Low Impact Building

Tom Woolley is an architect and educator and self-builder. He has taught at the Architectural Association, Strathclyde University, Hull School of Architecture, Queens University Belfast, University of Central Lancashire, UiTM in Malaysia, University of Umea, the Centre for Alternative Technology in Wales, University of Bath and University of Gloucestershire. His research work and writing has covered housing policy, sustainable materials and design theory. He is active in the Co-operative party, ARC-PEACE and Scientists for Global Responsibility. He has helped to establish the Alliance for Sustainable Building Products in the UK. Working with Rachel Bevan Architects in County Down in Northern Ireland, he is also involved in organic gardening and sustainable woodland management.

• Acknowledgements x Figure credits xiIntroduction xiiThe Renewable House Programme xivThe expansion of natural building xivThe wider environmental agenda xvChapter overview xviiReferences xviii1 Renewable and non-renewable materials 1Synthetic, manmade materials 2Limitations of synthetic materials 3Questioning claims about recycling 4Resource consumption problem with synthetic materials 7Renewable materials – insulation 9Carbon sequestration and embodied energy 10Performance and Durability of natural materials 11Natural renewable materials commercially available 11Low impact materials 22References 232 Case Studies: twelve projects in the Renewable House Programme 26Abertridwr Y Llaethdy South Wales 29Drumalla House, Carnlough, County Antrim 35Blackditch, Stanton Harcourt, Oxfordshire 40Callowlands, Watford 44Domary Court, York 49Inverness 55Long Meadow, Denmark Lane, Diss 59LILAC, Leeds 64Tomorrow’s Garden City, Letchworth 68Reed Street, South Shields 76The Triangle, Swindon 80Pittenweem 88References 923 The Renewable House Programme: a strange procurement! 94Monitoring and evaluation 103References 1064 Analysis of issues arising from the case studies 107Success in using natural renewable materials 107Adapting conventional timber frame construction for using natural materials 109The importance of getting details right and using details appropriate for eco materials 110Problems with designs and the need to get warranty approvals for changes of details 111Weather issues and hempcrete 112Decision of Lime Technology to go for prefabrication in future and whether this is the best option 114Using wood fibre products and issues related to construction and components 115References 1165 Attitudes to renewable materials, energy issues and the policy context 118Why attitudes and policies affect the use of renewable materials 118Climate change and energy efficiency targets 118What is carbon? 119Sustainable construction and energy policies 120UK Code for Sustainable Homes 121New planning policy framework 123The zero carbon myth 123The carbon spike concept 125Energy in use or ‘operational energy’ is all that matters to many 126How embodied energy was discounted 128Carbon footprinting 132Passive design approaches 133Do natural and renewable materials have lower embodied energy? 133Carbon sequestration in timber 136Wood transport issues 137Carbon sequestration in hemp and hempcrete 138The Green Deal 139Official promotion of synthetic insulations 140Other attitudes hostile to natural materials – the food crops argument 142Transport and localism 143Cost 144References 1456 Building physics, natural materials and policy issues 148Holistic design 149European standards, trade and professional organisations 151Building physics – lack of good research and education 154Lack of data and good research on sustainable buildings 155Energy simulation and calculation tools 157Assessment of material’s environmental impact and performance 160Moisture and breathability and thermal mass 164Breathability 168Thermal mass and energy performance in buildings 170Building physics research into hempcrete 174Indoor air quality 178References 1837 Other solutions for low energy housing 187Hemp lime houses 187Hemp houses in Ireland 189Local sheep’s wool in Scotland 192Strawbale houses in West Grove, Martin, North Kesteven, Lincolnshire 192Timber experiments 194Scottish Housing Expo 197Using local materials? 197Greenwash projects? 199So-called ‘carbon neutral’ developments 202Earth sheltered building 203BRE Innovation Park 204Masonry construction for low energy houses 205Blaming the occupants 209Back to the 60s and 70s – déjà vu 210References 2118 A future for renewable materials? 214Middlemen 216Postscript 217References 219Glossary/Abbreviations 220Index 227

“I would recommend it to both experienced practitioners and those new to the subject.  It provides enough detail to allow one to source products, ask the right questions, challenge the answers, and hopefully promote the use of natural materials.”  (The Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings, 1 October 2013)