Sustainability

Ettridge Architecture offer advice on the endless environmental design options from the concept stage of a scheme.

‘Green’ options are often seen as extras. This is not the case. The environmental aspects of design should be taken into account at the outset of a project. Starting with factors such as orientation and positioning on site, we can reduce energy bills considerably. Such factors are actually free, but are widely ignored by poor designers which results in renewable technologies having to be 'bolted on' just to conform to the Building Regulations.

Too much emphasis today is on renewable technology whilst the simple things are often ignored, such as orientation and air leakage. Sealing draughts or adding a south facing window will achieve real and immediate cost and carbon savings.