Sustainable Design
We have developed extensive experience of sustainable design, including the following examples:
Four Sustainable Care Homes
Graham Construction are currently building a series of four new 60 place dementia care homes for the City of Edinburgh Council, in which our designs include the following sustainability measures:
- Passive solar strategy, with all living rooms orientated to obtain direct sunlight.
- Solar water heating with 50 square metre roof-integrated array.
- Rainwater harvesting for use in toilet flushing and laundry water supply.
- Whole building ventilation for good internal air quality and reduced running costs.
- Concrete floor slabs for thermal mass.
- Self-coloured render externally to minimise need for cyclical repainting.
- Water based stains and paints to minimise toxins.
- Reduced use of UPVC.
- Enhanced insulation standards to reduce heat loss.
- Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) using prefabricated panel system.
- Combined Heat and Power Plant (CHP) for electricity generation as a by-product of the heating system.
The first two buildings have been completed and the third is on site.
These are pilot schemes for implementation of the city's Sustainable Design Guide, which aspires to make Edinburgh the most sustainable city in Europe.
Passive Solar Housing
Marshall Construction Ltd have built a development of individual private houses, into which we integrated several sustainability measures. The houses are significantly more energy-efficient than required by the Building Regulations, while providing beautiful and dramatic family homes.
- Timber framed "breathing wall" construction. Breathing wall construction avoids the need for an internal vapour barrier, reducing moisture levels in the house, which in turn reduces dust mites and associated allergies.
- Warmcel cellulose wall insulation (made from recycled newspapers).
- Passive solar strategy, with extensive south-facing glazing for passive solar gain from winter sun and minimal north facing windows to reduce heat losses.
- Double height conservatory space for passive summer cooling using the "stack effect".
- Whole house positive pressure ventilation for good internal air quality (reducing incidence of hay fever etc).
- Heat recovery on ventilation system.
- Upper floor in TJI/Masonite-type engineered joist construction to minimise use of timber while giving better rigidity.
- Underfloor heating above concrete ground floor slab for thermal mass.
- Natural slate roofing for longevity.
- Rainwater harvesting for use in garden watering.
- Self-coloured render externally to minimise need for cyclical repainting.
- Water based stains and paints to minimise toxins.
- Hardwood timber floors reduce dust mites and associated allergies.
- Provision for future domestic lift to achieve "Lifetime Homes".
- Solar water heating panels.
Off-Grid House for Private Client
This design for a house in a remote area needed to achieve a self-reliant dwelling as there were no mains electricity or gas available. The measures incorporated include:
- Passive solar strategy, with all rooms orientated to obtain direct sunlight.
- Minimal north facing window openings.
- Superinsulation of building envelope.
- Freestanding 6kW wind turbine with battery storage.
- Wood burning stove for space heating and water heating.
- Solar water heating to dual coil cylinder.
- Natural slate roofing for longevity.
- Wind-break walls to provide shelter prevailing wind.
Fire Training Centre
New Fire Service training facility incorporating the following low-energy and sustainable techniques:
- Ground source heat pump with deep borehole.
- Living roof, with sedum planting providing additional insulation, surface water attenuation, and eco-system for birds.
- Natural ventilation via ground pipes and roof vents, using wind pressure to extract stale air. Incoming air is passively tempered to reduce the need for winter heating and summer cooling.
- Rainwater harvesting for toilet flushing.
- Passive solar strategy.
- Solar water heating.
- Specification of materials with a high recycled content.
- Modular design to reduce construction waste.
