Act Six - Behind the Scenes VI.II Environmental Strategies

Response to RIBA Sustainability Outcomes

1. Net Zero Operational Carbon

Operational carbon is reduced by use of solar panels and a MHVR system to reduce energy demand from the grid. The walls and floor SIPs are highly insulative with U-values of 0.15 W/m2K which prevents heat loss and energy demand.

2. Net Zero Embodied Energy

The main structure of the homes is made from locally supplied spruce timber from B&K Structures, reducing carbon footprint and embodied carbon, any usual steel and brick is recycled from the existing building to be used in the access decks and landscaping.

3. Sustainable water cycle

The scheme uses the natural slope of the site to harvest rainwater for use in grey-water systems and for landscaping. Rain gardens and permeable paving ensure the site doesn’t flood.

4. Sustainable connectivity and transport

The site provides bike storage and maintenance hub promoting sustainable travel. The site is well located to local public transport. Parking is provided as it is considered necessary to accommodate large families transport needs, EV charging points are also added and there is a reduced number of spaces with the aspiration that the intergenerational families units to car share.

5. Sustainable land-use and biodiversity

The site was previous disused brownfield and therefore detrimental to biodiversity, courtyard gardens, street planting and allotment gardens will include a range of plants beneficial to local ecosystems.

6. Good health & well-being

The allotments and gardens provide visual and physical access to green space and fresh air, and allow residents to grow their own food. The homes are spacious, bright and airy improving the well-being of residents.

7. Sustainable communities

The two century home is designed to cultivate rooted and cemented community ties that go back generations. It allows households and neighbours to share resources and care and creates a sense of belonging and identity.

8. Sustainable life cycle cost

The homes are intended to be owned by the household and allow parents to give their children access to property, either by renting the annexes or by passing the home onto them in the future.

Environmental Analysis Sefaira

The building analysis reveals the daylighting of the internal spaces during Spring, the analysis varies from winter to summer and the spring lighting is taken as an average. The floors are generally well lit with dark spots in the centre of the plan reserved for utility spaces, boiler cupboard and bathrooms.

Part G Water Efficiency/L Conservation of Fuel /O Prevention from overheating /S Provision of EV Parking

The scheme is designed in accordance with Part G Approved Document with greywater harvested through rainwater gardens and stored within a central water heating systems and supplementary individual boilers, reducing water wastage and recycling usable rainwater for toilets/ landscaping. The centralised air-source pump also reduces wastage, with a centralised system for the community, which is the supplemented by energy from solar tiles on each unit. Any excess energy is used to power EV Charging points in the private car park. The homes are insulated to Passivhaus standards reducing heat loss and energy demand. In accordance with Part O , Solar shades and strategic planting prevent overheating in the summer, while smaller windows to the north reduce heat loss in the winter.

& Environment

Site-wide Strategies Considering Energy, Sustainability