The legally-binding Paris Agreement has put into action a number of targets that the UK needs to achieve to reach our goal of net zero carbon by 2050. Buildings still account for over 20% of our total annual emissions, and with around 80% of the building stock needed by 2050 already built, the focus must be on retrofitting and decarbonisation of existing estates and homes in order to achieve these commitments.
Alongside the launch of the Building Safety Act and tightening of government regulations, Speller Metcalfe is already supporting both our public and private sector clients in bringing their buildings up to the standards and recommendations required.
Why Speller Metcalfe
Speller Metcalfe has an award-winning background and a wealth of experience in delivering low carbon, energy efficient buildings.
As a principal contractor, working with us provides the ease of a one-stop shop for retrofitting and decarbonisation – minimising client risk and ensuring cost and programme control. We engage early to get to the root cause of any problems and work with you to achieve best solution and realise net zero aspirations.
Emissions from buildings still account for around 20% of our total annual emissions, but only 40% of housing in the UK currently achieves an EPC energy performance rating of C or above.
"Meeting standards
Our approach follows the key industry standards for best practice in both domestic and commercial projects:
- The Building Safety Act
- PAS 2030 / PAS 2035
- Passivhaus EnerPHit
- UKGBC Commercial Retrofit
- LETI Climate Emergency Retrofit guide
As a business, we’ve committed to achieving net zero by 2032 (Scope 1 & 2 emissions), 18 years ahead of government targets, and fully support our clients in meeting their own ambitions.
The project was a brilliant success – the low energy building handed over, fully tested and with no end user complaints, which is almost unheard of. Furthermore it has gone on to win or be shortlisted for a number of awards, including Project of the Year at the Building Awards.
"The result?
- Energy efficient buildings through a fabric-first approach
- Reduction of carbon emissions
- Energy use savings
- Improved working and learning environments
- Contributions to the wider UK’s renewable energy supply
- Re-energising areas and revitalising communities
- Ensuring historic and significant buildings stay standing
- Staying competitive in a market where sustainability is a key driver
Relevant awards
Meeting client needs
Working collaboratively is our bread and butter, and we have a long, award-winning history that recognises early contractor engagement (both conception and design stage), as key to reaching a scheme’s full potential.
With extensive experience in retrofit and decarbonisation, we also understand the strict funding and legislative parameters clients face, and are here to help secure funding and get projects to site, especially when faced with tight deadlines.
This process was so successful because each of the team members was engaged and given the chance to contribute.
There were numerous examples where challenges were dealt with through open discussion, where a successful project outcome was the combined, mutual goal.
"University of Wolverhampton
Trusted partners
Many of our trusted partners, including PAS 2030-qualified subcontractors, have worked with us for the best part of three decades.
They bring expertise in delivering net zero and low carbon projects, particularly in the design, installation, and commissioning of M&E systems for optimal building efficiency.
Our specialist team
Adrian Speller
Technical Director
Adrian has overseen the development and delivery of some of the UK’s most sustainable buildings, both new build and retrofit. He is Passive House Tradesperson certified, which is globally recognised, ensuring he is expertly qualified in the design and construction of high-performance buildings that use a fabric-first approach.
Rob Ackerman
Design & Pre-Construction Manager
Rob has nearly 40 years’ sector experience of working within both the wider construction and residential sectors. He is also qualified in Retrofit Coordination and Risk Assessment, which meets the standards for domestic retrofit co-ordinators as outlined in PAS 2035 and the Each Home Counts Quality Mark.
Matt Bird
MEP Manager
Matt has over 30 years’ experience within the MEP sector, which includes delivery of net zero carbon schemes, including ground and air source heat pump installations on both small and large-scale projects. He plays an active role in design and management – from pre-construction through to commissioning – supporting both the operational efficiency and installation of MEP systems, as well as keeping an eye on budget.
Sam Minett-Smith
EHS Risk & Opportunity Manager
Sam manages our carbon footprint analysis, streamlining energy reports and supporting the wider business in our net zero targets. He also champions recycled product and material re-use and uses his experience of retrofit construction to support energy efficiency and decarbonisation. He has close to 20 years’ experience, a BSC & PDip in Environmental Management and is also a qualified Chartered Environmentalist (CEnv).
Ashley Poole-Graham
BIM Manager
Extremely experienced, Ash manages the production and works to the guidance of:
- SAP calculations
- SBEM and DSM
- U-value calculations
- Embodied carbon calculations
- Dynamic Thermal Modelling
- Part O Overheating assessments
- CIBSE TM54
He is also a Level 5 qualified Non-Domestic Energy Assessor (NDEA) and On Construction Domestic Energy Assessor (OCDEA) and responsible for our digital records management.