James Hall, director for Associated Architects, has now qualified as a Certified European Passivhaus Designer, following an extensive training period and examination.

Passivhaus is a radical energy performance standard developed in Germany, but now being embraced globally by the design and construction community. The method focusses on minimising the heating demand of the building, in some cases down to a single heating rail, and allowing the thermal energy to be recovered and circulated.

The practice is currently completing the UK’s largest Passivhaus building, the “Centre for Medicine”:http://www.www.associated-architects.co.uk/projects/education/universities/medical-teaching-building/ at the University of Leicester and the new qualification further builds Associated Architects reputation in this field. In 2012 the practice’s “Eco Vicarages”:http://www.www.associated-architects.co.uk/projects/housing/eco-vicarages/ were the first residences in the country to attain this standard and Level 6 of the UK Code for Sustainable Homes.

James said, _‘Sustainability is a core part of Associated Architects mentality. We enjoy pushing buildings to deliver more for their users and the environment. Passivhaus principles can be applied to any project and should be considered as an integral part of the design process. With certified Passivhaus credentials we hope to get more clients to explore this rewarding design method.’_

To discover more about Passivhaus please “click here.”:http://www.passivhaus.org.uk/standard.jsp?id=122