NowtHaus: Beyond HVAC

Is it possible to remove mechanical heating and cooling systems entirely while still providing comfort?

Buildings today are increasingly designed around mechanical systems rather than people. Comfort is routinely solved through equipment, driving complexity, cost and carbon. Heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems alone can account for over 15% of construction budgets, often exceeding the cost of the façade, while remaining energy-intensive to operate and carbon-hungry to manufacture and maintain.

• How far can design intelligence  go before mechanical systems are truly required? 
• What do people actually need to feel comfortable?

Challenging the practice of designing for rare climatic extremes that dictate system size for the entire year, and by understanding how temperature, air movement and adaptive comfort interact, NowtHaus explores buildings that perform naturally year-round. The outcome is a passive office building with no conventional heating or cooling. Peak heating loads remain below 5 W/m², allowing internal gains to maintain winter comfort, while natural ventilation and thermal mass regulate summer conditions. The team behind the concept will demonstrate how this approach simplifies construction and reduces cost.

Chairperson

Claire Racine, Head of Sustainability - Ramboll UK

Speakers

Peter Fisher, Director - Bennetts Associates

William Allen, Sustainability Engineer - Ramboll UK

Phil Clark, Head of Cost Management - CPC Project Services