ALTERNATIVE SOLUTIONS CARBON ANALYSIS FINDINGS

Different materials can be used to provide a lower embodied carbon for the tiny homes such as straw, hemp, rammed earth or bamboo. Each one comes with its pros and cons and has been considered however while it can provide a lower carbon impact in terms of the construction materials for the project, it would not be as appropriate and fitting to the context and location of the site as structurally insulated panels (SIPS) are.

Sourcing these materials can be an issue, SIPs are a more local and available material than procuring straw, hemp or bamboo as a construction material in the UK. Building the tiny homes out of rammed earth would dramatically increase the labour costs of the tiny homes as it would need specialists for it. It is more widely created as a self build project. Climate wise, it is not as appropriate due to a colder climate, it would require more insulation than typically needed such as a foam wall with stucco on the outside. Rammed earth would increase reduce the affordability and increase the construction costs and time.

Straw construction is not a common construction material therefore finding a construction specialist will be more difficult and more expensive. Like any natural material like rammed earth and bamboo, it is relatively newer, especially in the UK than in the US, therefore, is more currently done as a self-build unit and not as a commercial or larger-scale residential project.

Therefore the use of SIPs as the main material over materials like straw, hemp, rammed earth or bamboo is more appropriate in providing a design that could blend in more with the site area with their characteristics and materials. The local area has an emphasis on the historical features of their buildings with the design proposal taking influence from them, aiming not to be too visually contrasting in terms of materials or shape.