Sustainability & Acorn What it all means...
What is Acorn Green? Acorn Green represents our commitment to the implementation of the best possible design and technologies to further drive down the carbon footprint of our homes, moving towards long-term sustainable housing in communities. Each of our developments is individual and intelligently designed and built to the highest quality. Our bespoke approach to the creation of new homes and communities means that we must take the
same holistic approach to sustainability – a ‘one size fits all’ approach just won’t work for us especially where our schemes revolve around the reuse of existing buildings.
Our journey to zero carbon • Operationally as a business, Acorn will be certified carbon neutral by spring 2022. • Our new build homes constructed from summer 2023 will be operationally zero carbon.
Our Vision Acorn Green represents our unique holistic approach to carbon reduction and our commitment to creating inspiring new communities which fulfil the current and future needs of our residents whilst respecting and protecting our environment.
Issue date: April 2022
Acorn’s sustainability commitments:
Acorn Property Group’s energy efficiency rating compared to the national average Acorn New Build Home Standard from 2023
We are fully committed to driving a more sustainable and green future all across our business. UK Average Home
As part of this, we pledge: • All new new-build developments and future new-build phases from August 2023 must have an EPC rating of A (92% - 100%) • Acorn will no longer use gas in new homes on the commencement of new developments or phases from August 2023 with heat instead being supplied by a heat pump (air / ground / water) • The homes on all new build developments and new phases constructed from summer 2023 will be operationally zero carbon • To commit to comprehensive tree and shrub planting to help with carbon offsetting, provide enhanced landscaping and increase biodiversity • All landscaping must be bee friendly and peat free to help with carbon reduction • To continue to offset our operational carbon emissions through our partnership with Wanderlands • As a business, Acorn will be operationally carbon neutral by spring 2022 In addition to these commitments, wherever possible Acorn developments must include:
Triple glazed
All larger homes to include PV panels
Mechanical Ventilation
Underfloor heating
Smart home
window systems
and batteries for energy storage
Heat Recovery systems
(zoned where possible)
automation
Composting
Rainwater
Sustainable urban
Recycling bins designed
Encourage wildlife through elements
facilities
harvesting
Drainage Systems
into each kitchen
like hedgehog tunnels and bee bricks
ACORN GREEN
Changing Regulations
There are a variety of new regulations which have a focus around sustainability, carbon reduction and energy efficiency coming in over the next few years that will have an effect on the design and build of our new homes.
Part L - Conservation of fuel and power
Part O - Overheating
This regulation is currently in the process of going live with the cut off date for being compliant by August 2022.
Very closely linked to Part L, Part O provides guidance on building ventilation, including air quality and preventing condensation.
Part L calls for a 31% uplift in SAPS from where we are now and states that: L1. Reasonable provision shall be made for the conservation of fuel and power in buildings by: a. i. ii.
Limiting heat gains and losses – Through thermal elements and other parts of the building fabric and; From pipes, ducts and vessels used for space heating, space cooling and hot water services;
b. i. ii. iii.
Providing fixed building services which – Are energy efficient; Have effective controls; and Are commissioned by testing and adjusting as necessary to ensure they use no more fuel and power than is reasonable in the circumstances
Part L is designed to secure the delivery of a meaningful reduction in carbon emissions and provide a stepping stone to the Future Homes Standard.
If we are to achieve the type of low energy buildings required in the Future Homes Standard, new homes need to become even more airtight in order to further reduce energy wastage. However, without sufficient ventilation, these airtight homes can become overheated and uncomfortable to live in. The compliance of Part O will ensure the right level of ventilation is supplied to ensure good indoor air quality. Mechanical ventilation, in the form of extract (MEV systems) or supply and extract (MVHR systems) are recognised as the most proficient means of ventilating a modern property. Many of Acorn’s developments already feature these systems and will continue to do so in the future.
ACORN GREEN
Environmentally Conscious New Homes
All our new build homes and developments aim to have:
Superior thermal insulation in walls & roof
Acorn has long taken a ‘fabric first’ approach to the construction of our new build homes, the better the insulation, construction, ventilation, and detailed design, the more efficiently the building will already be before utilising further technologies. The homes we create are all ‘Different By Design’, we pride ourselves on thinking differently – approaching each and every project individually with a holistic approach on how we can maximise sustainability and move forwards positively towards the production of zero carbon housing design.
Solar PV Panels
Mechanical Ventilation Heat Recovery Unit (MVHR)
Innovative window treatments
Low energy light fittings Energy efficient fitted appliances Smart meters Tree and shrub planting Hedgehog highways
Our homes often exceed the latest building regulation requirements.
Bike storage
Underfloor heating
Air Source Heat Pump Ground Source Heat Pump
Recycling bins in kitchens Dual flush toilets to save water
EV Charging points, or wiring provision for Composting facilities
ACORN GREEN
The Environment Act & Biodiversity Net Gain
CHANGING REGULATIONS
THE ENVIRONMENT ACT INTRODUCES A NEW REQUIREMENT ON ALL DEVELOPMENTS TO PROVIDE A 10% INCREASE IN THE BIODIVERSITY VALUE OF LAND BEING DEVELOPED
In November 2021, the UK Government’s world-leading environment act became law. The purpose of the act is to address the biodiversity and climate emergency domestically and globally. It promises to cut air pollution, protect the country’s nature spots and reduce waste. The act will play a pivotal role in the fight to reach net zero carbon emissions by 2050. As part of this, a mandatory approach to biodiversity net gain will be introduced to the act which will require a minimum 10% increase in habitat for wildlife compared with the pre-development
baseline. This is referred to as ‘Biodiversity Net Gain’, meaning biodiversity is left in a better state than prior to development taking place. Acorn works with a number of expert ecology and landscape design teams in order to ensure the preservation and enhancement of biodiversity is a design priority. Each development is assessed individually with different features implemented where appropriate including the provision of enhanced native planting, wildlife corridors, parkland and the creation of new lakes and waterways.
Cross Farm, Wedmore
ACORN GREEN
Sustainability timeline London 2010/11 2012 2013/14
2015
2017/18
249 Long Lane (Market Mews) • Green roof Bermondsey Street • Green roof 171 Long Lane (Valentine) • Green roof • Communal boiler • PV Panels • MVHR* • Underfloor heating 40 Rushworth Street (Newspaper House) • Green roof • Communal boiler • PV Panels • MVHR* • Underfloor heating 150-152 Long Lane (Design House) • Green roof • Communal boiler • Underfloor heating
Cardiff 2017
2019
2020
Horizon • Underfloor heating • High performance double glazed window system Cottrell Gardens • High performance double glazed window system • Underfloor heating to ground floor • Infrastructure for electric vehicle charging The Links • Underfloor heating • Mechanical Ventilation Heat Recovery system • Mechanical Extract Ventilation system • Communal electric vehicle charging • High performance double glazed window system
Cornwall (Blue) 2007/8 2007/8 2009
2011 2012 2015
2018 2021
2021
Pearl, Newquay • Ground source heat pump Azure, Newquay • Ground source heat pump Cribbar, Newquay • Communal gas boiler • Green roof Crantock Vale, Crantock • Air source heat pump The Sands, Polzeath • Air source heat pump The Dunes, Perranporth • Ground source heat pump • Green roof The Liner, Falmouth • Green roof The Padstow Collection, Padstow • Ground source heat pump • Infrastructure for electric vehicle charging • Triple glazed Passivhaus certified windows • MVHR* • Underfloor heating Treglos, Constantine Bay • Ground source heat pump • Infrastructure for electric vehicle charging • Triple glazed Passivhaus certified windows • MVHR* • Underfloor heating
Exeter 2022
2022
St. Leonards Quarter (Phase 1) • Underfloor heating • PV Panels • Triple glazed window system • Infrastructure for electric vehicle charging Rolle Gardens, Exmouth • Green roof • Grasscrete parking court • Refurbishment of a Grade II listed building
Bristol 2014
2016 2016 2016
2018
2019
2019
2019
2021
2020
St Joseph’s Gardens, Portishead • MVHR* • Gas heat recovery • Passivhaus certified front doors Brackenwood, Portishead • PV Panels Marine Place, Clevedon • Triple glazed window system Hope House, Bath • Green roofs • Communal electric vehicle charging Cubis Bruton, Bruton • Green roofs • Triple glazed window system • Enhanced U-values • MVHR* • Infrastructure for electric vehicle charging Brandon Yard, Bristol • PV Panels to new build apartments • Communal electric vehicle charging • Green roof Loft House Affordable Housing, Bristol • MVHR* • Triple glazed window system • PV Panels Brooks Dye Works, St. Werburghs • High performance double glazed window system • PV Panels • Communal electric vehicle charging The Old Printworks, Frome • Infrastructure for future installation of electric car charging, PV panels and battery storage • Triple glazed window system • Communal electric vehicle charging Cross Farm, Wedmore • Infrastructure for electric vehicle charging • MVHR*
*Mechanical Ventilation Heat Recovery system
Our Partners
We constantly review the materials and technology used to ensure our homes are as efficient, carbon friendly and environmentally considerate as possible.
IN ORDER TO HELP US MEET OUR SUSTAINABILITY COMMITMENTS WE ARE PROUD TO WORK WITH A RANGE OF PARTNERS: