| October 23rd 2003
saw the launch of a new report from environmental organisation BioRegional,
which will enable the housing and construction industry to make
informed decisions on sustainable building design. The Toolkit for
Carbon Neutral Developments2 report is a practical guide to building
carbon neutral developments, including how to make a good return,
and is based on the achievements at the Beddington Zero (fossil)
Energy Development (BedZED) - the UK’s largest eco-village.
BedZED has challenged conventional approaches to housing by tackling
sustainability from the outset. The report is funded by the DTI’s
partners in innovation programme.
BedZED is a Peabody Trust development
in partnership with BioRegional and Bill Dunster Architects. Comprising
100 homes and office space the development enables residents to
live sustainably, within their fair share of the earth’s resources,
without sacrificing a modern, urban and mobile lifestyle. In fact
to the contrary, BedZED has shown how substantial environmental
savings can go hand in hand with an improved quality of life through
benefits such as lower fuel bills, more green space and a reduced
car dependency.
The launch was attended by representatives
from the housing industry such as developers and architects and
planners. The reports findings were received with interest particularly
as they show proof that the buildings do meet the improved environmental
performance forecast, for example an 88% reduction in space heating,
and a 50% reduction in mains water use.
Elizabeth Whatmore, DTI Director
of Construction, comments:
"BedZED made the case for sustainable development not by its
innovative technologies, or in its ability to collect industry awards,
but in its success in building low energy homes that people genuinely
want to live and work in. The Carbon Neutral Toolkit could, potentially,
be a key in convincing the wider construction industry, and crucially
clients, that by following the BedZED example a profit can be made
on sustainable development and that a significant market opportunity
exists not to be missed."
Carbon Neutral Developments are
needed to help stem the effect of carbon dioxide emissions on climate
change. By utilising the planning gain awarded by councils to developments
which offer environmental improvements to an area, and taking advantage
of the premium that buyers are willing to pay for a carbon neutral
home (17% more on average), there is potential to generate an increase
in profit, over conventional developments. And if the industry chooses
to roll out carbon neutral developments on a significant scale,
build cost would be further reduced through economies of scale.
Report Author Nicole Lazarus of
BioRegional commented:
“This report is a distillation of 10 years of research, design,
practical hard lessons and fine tuning to make carbon neutral developments
a reasonable financial proposition. This Toolkit gives answers to
a vital but complex challenge in a nutshell.
The market opportunity for carbon
neutral homes is undeniable and yet untapped. I have great hopes
that readers will be able to take the information in this Toolkit
and use it in their own way to revolutionise new buildings.”
The report is the second in the
BedZED Toolkit for Carbon Neutral Developments series, following
The BedZED Construction Materials Report published December 2003.
Both reports can be purchased from BioRegional, priced £20,
or £10 for students, call 020 8404 4880, email info@bioregional.com
Notes
The DTI’s Partners in Innovation programme
(PII) is a collaborative scheme which provides up to half the costs
of research and innovation (R&I) projects within the construction
sector. It is open to all UK companies, industry bodies, institutions,
research and technology organisations and universities.
WWF’s Living Planet Report
show us that if everyone in the world consumed as many resources
as the average UK resident does we would need 3 planets to support
us.
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