Sustainable Design Solutions

We encourage our clients to take an holistic approach and think about the impact of their actions on the environment. We believe in introducing sustainable technology into everyday buildings for ordinary people, and explore with our clients the short- and long-term advantages of environmentally friendly approaches, where appropriate.

The spectrum of sustainable design solutions is wide, ranging from to the simple (e.g. fitting extra insulation) to the complete eco-house. Examples of specific approaches discussed with clients include:

• the re-use of suitable material on site and appropriate recycling of unsuitable material to minimize skips of building rubbish taken to landfill sites
• timber frame designs that use off-site construction and locally sourced, Forest Stewardship Council certified timber
• sourcing of local materials to minimize transport costs and the impact of long-distance haulage
• rainwater harvesting and the collection of grey water for WCs and hosepipes
• the use of recycled materials (e.g. recycled tyres formed into a mesh for paths and hard standing)
• the installation of energy-efficient heating systems
• photovoltaic cells, solar collectors and wind turbines for energy self-sufficiency.