An innovative development of 15 eco-homes at Lingwood has achieved an ‘Excellent’ rating on the EcoHomes scale – only the second new homes development which has achieved this level of sustainability in Norfolk.

Norwich based energy and environmental design specialists Robert Bilbie Consultancy and contractor Young Homes received the coveted certificate from industry body BRE – under their BREEAM (Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method) assessment methodology for the development of 15 affordable homes in the village.

The homes feature a variety of innovative measures designed to boost energy efficiency, such as high levels of insulation, solar and photovoltaic panels, ‘sun spaces’, ground source heat pumps and the use of renewable materials during construction.

Robert Bilbie Consultancy, which is recognised as a national leader in the design and assessment of environmental efficiency in new buildings, was involved throughout the development process, from advice during initial concept design through a renewable energy study, to the EcoHomes assessment itself.

Consultancy principal Robert Bilbie, who earlier this year was one of only seven people in the UK to be honoured with a Gold Medal by the Chartered Institute of Architectural Technologists in recognition of his work in improving the energy performance of buildings, said that the award of the tough new standard certification was a major step forward towards making new buildings more environmentally sustainable.

“There’s no doubt that the energy efficiency standards are going to continue to become ever more stringent,” he said.  “Only those who are building new homes which meet the highest standards are going to succeed in the future.  It’s good to have achieved an Excellent rating, and I’m sure that this is only the start – we have no option but to strive to achieve this kind of environmental performance as we move into the future.”

Ian Neave, Design Manager at Youngs Homes, said, “The construction industry is changing.  Standards are being set much higher, and we think this is a good example of those higher standards that are starting to be achieved.”

The new homes at Lingwood have a range of innovative features designed to make them more sustainable: 

• highly insulated structural panel walling system
  low air infiltration
• gas fired condensing boilers 91% efficient and low NOx emissions
• solar panel and photovoltaics to four dwellings and ground source heat pumps to five dwellings
• 9% of the total energy demand supplied by renewables / low carbon technology
• all major construction elements achieve an ‘A’ rating from the BRE’s Green Guide for Housing, meaning they have less impact on the environment
• all homes have storage for cycles and facilities for home working
• all basic building and finishing elements responsibly sourced, e.g. certificated timber
• homes have dedicated internal recycling bins and low water usage by using rainwater harvesting for toilet flushing, as well as external water butts for washing cars and watering gardens
• surface water attenuation to reduce the risk of localised flooding, pollution and other environmental damage
• ecological value of site enhanced by planting specific species and installing bird and bat boxes
• enhanced sound insulation (5db better than Building Regulations) to be installed and testing upon completion to all party walls
• energy and environmental home user guide to be supplied to all home occupiers
• four dwellings provided with sun spaces having mechanical ventilation to circulate warm air throughout the house.
  

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