Keystone Architecture & Design LTD

For all of us to you, our warmest wishes for a joyful and restful festive season #festiveseason

It’s time to close our doors and embrace the festive season! 🎄✨ We will be closed from Monday 23/12/24 to Friday 03/01/25. We’ll be back on Monday 06/01/25 with our usual hours and can’t wait to share what’s coming next! Wishing you all a joyful and restful festive break. 🌟 #FestiveBreak #SeasonGreetings #MerryChristmas #HappyNewYear #ArchitectureLife #SustainableDesign #TimeToRecharge #SeeYouIn2025 #HolidayCheers

It’s time to close our doors and embrace the festive season! 🎄✨ We will be closed from Monday 23/12/24 to Friday 03/01/25. We’ll be back on Monday 06/01/25 with our usual hours and can’t wait to share what’s coming next! Wishing you all a joyful and restful festive break. 🌟 #FestiveBreak #SeasonGreetings #MerryChristmas #HappyNewYear #ArchitectureLife #SustainableDesign #TimeToRecharge #SeeYouIn2025 #HolidayCheers

Good news for homeowners! Some lenders are now factoring in EPC ratings when determining mortgage affordability, as reported in this article https://lnkd.in/eY92eX5W e from 10/12/2024. This is a significant step forward, as it acknowledges what many of us already know—energy bills are becoming a financial burden, often feeling like a second mortgage. The idea that energy efficiency can reduce overall household expenses is now being recognized by lenders. We are still far from achieving full energy efficiency in housing, but this shift is a positive step. It’s something we’ve been advocating for, and it’s encouraging to see banks starting to understand the financial benefits of homes that are energy-efficient. At Keystone Architecture & Design, we’ve recently completed an EPC A-rated home. Interestingly, fewer than 1% of new builds in the UK achieve this rating, which is both surprising and disappointing. This change from lenders opens up new opportunities in the UK housing market. It means homeowners looking to make energy improvements could have more access to higher loan amounts—an incentive to upgrade existing homes to meet EPC A and B standards without compromising their budget. A home that’s cheaper to run not only makes mortgages more affordable but also aligns with everyone’s long-term interests, reducing both personal and environmental costs. This is a crucial turning point in how the housing market—and the financial sector—approaches energy efficiency. We are a step closer to a more sustainable future, with financial structures starting to support this transition. #EnergyEfficiency #SustainableHousing #EPC #NetZero #GreenBuildings #SustainableDesign #UKHousing #MortgageAffordability #retrofit #buildingphysics #routeto2050 #EnergyEfficientHomes #FutureOfHousing #KeystoneArchitecture

Navigating the financial side of eco-friendly living? 💰🌱 In our latest article, we address your top finance questions related to sustainable homes, from budgeting for upgrades to potential savings. Get the insights you need to make informed financial decisions! #EcoHomes #SustainableLiving #Finance #EnergyEfficiency #GreenBuilding #HomeImprovement #Budgeting #EcoFriendly

Are air source heat pumps (ASHPs) really too expensive and inefficient? Our recent article challenges this myth, showing how ASHPs can achieve efficiencies up to 400%—far exceeding gas boilers. Annie Naughton has responded to this and other question on measures to save more energy in your home #EnergyEfficiency #RenewableEnergy #AirSourceHeatPumps

Curious about the latest tech for eco-friendly homes? 🤔💡 In part two of our article, we answer more of your questions about innovative solutions that can enhance sustainability and efficiency in your living space. Get ready to embrace smarter living! #TechInHomes #EcoFriendly #SustainableLiving #SmartHome #EnergyEfficiency #GreenTechnology #HomeImprovement #FAQ

🏡 This is no ordinary building – but it shouldn’t be. Our recently completed new build, nestled in the heart of the Cotswolds, is a stunning four-bedroom home that blends traditional aesthetics with cutting-edge sustainable design. While it looks classic, its construction is anything but. By prioritizing a high-performing building fabric, we’ve gone far beyond the bare minimum of building regulations (because, let’s face it, “bare minimum” isn’t enough). With enhanced insulation, triple glazing, and an airtightness of 2.9 air changes per hour thanks to @aerobarrieruk (still too high for our standards!), we’ve paired energy-efficient systems like: • Heat recovery ventilation (MVHR) • Solar PV panels with battery storage • An air source heat pump (ASHP) The result? An EPC A-rated home! Did you know that fewer than 1% of properties in England achieve this standard? Even better, this was done for just 3% more cost than a home built to standard building regulations, which would only have achieved EPC B. We weren’t surprised – we knew it was possible. 💡 At Keystone, we care deeply about the impact present and future of our designs because ‘a good quality project has a positive impact in our lives’ 🌿 #SustainableArchitecture #EPCA #CotswoldsHomes #EcoBuilding #NetZeroHousing #KeystoneArchitecture

Snow has definitely inspired our director's posts this week!! :)

Worcester, 20-11-2024, 12:00 pm While walking Freddie this afternoon, I noticed a perfect example of heat loss made visible by the snow. These houses are south-facing and experience similar shading throughout the day. However, the snow patterns tell a story—where the snow has melted, heat is escaping through the building fabric. Heat loss isn’t usually something you can see, but it significantly impacts your energy bills and home comfort. Addressing this requires proper insulation, a strong airtightness strategy, and expert retrofitting advice. Done right, these improvements can save you money and energy; done wrong, they could cost even more. Snow provides a natural and clear visualization of an invisible problem—highlighting why sustainable building practices are so vital. At Keystone Architecture and Design we are passionate about improving the sustainability of the built environment. We have the knowledge and skills to take a holistic approach to designing your new building or extension, ensuring you get a high-performance building with the spaces you need and the finish quality you want. If you are considering an energy efficient new build, a Passive House project or retrofitting an existing property please contact us to see how we can help by email, phone or by using the contact form on our website. #Retrofit #EnergyEfficiency #Worcester #PassiveHouse #Sustainability #Insulation #Airtightness #HeatLoss #SnowEffect