Sustainability

Our Architects and Designers are committed to developing homes that are environmentally friendly and respond positively to the climate emergency and cost of living crisis. We believe all new homes should be low energy, low carbon, cheap to run and built using local, sustainable materials. Environmentally sustainable house design is good for the planet, your health, and usually cost-efficient. We have inhouse Passive House designer and access to leading teaching and research facilities for the latest and most innovative materials.

 Envelop First: Enhancing Energy Efficiency from the Start

We adopt a fabric-first approach when designing new homes, placing a strong emphasis on optimising the thermal envelope and airtightness. By doing so, we significantly reduce energy consumption while maximising the overall efficiency of the building.

Key features of our Envelop First approach include:

  • Superior insulation in walls, floors, and roofs to minimize heat loss

  • Achieving exceptional airtightness to eliminate cold draughts

  • Strategic window placement to harness solar heat during the winter

  • Utilising thermal mass to keep homes cool in the summer and warm in the winter

  • Thoughtful orientation of homes to maximise natural shading

This low-tech yet highly effective approach ensures that the homes we create are user-friendly, cost-effective to operate, easy to maintain, and provide a healthy living environment for you and your loved ones.

Introducing Passive House: Energy-Efficient and Comfortable Sustainable House Design

What is Passive House?

Passive House, also known as Passivhaus, sets a remarkable standard for energy efficiency and comfort in sustainable house design. Buildings built to Passive House standards leverage insulation, fresh air, natural daylight, and solar heat gain to create homes that maintain a consistently comfortable temperature throughout the year.

An Innovative Heating Alternative

Passivhaus buildings offer an exciting alternative to traditional heating methods. Instead of relying on inefficient boilers and radiators, these homes are equipped with high levels of insulation and a simple, low-energy ventilation system. This means you can enjoy warmth and comfort even in the coldest winter months without the need for extensive heating.

A Site-Specific Approach

When initiating a project, we conduct a thorough analysis of your site, carefully considering and harnessing its natural features to design your dream home. Collaborating closely with expert energy assessors, we employ virtual modelling techniques to optimise the building specifications and achieve Passive House certification for your new eco-friendly house design. Our approach ensures that your Passive House design surpasses expectations, delivering exceptional energy efficiency and cost-effectiveness.

The Benefits of Passive House:

  • Reduced Energy Consumption and Carbon Footprint: Passive House design leads to a significant reduction in energy usage and carbon emissions, making a positive impact on the environment.

  • Extremely Low Energy Bills: By maximizing energy efficiency, Passive House homes offer substantially lower energy bills, providing long-term savings.

  • Airtight and Draught-Free Homes: Passive House buildings are exceptionally airtight, around 20 times more airtight than standard homes, effectively minimizing drafts and heat loss.

  • Enhanced Air Quality and a Healthier Environment: With a focus on proper ventilation and air circulation, Passive House homes maintain excellent indoor air quality, promoting a cleaner and healthier living environment.

Choose Passive House for Sustainable Living.

Prioritising Sustainable Materials for Beautiful and Low-Carbon Construction

At London Atelier, we are dedicated to selecting sustainable building materials that not only enhance the beauty of your home but also have a minimal environmental impact. We believe in using locally sourced materials that align with our commitment to sustainability, low embodied carbon, and longevity. Our preference is for products that are easy to maintain, have a long lifespan, and can be recycled in the future, further contributing to a circular economy. In recent projects, we have successfully implemented the following sustainable material practices:

  • Low Carbon Concrete: Reducing Environmental Footprint

In our pursuit of sustainability, we have utilised low-carbon concrete that replaces 80% of the cement with waste by-products from other industries. By incorporating these innovative concrete solutions, we significantly reduce the carbon emissions associated with traditional concrete production, minimizing our environmental footprint.

  • Reused Hardwood: Transforming Waste into Sustainable Cladding

As part of our commitment to sustainable construction, we have repurposed 52 tonnes of hardwood, giving it a new lease of life as sustainable cladding. By embracing the principles of circular economy, we actively seek opportunities to reuse materials and reduce unnecessary waste, resulting in stunning, eco-friendly architectural elements.

  • Recycled Plastics: Creating Imaginative and Sustainable Interiors

In line with our vision for sustainable design, we have employed 100% recycled plastics that are not only visually appealing but also 100% recyclable. By utilising these recycled plastic materials, we contribute to waste reduction and promote the circularity of resources. These materials find new life in our imaginative interior designs, embodying creativity and environmental responsibility.

Harness the Power of Renewable Energy for a Sustainable Home

At London Atelier we strongly advocate for the integration of renewable energy sources in all the modern eco homes we design. By incorporating technologies like solar PV panels, solar thermal hot water systems, and air source heat pumps, we empower homeowners to reduce their carbon footprint and achieve significant savings on energy bills.

Embrace Renewable Energy Solutions

  • Solar PV Panels: Capturing the Sun's Energy

We believe in the power of solar energy and encourage the installation of solar photovoltaic (PV) panels. These panels harness the sun's rays and convert them into clean, renewable electricity for your home. By generating your electricity on-site, you can reduce reliance on fossil fuels and lower your carbon emissions.

  • Solar Thermal Hot Water Systems: Utilising the Sun's Heat

Our commitment to sustainability extends to harnessing the sun's heat to provide hot water for your home. Solar thermal hot water systems utilise the sun's energy to heat water, significantly reducing the need for conventional water heating methods. This eco-friendly solution not only reduces carbon emissions but also helps to lower your energy bills.

  • Air Source Heat Pumps: Efficient Heating and Cooling

We recommend the integration of air source heat pumps, which efficiently extract heat from the outside air and transfer it indoors for heating or cooling purposes. By using renewable heat sources, these heat pumps provide an energy-efficient and environmentally friendly alternative to traditional heating and cooling systems.

Join the Renewable Energy Revolution!

When you partner with London Atelier you can trust that our team of Architects and Designers will go above and beyond to create a home that aligns with your vision while meeting the highest standards of environmental sustainability. By prioritising energy efficiency, using sustainable materials, and staying at the forefront of industry advancements, we deliver homes that not only reduce your carbon footprint but also enhance your quality of life.