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| It is the policy of BCDH Architects to act positively, so as far is reasonably practicable, to protect the environment and conserve natural resources in the pursuit of our business interests. We endeavour to encourage and assist our clients to do likewise. We believe that this can be achieved in the design and delivery of projects through a collaborative and responsible working culture that encourages staff, clients and end-users alike to create solutions towards more positive and sustainable ways of life. In line with the progressive improvements in the legislatory requirements, we will continuously improve our internal processes and thereby reduce the environmental impact of our own operation. |
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| residential | conservation | Cherry Orchard Childcare | ||
| commercial | small investments | The Lodge | ||
| community | offices | |||
| environmental | fitout | |||
| one-off houses | refurbishments | Our Environmental Policy |
BCDH Architects endeavour with every project undertaken to save energy through careful consideration of the design of the construction and operation of the building, the ambition being to minimise its impact on the environment. We have researched and utilised various systems and technologies with the aim of: Minimising embodied energy Reducing energy use Where practical utilising materials sourced locally Specifying materials where possible from sustainable sources We do, however, have a pragmatic approach to the emerging ‘green’ technologies and work to our clients’ agenda rather than being overly pushy in promoting our own. We have used a number of ‘active’ systems such as heat pumps and solar water heating in a number of recent projects including residential refurbishments. We have also explored and have a working knowledge of other technologies such as wind turbines, reed bed drainage systems and wood fired boilers. We have discovered, however, that these technologies can sometimes be difficult to ‘bolt on’ in existing situations and work best when used as part of a holistic approach and are planned in to projects at the earliest stage where the budget allows. BCDH Architects also believe strongly in ‘passive’ environmental technologies that are ‘built in’ to our designs. Balancing orientation, solar gain, thermal mass, ventilation and insulation are the basic tools for creating comfortable environments for building users. We believe that considering these basics early in the development of a project is vital and can reduce the amount of energy resources required over the lifecycle of the building. We are also realists when it comes to utilising environmental technology and accept that clients have differing priorities when it comes to building. There is often an opportunity to improve a projects sustainability credentials even on the most cost driven projects and we endeavour to incorporate improvements where possible. |
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