Identify realistic steps that can be taken to improve your project’s carbon footprint. We aim to achieve Carbon Neutral status for all our projects, with our aspirations set to creating a pathway to Energy Positive architecture (buildings that create more energy than they consume).

Key Considerations:

- Energy consumption throughout the construction process

- Installing highly efficient, all-electric appliances

- Generating and storing energy on site through solar systems and battery storage

- Detailing for air-tightness to reduce the need for mechanical heating and cooling

Explore opportunities to create Water Positive architecture (buildings that create more usable water than they consume).

Key considerations:

- Water collection systems: sourcing fresh water directly from the environment

- Grey water treatment systems: using treated waste water to flush toilets and water gardens.

- Reducing dependency on town water through on site water capture and storage.

- Installing water saving fixtures and fittings to reduce overall consumption.

Plan ahead to avoid the creation of unnecessary construction waste.

Key Considerations:

- Choosing to repair instead of replace

- Repurpose products and materials through reuse or resale.

- Provide for easy on-site waste sorting during construction and occupancy.

- Preference materials which are locally sourced and are easily recycled.

Design buildings that self-regulate temperature with little to no mechanical intervention.

Key Considerations:

- Orienting spaces for optimal solar control: shaded in summer, sunny in winter

- Selecting materials that provide effective insulation suited to the climate zone

- Allowing air movement for passive cooling in summer: strategic placement of operable windows can release hot air and draw in cool air.

Prioritise connection to the natural environment to regulate our internal rhythms.

Key Considerations:

- Planting native gardens that support local wildlife and biodiversity

- Planning internal spaces around privacy and key views both inwards and outwards

- Connecting occupants to daylight and landscape appropriate to the changing seasons: summer shading and winter sunshine

Consider construction techniques which allow non-destructive disassembly. This ensures that materials can be reused and/or recycled with minimal waste at the end of their life.

Key Considerations:

- Avoid glued applications: join materials using methods which allow disassembly such as screws, nails and dowels.

- Modular elements: designing with standardised measurements to allow for future repair or replacement of parts of the whole.

- Create opportunities to easily adapt floorplans to suit changes in lifestyle.