Sustainability is a word we hear a lot these days, and for good reason. Some people assume that it’s only businesses that need to consider their carbon footprint and work hard to reduce it. This is true, as they use more energy than any family, but it doesn’t mean that individuals can’t keep sustainability in mind when designing a new home.
We are working hard to provide sustainable solutions for people looking to design a future proof new home. From concept to construction, we’re here to help you create the home of your dreams and save the planet at the same time.
Designing a sustainable residential property isn’t as simple as installing solar panels, it has to be done holistically, from the ground up. Even before the first brick is laid, the time spent assessing and designing the perfect sustainable home is crucial, and there isn’t just one way to do it.
Sustainable architecture focuses on three main elements:
Design is, as you can imagine, the basis of any construction or renovation project. We follow the ‘Passive House’ principles for the majority of our projects (more about that later) that helps us create modern and efficient homes with the most advanced design technology available.
Materials are crucial, after all you can’t build much without them! If sustainability is your primary focus, it helps us narrow down which materials to recommend. Then you can consider budget and personal preference when you choose which are best for you.
The way you build a home can be sustainable too. From using natural power sources to energy-efficient tools, we pride ourselves on pairing with construction companies that value sustainability as much as we do.
But what does ‘sustainable’ really mean when building a new home?
The purpose of a sustainable property is not just to reduce the owners’ carbon footprint. It has much more direct benefits too.
If a building is sustainable, it is energy efficient. This means it will also reduce your energy bills. And since they’re creeping up year after year, that’s a major saving that you can’t afford to miss out on.
Even something as simple as fitting windows that maximise sunlight, keeping your home bright and warm during the day, makes a huge difference.
The advantages do not stop there. A well detailed building envelope with the correct building systems can offer the home additional benefits like fresh filtered air, a stable internal temperature without draughts and ‘cold spots’ as well as better acoustics which can make a huge, proven, impact to your health and well being.
In the UK, homes are designed to keep heat in during the winter, without being too hot in summer. Insulation between the floors, as well as in the attic and roof, prevents the heat from flowing straight out of the top of your home and being wasted. The insulation you’ll find in a home built in the 70s and 80s works, but not nearly as well as it could.
Insulation on its own is of little use if not detailed and installed correctly.
Our insulation approach helps to minimise ‘thermal bridging’, common areas of heat loss.
Many homes are designed to be virtually airtight in order to keep as much heat in as possible. This is a double-edged sword, as although you’ll stay warm, the air inside can become stale and musty. Stale air can also make it easier for mould to grow, as well as being generally less pleasant.
Our ventilation solutions keep air flowing freely without creating drafts. This means the air is fresh, and mould and mildew can’t build up. Insulate tight and ventilate right!
This is an often-overlooked feature of a sustainable home. Wasted water is costly, both for you and the environment. Thankfully, low flow taps, greywater recycling systems, and rainwater harvesting are all safe ways to save water.
If these systems are integrated well, you won’t even notice the difference until your bill arrives.
Even if your walls are excellent at keeping heat in, inferior windows and doors can let the side down. They can let heat out and be drafty even when closed. We ensure that all windows, doors, and even your letterbox are fully sealed, so that they never let heat escape.
The tough double glazing also keeps the heat in, but also reduces outside noise and allows as much light as possible into your home.
Last but certainly not least, we revolutionise how your home is powered. Solar panels are more common than ever, but when the home they’re fitted to is designed with solar power in mind, they become much more efficient.
They’re not the only option either. Although not common in residential properties, small wind turbines can give you an extra way to save on electricity bills. There are also heat pumps that efficiently provide hot and cold water throughout the day.
Passive House, known originally as Passivhaus, is a building standard that we always recommend for our clients. It incorporates all the techniques we’ve discussed so far into one set of guidelines, as well as recommendations for materials and building techniques backed up by over 30 years of research.
We’ve created passive houses for a long time now and have seen how effective they are. If you are sustainability-focused and want to design or renovate your home, it’s an excellent standard to follow.
All of these features don’t have to be fitted to a brand-new home. We also specialise in transforming older residential properties into sustainable masterpieces.
Some people assume that, apart from fitting a few solar panels or some better insulation, there isn’t a way to make an older house sustainable. We disagree and have modernised some stunning older properties without removing their classic style.
If you’re looking into expanding your home, it’s a great opportunity to make it more sustainable. The new extensions or conversions can be much more energy efficient and improve the overall sustainability of your home in the process.
We’ll work with you to design new elements of your home, blending the new with the old so that nothing clashes.
Residential properties that aren’t energy efficient are not only unsustainable, but expensive to own too. There’s a reason why it’s the biggest focus for home designers across the UK; it’s not just about being modern, it’s about the future.
You know what’s best for you, and we work hard to make your dreams a reality.
We’re fully transparent with our design process. We explain everything that is possible; every material, technique and feature that we know will work well. Then you can choose what’s best, and within your budget, and we’ll get to work.
You won’t have to stand to one side and watch it happen either, you can be as hands-on with the project as you like and will be provided with plenty of updates as we progress.
