A Net-Zero Carbon School
Early collaboration = an A+ EPC rating
Mandeville Primary School is a remarkable example of what can be achieved in the education sector if design teams are pulled together early in the process. It was designed to achieve net zero carbon in operation (NZCiO) for both regulated and unregulated energy. The project became a milestone for Love Design Studio, delivering our first-ever A+ EPC rating, an accolade that remains extremely rare in the UK.
Unlike the common industry challenge where sustainability consultants are brought in after design work has begun, often resulting in reactive, retrospective reviews, our team was appointed at RIBA Stage 0, the very beginning of the project. This early involvement allowed us to embed sustainability principles at the core of the design process, creating a genuinely collaborative and proactive approach.
I’m currently on the trust board of my old secondary school in London, so I see firsthand how challenging it is to ensure a new school building meets the needs of students, staff, and future generations. Adding the requirement for a building to be net zero carbon might seem like an extra headache schools could do without. But scratch the surface, and the massive benefits become clear.
When designed properly, with the right systems in place, a net zero carbon building can essentially eliminate energy bills. This isn’t just a win for sustainability, it’s a huge relief for the financial department, especially given the sharp rise in energy costs in recent years. Instead of struggling to cover skyrocketing utility bills, schools can redirect those savings toward the people who matter most: the students and staff. That’s money better spent on education and support, not on utility providers.
It’s this practical, people-focused approach to sustainability that I’ve seen work wonders in projects like Mandeville Primary School.
Early Collaboration: The Key to Success
It was motivating to work on a project delivering a building of genuine sustainable quality with such a clear net zero carbon in operation requirement. It’s rare to be involved so early, and that made all the difference. We weren’t brought in after the design was underway, trying to guide the team retrospectively which can often create friction. Instead, we were part of the team from the very start, through the construction phase, and right up to delivering the A+ EPC.
Achieving net zero carbon is often a stated ambition for new buildings during the planning phase. However, in practice, it typically focuses only on regulated carbon emissions; those directly influenced by the building's design, such as energy for space heating, hot water, cooling, and lighting. While these are crucial elements of a low-carbon building, they don’t account for unregulated energy loads, which include electricity consumption for computers, plug loads, lifts, servers, and other equipment. These are harder to predict in energy calculations as they depend heavily on occupant behaviour, yet they represent a significant portion of a building’s total energy use.
Mandeville Primary School stands out because it targeted net zero carbon for both regulated and unregulated energy. This approach ensures that the school’s total energy demand is balanced against renewable energy generation on-site, such as from the photovoltaic (PV) array installed on the roof. Not only does this ambitious strategy align with the environmental goals of a truly net-zero building, but it also directly translates into lower energy bills for the school, particularly important during a time when energy costs have risen significantly due to the fallout of COVID-19 and the war in Ukraine.
Sealing the Circle: Post-Occupancy Evaluation
To fully understand the impact of our work, we are looking to return after occupation to carry out a post-occupancy evaluation (POE). We aim to “close the loop” on the project, providing valuable insights for future NZCiO buildings by reviewing energy bills and comparing real-world performance against design predictions.
It felt like we had the time and detailed information to do a thorough job, which gave us much more certainty in our results and delivered documents.
This collaborative foundation allowed us to workshop sustainability strategies with the entire design team during the early stages, educating them on the environmental principles of design and the ambitious goals set by the Department for Education and Hertfordshire Council. Their brief called for an 8-classroom and hall building that not only met but exceeded building regulations by requiring the energy consumed on-site to be balanced with the energy generated on-site.
Designing for Occupants
One of the most motivating aspects of this project was knowing that the primary beneficiaries are children and teachers. Schools are spaces where thermal comfort, air quality, and energy efficiency directly impact learning, productivity, and well-being.
Designing for such stakeholders carries a sense of responsibility and purpose, as these buildings play a vital role in shaping the environments where students grow and thrive.
Thermal comfort was a particularly crucial consideration for this project. Schools often have large numbers of people in confined spaces, and there can be constraints on opening windows due to security, air quality, or noise issues. At Mandeville, we developed a robust strategy combining window openings, rooflights, and mechanical ventilation to manage ventilation and prevent overheating, all while avoiding active cooling systems, which are energy-intensive.
Despite these strategies, classrooms on the top floor remain more susceptible to overheating due to their direct exposure to sunlight. To mitigate this, the solar PV panels not only generate energy but also act as a shading mechanism, reducing solar gain on the roof.
Services:
• Energy Modelling
• CIBSE TM54 Assessment
• Thermal Comfort & Daylight modelling
• Air Quality Assessment
• Part L EPC A+