Zero Carbon Hub's Builder's Book is a game-changer

An informative guide that aims to promote good workmanship by helping you identify and rectify the most common energy efficiency-related problems in construction has launched.

It is hoped the Zero Carbon Hub’s Builder's Book, produced alongside CITB, PTE Architects and LABC, will help close the ‘energy performance gap’ in new build homes by identifying and recommending solutions to the most common construction problems.

The informative guide, which is aimed at improving traditional masonry construction of new homes and extensions, uses a mixture of real world examples and easy-to-understand designs to shed light on some of the most common problems relating to energy efficiency, such as incorrect and poor installation of products and the commissioning of building services.

What's included in Zero Carbon Hub's Builder's Book

• Real world examples gathered from inspections of multiple buildings sites across the country
• Simple-to-understand diagrams, icons and summaries to help you improve site processes and deliver better-performing homes while also reducing potential risks such as mould growth, condensation and excessive heat loss
• User-friendly, featuring removable pages for site management, in-house and external training sessions
• Addresses details from across all build stages including foundations and groundworks, cavity walls, window and service installations and final fix
• Outlines each topic with example photographs taken from live development sites, followed by step-by-step guides to establish and encourage good practice.

The Builder’s Book launched on 14 July in Woking at the WWF Living Planet Centre during the Zero Carbon Hub’s event in collaboration with Innovate UK and CITB.

Further information

• Read more about the guide and the event at www.zerocarbonhub.org.
• For homeowners – read about how to make your home energy efficient and save money in the long run (link added in April 2019).

Please Note: Every care was taken to ensure the information was correct at the time of publication. Any written guidance provided does not replace the user’s professional judgement. It is the responsibility of the dutyholder or person carrying out the work to ensure compliance with relevant building regulations or applicable technical standards.