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Always featuring numerous articles on a wide range of eco-building projects from all around the UK, most of which are written by the very people that designed or built them. It is the ideal read for architects, builders, developers, self builders and anyone interested in eco-building, including interested homeowners/clients.
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Earth sheltered scheme cuts bills drastically |
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30 Jul 2010, 4:19 PM
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An innovative development of affordable green homes which uses earth bunds to improve insulation has been officially opened today by the Bishop of Grantham. The Unity Gardens development, in Long Sutton, Spalding, built by Lincolnshire Rural Housing Association and supported by the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA), is a groundbreaking scheme to inform the construction industry of independent environmentally friendly living.
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The scheme comprises six single storey affordable homes that are surrounded on three sides with earth bunds to offer high levels of insulation. Moreover, the ethos of the project is to encourage a lower-carbon lifestyle – with some residents benefiting from zero electricity bills.
Architect Search designed the development to 'revolutionise social housing management'. Unity Gardens is amongst the first social housing schemes to achieve a degree of autonomy. The homes require almost no heating, have natural ventilation and can generate all of the householders energy requirements with none of the environmental impacts of using fossil fuels.
The renewable photo-voltaic technology on each property allow the tenants to generate their own energy with a net surplus annually sold back to energy suppliers, reducing the householder’s bill.
The properties are insulated with earth bunding on the east, west and north elevations. The passive solar gain from the south facing elevation, heat from human occupation and secondary heat from household appliances provide most of the heat required. Heat is stored in super-insulated roofs and walls constructed of high-density blocks which is subsequently emitted to keep a constant room temperature. A back-up under floor heating system is rarely required or used.
Rainfall is harvested in underground tanks and used for essentials such as toilet flushing, minimising the household consumption. Excess rainfall flows into a balancing pond to sustain plant types such as sedge, mace and flag iris, that have existed in the area for generations.
English ivy is abundant on the earth bunding around the properties and fruit bearing plants and trees are available to harvest around the central private road. The road has no lines, kerbstones, gullies or metal surfaces so that drivers have to reduce their speed and display increased awareness. The generous parking enables the road to be used for play and pedestrian activity. This fosters the community spirit and cohesion that is central to the success of the development and well being of all residents.
The householders have the opportunity to grow their own produce with an allotment. This site had been the location of farm land and one allotment previously and it is great to see that the site residents will have the opportunity to experience a lifestyle in tune with the local environment.
John Howes, chief executive of Lincolnshire Rural Housing Association, said: “This project is placing all the people involved at the forefront of the low-carbon agenda in housing. A particularly pleasing aspect is seeing how much our residents have embraced the scheme’s philosophy. It has encouraged them to think about the environmental impact of their lifestyle to the degree that some are cultivating their own produce for the first ever time, on the on-site allotments.”
Margaret Allen, director for the HCA East Midlands, said: “It is great to see the development completed and the new community thriving. Unity Gardens is a great example of how our investment is helping to make a positive impact for communities by meeting the need for more high quality affordable homes.”
The development was supported by a £432,000 affordable housing grant from the Homes and Communities Agency – the national housing and regeneration agency responsible for developing thriving communities. SEArch architects from Long Sutton have designed the scheme.
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