Why don’t we build more basements in the UK? They reduce the footprint of the building,
they are naturally better insulated and have good air-tightness. New walk-on roof
lights mean any basement can have daylight.
An alternative to timber frames and SIPS (structural insulated panels) this jumbo
ply system is great as it allows large open spans, large openings, fast construction
and lots of embedded CO2.
Appearing on a house near you - with the government feed in tariff PV cells are the
best investment but hot water panels payback their lower cost in less than 5 years.
Building Green buildings is the only sane architectural response in the current environment. Even if you don’t care about the planets future you will care about your energy bills which are set to rise and rise. The government are finally on board and building regulations are becoming more stringent on insulation requirements and the new feed in tariff means if you have a south facing roof photo-voltaic panels are a very good investment.
It is now possible to build houses to the ‘passivehaus’ standard that require minimal or no heating and are very comfortable to inhabit. They are well sealed and very well insulated, but that does not mean they are airless, just that the airflow is controlled. One housing association, the Hastoe group, is already building new homes to this standard to ensure their tenants never suffer fuel poverty.
Eco-architecture
What’s the best strategy? Improve don’t build is the most ecological answer.
Having attended seminars on passivehaus principals and training on eco-refurbishing
Sam Stork is well qualified to discuss and plan your eco- building. We work with
other consultants to calculate SAP ratings, assess for Passivehaus or the code for
sustainable homes and design heat recovery systems. We have a good overview of all
the areas of Eco Architecture and use our colleagues to provide a wider pool of knowledge.
