Design, Convert And Build Work contd.

Environmental Preference Schedule Of Construction Elements, page 4

PLUMBING

  1. Polybutylene pipes (Hep2O) above ground and polyethylene below ground. Internal wastes in polypropylene or polyethylene
  2. Stainless steel
  3. copper
  4. PVC internal wastes and lead

Choice: 1 & 3. Principally Hep2O with occasional use of copper.
Reason: The copper was used in some places for aesthetic reasons.

TIMBER

  1. Reused where possible
  2. home-grown FSC certified
  3. imported certified
  4. pre-treated unsourced

Choice: 1, 2 & 3. A lot of timber was reused and we avoided the use of pre-treated timber.
Reason: In some cases it was not possible to identify a suitable alternative to imported timber.

HARD LANDSCAPING

  1. woodchip/bark or reused stone/brick/ concrete flags – no pointing
  2. concrete paviours made from recycled aggregate set in sand with no pointing, gravel
  3. new concrete or brick paviours with cement pointing, clay tiles
  4. tarmac

Choice: 1,2 & 3. We used on site crushed concrete for bases and a combination of local gravel, new and reclaimed paviours and minimal new concrete.
Reason: In some areas creating disabled access caused concern with gravel finish but using thin gravel over a binding mix in combination with the other materials has proved relatively successful in practice.

FENCING

  1. native broad leafed sp. or willow hedging
  2. timber fence/drystone wall or reused brick walls with lime mortar
  3. new brick/block wall
  4. concrete or treated timber

Choice: 2.
Reason: It was necessary to establish boundaries immediately for safety and security reasons, so hedging was not an option.

PRESERVATIVE TREATMENTS

  1. Avoid if unnecessary
  2. Local treatment with Borates where required
  3. Overall treatment
  4. Pre-treated timber

Choice: 2.
Reason: We wanted to ensure a clean build from a health and allergy perspective.

PAINT FINISHES/DECORATIONS

  1. untreated surface
  2. lime wash or water based mineral paints for walls and ceilings and wax and oil finishes
  3. Water based acrylic paints
  4. Paints with organic solvents and lead based etc

Choice: 2 & 3. All the oak and larch was oiled and the exterior softwood painted with Osmo microporous stain and internal wall painted with Auro paints.
Reason: Best preference to meet aesthetic and environmental preferences.

SEALANTS

  1. Coconut fibre, felt, sisal, lime
  2. Mineral wool, PE tape, EPDM seals
  3. Elastomeric sealant with base filler
  4. PUR foam, sealant or tape

Choice: Various were used including Lime, mineral wool, and Elastomeric. We avoided PU foam.
Reason: Practicalities.

LIGHTING

  1. Design for natural light with reflective surfaces
  2. Low energy and LED
  3. Low voltage halogen
  4. Tungsten

Choice: 1, 2 & 3. We used low voltage halogen outside for safety reasons.
Reason: artificial light essential for amenity, safety and security in winter.

HEATING

  1. Super insulated and designed such that no heating system required
  2. Carbon neutral heating system
  3. Condenser boiler
  4. Electrical heating

Choice: 2. Woodchip boiler with accumulator heat store.
Reason: Having the land, we wanted a system that could utilise home grown fuel and have planted willow for short term rotation coppice. It was not possible to achieve a zero heating option within the constraints imposed by the existing structures and planning permissions.

References used:

The Whole House Book: Pat Borer and Cindy Harris
Handbook of Sustainable Building: David Anink, Chiel Boonstra, John Mak
Hazerdous Building Materials: Steve Curwell, Bob Fox Morris Greenberg, Chris March
The Ecology of Building Materials: Bjorn Berge
The Green Building Bible and their website: www.newbuilder.co.uk/greenpro
The Association of Environmentally Conscious Builders. This is a great organisation that has a superb forum on its web site - well worth a visit: www.aecb.co.uk/forum
Centre of Alternative Technology: www.cat.org.uk and their great information service.

Designers and Engineers:

Architects,: Nick Carroll, www.nickcarroll.net Nick Joyce www.nickjoyce.co.uk
Andy Simmonds, www.simmondsmills.com, Adrian Llewellyn, www.geomantic.co.uk, Neil Lewis
Ecologists: Wildways
Environmental consultant: David Olivier, www.energyadvisoryassociates.co.uk sponsored by www.carbontrust.co.uk
Heating Engineer: HMS Consulting
Logo Design: Sally Mae Joseph
Planning Supervisor: HPSS
Quantity Surveyors: J.I. Crowle and Dave Gwillam
Structural Engineer: Stuart Derbyshire
Web site construction: Top Spin Web Design www.topspinwebdesign.co.uk

Builders and Contractors:

Main Building Contractors; The Granary and annexes: B. Andrews and Son Ltd
WholeHealth: D. G. Berry
WholeHeaalth Lobby: Alternative Building Company, www.alternativebuildingcompany.co.uk
Electrician: Jeff Allen Electrical
Plumber: J. R. Snell
Lime plasterer: Smart Plastering
Joinery : B&P Worcester and RMD Leigh Sinton
Decorating: Jobs Done, Simon and George Cox, and Marram Jeffries
Fire Alarm Active Fire: www.actfireworcs.co.uk
Intruder Alarm: Web Net Systems
Ground Works: G. Cooper, D. Philpotts, C. Griffiths
Landscapers: Bransford Webbs Plant Company, Guy Sterry, J. Barrow

Specialist Suppliers:

EcoCafe Servery: Foal Yard Furniture www.foalyard.co.uk
Biomass Boiler: Talbott’s Ltd www.talbotts.co.uk
Kitchen equipment: Francis Catering www.franciscatering.com
Lime: Mike Wye & Associates www.mikewye.co.uk
Solar Panels: Eco-nomical www.eco-nomical.co.uk
Wood fibre Insulation: Natural Building Technologies www.natural-building.co.uk
Various building materials and advice: The Green Building Store www.greenbuildingstore.co.uk and The Green Shop www.greenshop.co.uk

Will Tooby; Project manager. July 2007


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