Alex Whitcroft

Sustainability geek, vegy, optimist, general trouble maker, developer, architect, designer. Director @KIN_co_uk They/them.

[Alex Whitcroft @AlexWhitcroft]

Buzzing atmosphere this morning at @TheBristolCommons Festival of Commoning. The win-wins of rent controls, land disposal reform, pensions that support commons... Delighted to have been invited to be on the panel for the housing session.

#CommunityOwnership #Recommoning

[Alex Whitcroft @AlexWhitcroft]

Previous project of mine back in my @berearchitects days is shortlisted for Residential Project of the Year at @CIBSEAwards tonight. Some impressive competition including the super geeks at @MaxFordhamLLP so fingers crossed! 🏆🤞
https://t.co/G0ylTylb5E
https://t.co/7pzPzTm4on

[Alex Whitcroft @AlexWhitcroft]

Very disappointed to see the Climate and Nature Bill not make it to vote today, and @UKLabour Gov for fighting it. Read the summary of the bill here (it's all sensible stuff): https://t.co/cGJgs6RPfb

[Carla Denyer @carla_denyer]

Incredibly disappointed that MPs didn’t get the chance to vote on the Climate and Nature Bill - a crucial piece of legislation to prevent climate breakdown & protect our natural world. But thanks to all those who backed it - I'll keep fighting for urgent climate action #CANBill

[Alex Whitcroft @AlexWhitcroft]

I & @MaximilianBloom have joined the (nerdy)-star-studded ranks of guests on the @ZeroAmbitions21 hosted by Dan Hyde & Jeff Colley talking about #VundaHaus & our innovative off-site manufactuered external wall insulation system for #retrofit!
https://t.co/lN6zBR3H0F @KIN_co_uk

[Alex Whitcroft @AlexWhitcroft]

Great workshop yesterday with stakeholders from across #Westminster with @CityWestminster Retrofit Taskforce and @KIN_co_uk, and presenting on streamlining procurement in #retrofit to deliver better outcomes at lower cost

[Alex Whitcroft @AlexWhitcroft]

Awesome day with #Vundahaus (pitching our offsite EWI for retrofit) at #WeAreUndaunted The Greenhouse pitch day at the @Ri_Science. Alongside pitches from so many cool climate tech startups! Inc. net zero clay cement, recycled fabric fibre MDF, replica leather grown from DNA

[Alex Whitcroft @AlexWhitcroft]

Great to have such a full-house and insight-filled discussion at the panel discussion on tackling #retrofit at scale yesterday at #Futurebuild / #NationalRetrofitConference

[Alex Whitcroft @AlexWhitcroft]

TER and TPER should be kept separate and only used as ‘interesting to know’ numbers given they are constantly changing based on grid factors. Consider them dynamically updated metrics rather than anything to assess a building itself on.
9/9

[Alex Whitcroft @AlexWhitcroft]

The above 4 numbers give a simple but robust overview of the building’s performance as well as identifying how fabric, systems, and renewables are adding up to the overall performance (meaning poor fabric etc can’t be hidden).
7/9

[Alex Whitcroft @AlexWhitcroft]

If EUI is to be used for compliance, budget amounts can be used for currently 'unregulated' uses (aknowledging that occupant use can vary significantly).
8/9

[Alex Whitcroft @AlexWhitcroft]

3. EUI before renewables. This measures the energy the building uses at-the-meter.

4. EUI after renewables and energy storage. This measures the energy the building imports from or exports to the grid, measured at-the-meter.
6/9

[Alex Whitcroft @AlexWhitcroft]

2. Final energy use. This is how much energy the building needs inc heating/ cooling, hot water, ventilation/ ancillary/ fans, and other regulated/core building uses, & heat pump COP; exc 'unregulated' plug loads)
5/9

[Alex Whitcroft @AlexWhitcroft]

The best approach is using four metrics together:

1. Heating/ cooling demand. This is how much energy the building needs to condition it (inc the benefits of ventilation rate & heat recovery, but exc heat pump COP)
4/9

[Alex Whitcroft @AlexWhitcroft]

We need to move away from notional buildings for compliance and use better metrics (measuring as-built performance).

Don't use TPER. We mustn't keep inc grid factors (which change constantly) in our compliance metrics).

Generally FEE is useful, but not the whole picture.
3/9

[Alex Whitcroft @AlexWhitcroft]

There are some improvements proposed but mainly little tweaks. Big improvements are ruled out as not wanting to cause "disruption" to the industry. Year after year of consultations & minor changes is far more disruptive than 1 big progressive change. Or climate disaster. 2/9

[Alex Whitcroft @AlexWhitcroft]

Just been submitting feedback to the Future Homes Standard consultation w @RIBA. Incredible despite years of gov "consultations" & advocacy (@LETI_UK @UKGBC) gov wants to stick to ineffectual methods inc notional buildings & % reductions. Just switch to as-built EUI already! 1/9

[Alex Whitcroft @AlexWhitcroft]

When I thought @UKLabour couldn't get limper on environment

https://t.co/h3Uq9gYyhQ

On same day world 1.5C threshold crossed
https://t.co/bkaQ5nNyQ9 @GNDRising @sianberry

Who's going to vote for a party who's 1 consistent feature is diligently avoiding standing for anything?

[Sian Berry @sianberry]

When the climate and young people are crying out for even more investment in a Green New Deal, delivering less than ever is not ‘pragmatic’ from Labour - it’s a collision course with reality and aiming your legacy at the bin before you even start.

[Alex Whitcroft @AlexWhitcroft]

I'm speaking at FutureBuild & the National Retrofit Conference on "Retrofit Design at Scale" with @Archima @loreanap & Nick Wilde. 13:30 - 14:15 on Wed 6 March on the Retrofit Stage at ExCel London. #Futurebuild2024 #NationalRetrofitConference24 #retrofit https://t.co/vIHDmpsFzK

[Alex Whitcroft @AlexWhitcroft]

@phplusmag @ecologicalbuild @G_B_Store @PorothermUK @KnaufUK @MarmoxUK @InternormUK @ThorsenJoinery @EcologyBS @BespokeBrickCo Really enjoyed working on this selfbuild project via @KIN_co_uk, helping Andrea and Sophia with the learning around passivhaus detailing and how to navigate the challenges and compromises driven my making the most spacially of the constrained site (and of selfbuild!).

[Alex Whitcroft @AlexWhitcroft]

Delighted to be moderating this amazing panel on delivering radical change in #construction to tackle #sustainability at #LondonBuild w/ the wonderful @Laura_Bar0n, Pablo Gugel, Rob McGill, Sam Bower & Craig Robertson.

16th Nov, 11-11:50, Olympia London:
https://t.co/GI4Dq6Z1oA