The National Trust is one of the founding members of the Network, and is keen to share lessons learnt with other organisations. In a series of detailed case studies known as Building Design Guides the charity is documenting some of its most ambitious projects to date. We catch up with Natasha Rozanski, the Trust’s Building & Project Design Guide Assistant, to find out how the guides can be of use to other Network members. 

What are building design guides?

 National Trust’s building design guides are detailed case studies that cover a broad range of projects, from refurbishment of historic buildings to the installation of renewable technologies. The guides are all about sharing knowledge and experience gained, both internally and with other organisations.

How can the guides be of use to Network members?

The National Trust has put some ambitious energy targets in place over recent years, which include producing 50% of our energy using renewables and halving our fossil fuel use by 2020. We’ve consequently installed a variety of renewable technologies at properties across the UK. Many of our building design guides cover these projects, and offer detailed  insight into design and evaluation as well as costing. For Network members considering a similar project they could be a really valuable resource.

What kind of topics do the guides cover?

The collection has a significant number of guides that cover sustainable technologies. These include biomass boiler installations, heat pumps, solar and wind power, hydroelectric systems and the use of mixed renewables. Many of the guides also cover retrofit and refurbishment projects. You can take a look through the whole catalogue to find case studies relevant to your organisation. We are adding guides all the time, so it’s worth checking in every so often to find out what’s new.

New additions

Three cases studies have just been added to the online collection, and may be of particular interest to Network members. You can login to the Network members’ area to access guides covering the following projects:

• Two biomass boilers  at Calke Abbey, Derbyshire. These have replaced inefficient LPG-fired boilers and electrical storage heaters.
• Water source heat pump at Packwood House, Warwickshire. The pump provides heat and hot water to the house and offices.
• Photovoltaic installation on the roof of Lindisfarne Castle.

Find out more

In the spirit of the Fit for the Future Network, the building design guide team are happy to answer questions from other members relating to these guides and the projects they describe. You’ll find the team’s contact details in the members’ area, so please do drop us an email if you want to find out more about any of the projects.

If you’re not yet a member of the Network, apply here . It’s free to join, and open to anyone who fits with the spirit of the Network.