Environmental Policy

Sustainability has been a key feature of many of our recent projects including projects for Educational Establishments and Local Authorities. Principles adopted: • Consider siting and orientation. • Consider microclimate and ecology factors. • Where possible avoid over specific buildings which limit life time flexibility. • Design for simplicity of operation, allowing building users to understand and have greater control over their environment. • Design for long life, as buildings are often around longer than we are. • Embrace new technology and best practice with clear environmental benefits. • Evaluate environmental impact of the building on the local and global scale. • Maximise access to daylight and natural ventilation. • Maximise energy efficiency. • Minimise water consumption. • Minimise noise and light pollution from the building and potential impact on building users. • Avoid specification of known hazardous materials. • Consider maintenance and how easily elements can be replaced or upgraded over the building’s life. • Avoid specification of large and heavy components where possible. • Research materials and components which use the least energy in their production • Make use of recyclable materials wherever possible. • Specify materials and components with low environmental impact in their production, use and disposal • Specify timber only from certified sustainable sources • Adopt good thermal and acoustic insulation standards. Energy Efficiency features exhibited in our buildings: • Good thermal insulation, exceeding current regulations. • Good floor area to external envelope ratio. • Use of thermal mass in conjunction with night time passive cooling. • Extensive use of natural light including atria, rooflights and sunpipes. • Solar shading to cut out unwanted heat gain in summer but allow positive solar gain in the winter. • Use of displacement ventilation, and induced stack ventilation. • Use of geothermal energy • Use of 80% efficient double heat plate heat exchangers • Use of Combined Heat and Power • Studies on the viability of photo-voltaic technology • The use of specialist glasses to reduce glare, solar gain and improve thermal resistance. • Intelligent controls to monitor and adjust systems for optimum energy efficiency • Personal control over the internal environment to allow for individual comfort conditions, which will limit end user wastage • Windcatchers • Rainwater harvesting • SUDS Offices procedures: In addition to designing sustainable and energy efficient buildings we operate our own environmental policy within the office including • avoidance of printing • re-cycling • Energy efficient building with good insulation values • Encourage Cycling to work including the provision of a shower and cycle store • Use trains instead of cars to site and other meetings where practical Good housekeeping including turning off lights and keeping doors closed in winter etc. Awards for energy efficiency: Littledown Centre in Bournemouth: Highly Commended: Building Energy Efficiency Award