If we're going to create behavioural change and fight the #climatecrisis, we need to make it easier for people to live happy, healthy lives within the natural limits of the planet🌍💚

#EarthDay #ClimateAction2021
And we believe change starts at home. Literally.

That's why we've been working with our partners to deliver #sustainable homes and communities that make it easy for residents to do the right thing🏡
To celebrate #EarthDay , we'll be taking a trip down memory lane, looking back at some of the standout #zerocarbon homes and communities we've helped to create over the years...
First up is #BedZED - the trailblazing eco-development that's gone down in history as the first large-scale, mixed-use #sustainable community in the UK
To reduce the environmental impact of #BedZED's construction, we prioritised the use of locally sourced, recycled and reclaimed building materials.
52% of its construction materials were sourced within 56 km, while 15% were #recycled or #reclaimed:
🧱 bricks came from 35 km away
🌳 timber cladding harvested from Croydon and Kent woodlands nearby
🏗️ 40 tonnes of structural steel reclaimed from refurb project in Brighton
From the outset, we wanted #BedZED to be free of #fossilfuel consumption once it was built.
We provided:
🧣 high levels of insulation (300mm Rockwool layer in exterior walls + roofing, double +triple-glazed windows)
💨 airtightness
☀️ passive #solar heating design (main accommodation blocks are solar-oriented so even in winter, the sun shines onto all glazed facades)
Most homes have conservatory-like 'sunspaces' which create a greenhouse effect, locking in the sun's heat ☀️

They're also well-ventilated thanks to #BedZED's brightly coloured wind cowls, the development's most striking feature.

#EarthDay
Additional heat is provided via #BedZED's district heating system, which gets all of its heat from our #biomass boiler.

The grid electricity we get is on a green tariff - so we're close to fulfilling its #zerocarbon ambition!🌿

#EarthDay
To encourage residents to embrace greener forms of transport, we limited car space to just 0.6 spaces per home.

Instead, we offered:
🚗 an on-site car club (London's first)
⛔️ car-free mews
🚲 plenty of #bike stands
🏡 ample home storage
🚏 a prime location for public transport.
#BedZED's average water consumption is just 87 litres per person - more than 61% of the average for metered homes in Sutton.

This is partly thanks to:
🚿 aerated showerheads + taps
🚽 water-saving dual-flush toilets
💧 water meters at eye level
🌱 sedum roofs + porous walkways
You can follow @Bioregional.
Tip: mention @twtextapp on a Twitter thread with the keyword “unroll” to get a link to it.

Latest Threads Unrolled: