MEDITE SMARTPLY has launched “Beyond the Board,” an expert-led video series examining how building design can address rising temperatures, energy costs, and upcoming regulations in England and Wales.
Building Envelope Under Scrutiny
The first episode explores the building envelope’s role in creating healthier, more efficient homes. With the Future Homes Standard set to take effect on 24 March 2027 for most residential buildings, designers face mounting pressure to rethink traditional approaches. As hotter summers and soaring energy costs reshape homeowner expectations, the construction industry is being pushed to deliver homes that perform well across multiple criteria, thermal comfort, energy efficiency, and long-term resilience, without compromising indoor air quality or structural integrity.
James Roberts MBE, an architectural technologist and certified Passive House designer at Lowfield Timber Frames, argues that enhancing thermal performance requires more than additional insulation or tighter sealing. “The building envelope is not the entire answer, but I think it’s a good foundation where everything else is built upon,” he states. He stresses that treating the home as an integrated system, rather than focusing on isolated components, is essential for achieving meaningful improvements in both energy performance and occupant health.
Simon Jones, founder of the Air Quality Matters podcast, emphasizes the time people spend indoors. “If you live to 80 years of age, you’ll spend 70 years of your life indoors… You’ll spend 55 years of that in your own home,” he notes, highlighting the importance of indoor environmental quality. Given these figures, the materials used in the building envelope take on added significance, as they directly influence indoor air quality, humidity levels, and thermal stability over decades of occupancy.
The series, hosted by MEDITE SMARTPLY’s Roly Ward and David Murray, will continue featuring technical specialists discussing practical challenges in construction. The company, part of the Coillte Group, manufactures MDF and OSB products from facilities in Clonmel and Waterford, Ireland.
The first episode is available on YouTube, offering insights as the industry prepares for stricter building standards that prioritize both energy efficiency and occupant wellbeing. Viewers can watch and listen to the full discussion at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=adXZuLl4dBs, gaining expert perspectives on how thoughtful envelope design can lay the groundwork for homes that are not only compliant with future regulations but also healthier and more comfortable for residents.
