ASDA’s latest high efficiency score in Bootle, Merseyside
opened in November 2008. The timber framed store includes
a host of sustainable features such as a recycled aluminium
roof, reclaimed brickwork from the Mersey docks and a
biomass boiler. The store aims to recycle 95% of its
operational waste.

Eight Associates co-ordinated the BREEAM assessment
to ensure that the highest possible rating was achieved.

Eight Associates have acted as Sustainability Consultants to Grosvenor Ltd for the proposed exemplar sustainable refurbishment of a Georgian townhouse. The site is currently in Planning. Eight Associates have provided carbon analysis (including operational and embodied energy), over-heating analysis and Ecohomes preliminary assessment. Particular attention has been placed on the insulation and windows to this Grade II Listed building.

Eight Associates have been environmental consultants on a team who were successful in a competition to design 78 homes meet Code Level 5 and 6 in Northern Ireland.  The key factor for the design was the budget requirements for an affordable housing scheme. Working alongside the engineers we optimised the building fabric to respond to the site in terms of environmental performance as well as urban design. The project is at Stage E and Eight Associates are acting as Code Assessors and undertaking the SAP calculations. 

The development is a new nine storey residential building in Hackney, which will provide both private and affordable housing. It will be constructed entirely of sustainably sourced timber. On completion it will be the tallest modern timber residential building in the world.

This project has involved advising the design team on how to integrate the EcoHomes (2006) requirements to meet an Excellent/Very Good rating in a cost-effective manner. Recommendations that have been incorporated into the development include energy efficient lighting, cycle storage, water efficient appliances, reduction of construction site impacts and Secured by Design windows and doors. Formal assessment is currently underway, with PDM/Eight Associates playing a co-ordination role within the design team to ensure relevant information is collated efficiently and in requirement with the BRE. 

This supermarket distribution centre is an exemplar project, incorporating many technologies to promote sustainability. There are a range of measures to minimise carbon emissions, including a solar wall to pre-heat air inflow, a combined heat and power plant and the pioneering ‘dragon-power’ system that is installed in the road surface to produce electricity from passing lorries. Other initiatives include a rainwater recycling system for cleaning pallets, a new bus route to reduce employees’ reliance on cars and a stringent construction policy to ensure the environmental performance of on-site activities.

http://www.cagroup.ltd.uk/products_solarwall.html
http://www.aesti.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=12&Itemid=27

??As part of a team we successfully competed for funding as part of the nationwide ‘Retrofit For the Future’ competition. The scheme has so far received design stage funding and will apply for a second round of funding for construction costs in November 2009. The chosen house is a 4 bedroom affordable housing unit near Holland Park, for which we are aiming to reduce whole house carbon emissions by 80%. The design team has developed a working prototype to combine off-the shelf cost effective technologies to meet PassivHaus standards for building fabric improvements and ventilation systems.

SusCon is the first education building to achieve the highest BREEAM rating, Oustanding, at interim stage.

SusCon is a sustainable construction training and research centre that is pioneering a new approach to sustainable construction learning. The building reflects this innovative approach and has been designed as a learning tool in its own right.

Within the BREEAM Assessment, specific credits were obtained through innovative design including an EPC rating of A(9) achieved through excellent building fabric performance and installation of biomass boilers. In addition, rainwater harvesting and low water use sanitary fittings have been fitted, high amounts of recycled aggregates from local suppliers used and a significant minimisation of construction waste produced was achieved.

Eight Associates managed and coordinated the BREEAM assessment; advising the design team on how to achieve the Outstanding rating. 

Eight Associates helped the design team achieve the UK’s highest ever BREEAM score to date. Crucially, proper dialogue on sustainability amongst the team from concept stage onwards delivered a fundamentally low carbon yet commercially viable design. The building is constructed using a high thermal mass hollow pre- cast concrete panel system allowing air to be passed through the fabric to minimise energy consumption and temperature fluctuations. It is orientated East-West, with a central ‘street’ atrium separating two main blocks with carefully modelled glazing ratios and a green sedum roof. A Combined Cooling and Heating and Power system provides low carbon heat and cooling. Most importantly, Leeds University have been commissioned to undertake post-occupancy monitoring of the building, allowing real performance figures to inform future projects.

http://www.termodeck.co.uk
http://www.leeds.ac.uk

The design team have taken a low energy approach from the outset. The building is earth berm and concrete frame construction to provide high thermal mass and a stable internal environment without significant energy input. Heating/chilled water is fed through the concrete slab after being pre-tempered through subterranean clay pipes to provide supplemental low carbon heating/cooling when required. An atrium roof provides natural daylighting to the centre of the structure. Envelope materials include timber cladding as well as a biodiverse green roof comprising local plant species. Run-off water is to be fed through a reedbed waterway that runs the length of the zoo, providing both a wildlife habit as well as taking pressure off the local sewer system. The carefully located glazing also allow close observation of the surrounding snow leopard and wading bird enclosures from inside.

http://www.twycrosszoo.com

Part of the Wembley re-development scheme. Wembley W05 and W07 is a mixed-use development, consisting of residential, retail, hotel and student accommodation.  Eight Associates have been appointed to coordinate the BREEAM assessment in order to meet the planning requirement set out by Brent Council; minimum of BREEAM Very Good and Code Level 3.  This involves a multi-faceted coordination and assessment role consisting of: guiding the design team to integrate the BREEAM requirements to meet a Very Good in a cost-effective manner.  Eight Associates encouraged coordination between members of the design team so as to ensure that the BREEAM requirements are integrated at the relevant design stages.

The design stage assessments are underway and are on target to meet the required BREEAM ratings and achieve the highest score possible.