Although the Channel Islands has de-carbonised its electrical power supply systems, it has not managed to transition to low carbon heating for all its housing stock.

In the Channel Islands many properties are still heated with oil. Retrofitting our private sector higgledy-piggledy homes is so expensive that it will take a lot of effort and design changes to decarbonise. Also our old Victorian hospital in Jersey and many other Channel Island public buildings fall into this category.

If the Channel Islands are to meet their commitments to address climate change then we must make all our buildings low carbon and energy efficient.

The Channel Islands should play its part by retrofitting its old buildings to become much more energy efficient and, in future, construct highly energy efficient new builds.

However, this is easier said than done! The Passivhaus certification process could help the Channel Islands meet the highest possible standards.

Therefore, it would also be highly appropriate if Jersey could take its cue from this event by ensuring that its future hospital is energetically the most efficient in the British Isles.

Raphael Vibert is a highly qualified Passivhaus designer, consultant and Passivhaus certifier for Herz & Lang GmbH. He has worked with this company since 2011. The list of Passivhaus new constructions and refurbishments which he has gained experience with through his company Herz & Lang Engineering Company is as long as your arm.

Herz & Lang Passivhaus experience in construction and design stretch from Passivhaus private residential builds, public nursery schools, apartments, office buildings, an Olympic sports village, swimming pools, sport halls, prisons, supermarkets, court houses, through to the now iconic Passivhaus (PH) Frankfurt Hospital which Raphael will concentrate on in this presentation.

Raphael’s technical expertise includes, building physics for thermal behaviour and moisture proofing, Passive House planning certification, calculations on thermal bridges, accurate dynamic simulation of a building envelope and mechanical systems, hydrothermal simulation, optimisation of cooling and sun protection concepts, evaluation of ventilation systems with heat recovery, quality management and