New video series Beyond the Board explores how the building envelope impacts home efficiency and health as the construction industry prepares for stricter energy standards.
Hosted by Roly Ward and David Murray of MEDITE SMARTPLY, the series examines the challenges of balancing energy efficiency, resilience, and occupant wellbeing in residential design. The first episode focuses on the building envelope, the physical separator between a home’s interior and exterior environments.
The discussion centers on the upcoming Future Homes Standard, set to take effect in England and Wales from 24 March 2027, which demands higher energy performance for new homes. Industry experts James Roberts MBE and Simon Jones argue that improving fabric performance requires more than just adding insulation or increasing airtightness.
Roberts, an architectural technologist and Passive House designer, states the envelope is “a good foundation where everything else is built upon.” His perspective emphasizes treating the home as a complete system rather than isolated components.
Jones, host of the Air Quality Matters podcast, highlights the scale of indoor living: “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.” This highlights the importance of the indoor environment’s quality for long-term health.
The series features technical specialists discussing practical challenges in construction, particularly as energy costs rise and climate demands intensify. MEDITE SMARTPLY, part of Ireland’s Coillte Group, produces MDF and OSB products for construction and interiors across the UK and Europe.
The Beyond the Board series continues with subsequent episodes examining ventilation systems, renewable integration, and maintenance considerations for high-performance residential buildings. Viewers can access all content through the official YouTube channel, with new releases scheduled monthly through the end of 2024.
