Wilmcote House EnerPhit Project, Portsmouth City Council | Keegans

 

Achieving the EnerPHit Standard and Securing ECO Funding

Attracting ECO funding, the project was designed to meet the stringent EnerPHit standard, the retrofit equivalent to Passivhaus. Achievement of this standard reduced annual heating and hot water costs by 90%, saving around £750 per dwelling per annum in energy bills. As part of this project, we refurbished the community centre including overcladding, reconfiguring, new insulation and roof to ensure it becomes a valuable asset for the community to use. As quantity surveyors, we provided cost plans throughout the design stages and worked with the client and architects to gain additional funding via EnerPHit. We worked closely with the client to produce the tender documents including Bills of Quantities and the pricing document. It was tendered via OJEU 2-stage procurement.

 

Comprehensive Quantity Surveying and Financial Management

As part of our quantity surveying role, we carried out regular valuations and cost reports and reviewed any variations submitted by the contractor against what had been carried out on-site and adjusted accordingly. This process was carried out monthly and reported back to the client. In addition to the above, we also submitted variation claims and negotiated on variations. This was an ongoing process throughout the project and ultimately resulted in the final account.

 

We provided the client with monthly cost reports with measurements against the contract sum advising the client if the project was on budget and any predicted overspending as well as assisted in any extension of time claims from a financial point of view.

 

 

 

 

Implementing Passive House Standards with PHPP Software

As this project needed to achieve the stringent Passivhaus standards, the project’s design and specification used the Passive House Package (PHPP) software. PHPP was the key design tool used when planning a Passive House and as such, served as the basis of verification for the stringent Passive House Standard. For example, our project manager and designers reviewing costs for the project with our quantity surveyors, we were able to quickly plug in alternate solutions into the programme to identify the impact each change would have on the success of the project as a whole.

 

The project was managed by a single main contractor (Engie) with several subcontractors responsible for key packages including structural repairs and enveloping works. In addition, the contractor was responsible for some CDP elements and separately employed an airtightness consultant and Passivhaus designer. Following the appointment of the contractor Keegans administered the contract and led the client team in monitoring contractor performance.

 

Efficient Project Management with BIM Technology

Wilmcote House has been designed using BIM. BIM allowed better communication with the client, greater understanding within the project team of the building as a whole and the ability to produce a more integrated design. Embracing BIM allowed us to project manage the whole design and delivery team to produce better coordinated and rationalised building design, whilst at the same time reducing project programmes through more accurate scheduling and synchronized detailing, which in turn reduced material waste and operating costs.

 

With Wilmcote House the largest occupied building to target EnerPHit in the world, PCC invited Southampton University to undertake studies to establish the extent of fuel poverty within the building and measure the building’s thermal performance. A partnership was also formed with the London School of Economics (LSE) who surveyed residents before, during and after the works to understand the challenges and benefits of working with residents in-situ, and what impact the project has had on their lives.

 

Results and Resident Feedback

Upon project completion, Southampton University’s monitoring revealed significant improvements in thermal comfort and reduced energy usage. The LSE report captured positive resident feedback, with comments highlighting the increased comfort, reduced energy bills, and overall satisfaction with the refurbished building.

 

 

Resident Satisfaction