CLEVEL COMPENSATION PROJECTS
Most homes and workspaces are massively inefficient and expensive to run, with big carbon footprints. 25-50% of our carbon can easily come from our buildings and a home can generate some 3 tonnes of CO2 each year from heating and power.
In this context, we were keen to work with a revolutionary building approach that offered zero carbon potential. In 2000, C LEVEL identified a zero carbon build approach that also offered both affordability and a broad range of eco benefits. We began working with Earthship Biotecture in the US to introduce the first full scale Earthship to Europe . The concept is to build in a way which interfaces with the earth's natural systems so as to reduce or remove the need for bought in utility's and achieve ultra low carbon building. Biotecture is based on 6 core principles that can dramatically reduce CO2 emissions and make it far easier to Carbon Balance our homes:
- glass and mass solar heating
- natural and recycled building materials
- water harvesting
- contained sewage treatment
- solar and wind power
- growing food
C LEVEL secured funding for the full scale demonstration Earthship in Brighton and co managed its construction and communications. During 2005 we then secured further funding from the Energy Savings Trust to lead a full scale feasibility study for an ecovillage based on the concept. In 2007 with further input from CDHA, Bonnet's Estate Agents, and a 'green angel' investor, we secured full planning permission for the Brighton eco village.
In 2007 we also secured planning permission for a further 2 full scale zero carbon builds based on our experience with the earthships. The Groundhouse is now complete and successfully merges new eco technologies with the tried and testing earthship construction methods. The project was managed by CLEVEL's Daren Howarth and featured on the UK's Grand Designs programme. The second project is underway in India and is being coordinated by CLEVEL's Alex Leeor. All CLEVEL work is now undertaken from a zero carbon workspace.
There are only a handful of homes in the UK that demonstrate biotecture principles and achieve low or zero carbon emissions. Earthships offer one approach that can deliver a whole range of dramatic carbon reductions. Other inspiring cutting edge projects in the UK include:
|
