution with direct electric unlikely to pass the required energy reduction metrics
🟢 Energy becomes the key metric of pass rather than carbon
🟢 Carbon metric will still be used for EPCs (currently under consultation)
🟢 New requirements for Conversions will likely require upgrade and replacement of heating systems.

You can get a full detailed copy of our briefing and expert advice by contacting:

Sarah Peterson directly on sarahpeterson@xburo.co.uk

Scottish Building Standards to come into force

We are the Best Small UK Consultancy

Written by Robert Ainslie on January 25, 2024. Posted in news.

Xburo is named Best Small UK Consultancy at the Association for Consultancy and Engineering (ACE)

xburo has won the Best Small UK Consultancy at the Association for Consultancy and Engineering (ACE).

Winner of the Best UK Consultancy, xburo received the coveted accolade at an award ceremony held at the Leonardo Royal London Tower Bridge Hotel which was attended by hundreds of guests from the world of engineering and the built environment.

The ACE Awards celebrates the outstanding achievements within the industry, championing the best in the business, projects that excel and recognises companies from the world of engineering consultancy and the built environment.

xburo was shortlisted within the Best UK Consultancy (small) alongside nominees including: Aegaea Limited; M-EC Development Technical Consultants; and Rybka.

xburo’s Director Sarah Peterson, said: “To win the Best Small UK Consultancy at The Association of Consultancy and Engineering Awards (ACE) is a phenomenal achievement for xburo and the team. It is an honour to be recognised alongside our peers, by ACE, a leading industry body, and among leading companies. This award recognises the achievements of teams of engineers and energy experts as we continue to scale in growth and our in expert delivery as we help clients to achieve their ambitions, particularly as they navigate the route to net zero.”

Xburo Director, Thomas Brady, added: “Winner of the Best UK Consultancy is an outstanding accolade to be given by an industry body that recognises best practice. To be named amongst leading companies, our peers and innovators driving engineering and sustainability is testimony to the work that xburo delivers for its clients by our teams of experts. Congratulations to the team as we continue to do what we do best; bringing expertise, excellence and experience to those we work for and with.”

xburo, led by Michael A Gribben and Thomas Brady, grew the business in 2023 to deliver £500+million in transactional and construction value – scaling up with offices in Edinburgh, Glasgow and London. A number of strategic appointments including the addition of Director Sarah Peterson, who heads up the sustainability-arm to drive energy and sustainability, has been a key addition to help clients on the journey to net zero as well as a number of other recruits to bolster operations.

xburo has also been nominated for the Best UK Consultancy of the year at the CIBSE Building Performance Awards next month.