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THE BEDZED STORY The UK's first large-scale, mixed-use eco-village

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Environment and Urbanization

Marcella Whitfield

Jo Williams

A B S T R A C T The paper explores the ability of urban transition experiments to transform the development regime in which they are embedded. Using three European case studies – BedZed, Vauban and Hammarby – it investigates the processes of broadening and scaling-up within cities, nations and across cities globally; and finds that transition experiments do influence the development regime in which they are embedded. The impact of experiments on the development regime does vary significantly with scale. The innovative components, which are assembled in experiments (cultural, structural and practices) also seem to have differing propensity to influence the development regime at different scales. Thus, cultural innovations have a greater propensity to influence the development regime across all scales, whilst the structural and practice innovations tend to influence the development regime locally and nationally. The case studies also demonstrated the significance of context (historical and geographical) in shaping experiments and influencing the transformation process. This finding suggests that the importance of broadening in the transformation process has been overstated. The experiments show that broadening across national boundaries and for prolonged periods, can result in expanding niche-regimes which become increasingly diverse. But it does not result in transformation.

Nils Brandt , Karel F . Mulder , Mark Deakin

This report aims at analyzing the state of today's knowledge and tools that is relevant for moving European cities towards climate neutrality. The report has been created using both literature sources as well as analyses of case studies from European cites. The main issues dealt with are how the concept of climate neutrality applies to cities, what experiences cities have in planning carbon neutral urban districts and the tools that could be used such as indicators, scenarios and benchmarking. As the world's population increases along with higher living standards more greenhouse gases (GHG) are emitted. The migration of the majority of the population into cities creates a possible opportunity to fight these pressures in a more efficient way. This is because cities are large and concentrated emitters of GHG and therefore also a good platform to cut emission. They are also expanding which means that new and modern technology can be introduced in new built districts. Moreover, cities are generally nodes for societal systems, facilitating the production and implementation of innovations.

Low carbon urban transition experiments are emerging across cities globally. These experiments are socio-technical innovations with a high potential to contribute to a low carbon. Through the Global Intelligence Corps knowledge of these experiments is being disseminated across a variety of spatial contexts. Foreign cities are keen to replicate these examples of best practice; whilst technical experts, technology providers and governments are keen to export their expertise and technologies. However, the factors influencing the successful translation-movement, transformation and adaptation-of these experiments across spatial contexts requires deeper investigation. This paper explores the process using a mobile transitions conceptualisation. In this paper we develop a theoretical conceptualisation of the mobile transition process and test it using two low carbon experiments-Hammarby Sjostad (Stockholm) and BedZed (London). We identify the type of knowledge that is translatable (in the global form), and how this is modified both by the global and local assemblages throughout the process. The implication of our findings is that greater clarity is needed throughout the translation process if outcomes are to improve. Firstly, in order to determine the potential for an urban experiment to translate into a new spatial context the practitioner must understand the context from which it emerged and the context into which it will be translated. Secondly practitioners need to clearly define the translatable global form emerging from an experiment. It must be possible to decontextualise and re-contextualise the global form if it is to translate successfully. In some cases it may be impossible to decontextualise the global form without undermining the fundamental principles underlying the experiment. Thirdly, practitioners need to be aware of how the global form can be manipulated and re-represented by the global and local assemblages during the translation process. The global form is not fixed. Finally practitioners should be aware that new socio-technical systems (adopting the fundamental principles developed in the experiment) will emerge from the translation process.

Final report cof CLUE project

Karel F . Mulder , Nils Brandt

This report aims at analyzing the state of today’s knowledge and tools that is relevant for moving European cities towards climate neutrality. The report has been created using both literature sources as well as analyses of case studies from European cites. The main issues dealt with are how the concept of climate neutrality applies to cities, what experiences cities have in planning carbon neutral urban districts and the tools that could be used such as indicators, scenarios and benchmarking. As the world’s population increases along with higher living standards more greenhouse gases (GHG) are emitted. The migration of the majority of the population into cities creates a possible opportunity to fight these pressures in a more efficient way. This is because cities are large and concentrated emitters of GHG and therefore also a good platform to cut emission. They are also expanding which means that new and modern technology can be introduced in new built districts. Moreover, cities are generally nodes for societal systems, facilitating the production and implementation of innovations. The concept of climate neutral urban districts is a way to approach the issue of carbon emissions in a smaller more controlled way, creating test beds where new ideas and technologies can be introduced. Climate neutrality aims at developing strategies and actions that avoid global climate change by elimination of carbon emissions arising from anthropogenic activities. However caution should be taken as the concept is not fully developed. Climate neutrality can be seen in many ways and a unified definition cannot be presented yet. However several projects can be identified that experimented with sustainable neighbourhood developments. These projects were amongst the first to directly apply the vision of sustainable development emerging from the UNCED Rio Summit in 1992 and the consequent Agenda 21 action plan. The knowledge and experience gained from these early projects is considerable, and their influence can be seen in a number of CLUEs. The CLUE case studies show that cities are increasingly moving towards the integration of renewable energy sources and a closed loop metabolism with instruments of planning, design and construction. At present, it can be said that the CLUE project cases show a range of initiatives currently applied in cities across Europe but, for the most part, do not show the application of holistic long term climate change mitigation strategies. Three main issues are considered in this report: frameworks for determining urban GHG emissions, scenario planning for stakeholder participation, and benchmarking the results that are achieved. In chapter 3 an overview of frameworks is sketched to calculate urban district GHG emissions. One of the main issues is the lack of clarity on what should be accounted for on an urban scale: the imported goods and services as well? The issue about setting the system boundary in a way that the results get trustworthy and transparent is challenging and is still internationally debated. In chapter 4, the necessity of stakeholder participation is sketched, and what could be achieved by it. In chapter 5, scenario methods are reviewed. It is argued that it is important to distinguish external scenarios (sketching the uncertainties emerging from the outside world) from internal scenarios that are aiming at evaluating longer term impacts of courses of action. It is argued that scenarios are a good tool for providing stakeholders with expertise that is required for participation. Chapter 6 considers evaluation and benchmarking of CLUEs. Evaluation is valuable and necessary both to secure goal fulfilment and/or to define targets for further progress. The theoretical work within the area of evaluating GHG reduction measures is comprehensive both within general theory of evaluation guidelines but also for environmental and sustainability follow-up. The main function of indicators is the representation of information regarding the complex issues they address. They decrease the number of parameters that are usually necessary to present the situation and simplify the communication of results to the users. New sets of urban indicators are developed for benchmarking best practice in the search for climate neutrality, which are specified in terms of the fabric that serves the city-districts, neighbourhoods and blocks. Based on this approach, new mathematical formulas are used to generate urban sustainability indicators. The pros and cons of this approach are discussed. Using this approach it is possible to compare the performance of city-districts in terms of energy consumption and CO2 emission. This in turn allows each of their respective performances to be benchmarked against one another in terms of energy consumption and carbon emissions. Finally, chapter 7 discusses the outcomes of this study, and the challenges for further research and development. It develops 7 characteristics that are of key importance for a successful approach in planning, decision making and operation of a CLUE: 1. A long term future orientation 2. Participation of stakeholders 3. Measuring progress 4. Benchmarking 5. Be sensitive non-climate related impacts of urban planning 6. Being equity sensitive 7. Creating a stepping stone to a Climate Neutral City/society

Handbook of Urbanization and Global Environmental Change

Eugene Mohareb

Nermin Dessouky

Sustainability has become a primary concern of new communities worldwide. With regard to planned communities specifically, sustainability planning has taken into account technical environmental standards as well as economic and technological factors. However, planned communities must consider social factors, or their " culture of sustainability " if their endeavors should prove to be truly successful in not only being environmentally sustainable, but also uphold and encourage sustainable human behavior. This paper will first consider the definition of cultures of sustainability. Cultures of sustainability vary from one community to the next and are defined by a strong hierarchy of values. How these values are translated differ, especially as it concerns the structure and governance of a community; values can either be communicated top-down through institutions or bottom-up using a community based-approach. Second, this paper will explore the methodologies communities use to make themselves sustainable. Third, the methodologies and cultures of sustainability explored through three case studies on three different continents: Europe, North America, and the Middle East. Throughout the three case studies, the obstacles and challenges to sustainability and the different forms it takes, environmental, economic, and social, are explored. In this study, it becomes clear that cultures of sustainability must first and foremost take into account the inclusion of the community in decision making processes as well as their embrace of community values and willingness to alter their behavior. Without a shared vision, concrete plan, and sense of community identity, sustainability goals can only last in the short term rather than create a real impact.

Daniel Christian Wahl, PhD

In this chapter I will introduce the concept of the spatial and temporal scales of ecological and sustainable design. I propose that since natural processes are inherently scale-linking, so should sustainable design. I will expand the scales of ecological design first proposed by Janis Birkeland (2002) and dedicate one subchapter to each scale: product design ecology, sustainable architecture, sustainable construction industry, sustainable community design, design of industrial ecosystems, sustainable urban design & planning, bioregional design, and the design of national and international cooperative networks.

Priya Ranjan

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Promoting Energy-Efficient Neighbourhoods: Learning from BedZED

• First Online: 24 February 2022

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• Derya Oktay 3  

Part of the book series: Innovative Renewable Energy ((INREE))

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In the era of climate change during which serious environmental problems threatening the world, there is an urgent need for the reform of urban areas through research and efforts towards sustainable urbanism. In this context, city neighbourhoods are the most important components of a city; when they are designed as energy-efficient, green- or eco-neighbourhoods, the whole city benefits. Of all the issues affecting the environment, by far the most important are global warming caused by the greenhouse effect, the loss of the ozone layer, pollution, shortage of water and domestic waste. In this vein, there is a range of environmental issues for the would-be environmentally conscious designers and developers to consider. Among the developments which have been exemplary in overcoming these problems, the Beddington Zero-Energy Development (BedZED) in south London has been an inspiration for low-carbon, environment-friendly housing developments around the world as the only full-scale attempt to create a zero-carbon neighbourhood in the UK. In this chapter, based on the findings of the author’s EC-funded research in BedZED conducted as part of the preliminary stage of her research at Oxford Institute for Sustainable Development (Oxford Brookes University, UK) in 2009, the development is explored through various dimensions. The study reveals that creating an energy-efficient neighbourhood with a sense of place is possible through environmentally conscious planning and design approaches based on a sustainable form of development with large scale, compact and mixed-use scheme utilising under-used sites and with energy-efficient buildings of human scale.

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Oktay D (2004) Urban Design for sustainability: a study on the Turkish City. Int J Sust Dev World 16, pp 24–35

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Oktay, D. (2022). Promoting Energy-Efficient Neighbourhoods: Learning from BedZED. In: Sayigh, A. (eds) Sustainable Energy Development and Innovation. Innovative Renewable Energy. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-76221-6_93

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Bioregional, with its project partners, developed the UK’s first large-scale, mixed-use sustainable community in the London Borough of Sutton.

100 Sustainable houses are home to approx. 220 residents

-61% BedZED residents consume 61% less water per day than average homes in the area

Creating the UK’s first large-scale sustainable community.

Bioregional is an environmental consultancy, charity, and social enterprise that works with communities around the world to tackle the climate and ecological emergency. We provide a range of sustainability consultancy services that make it easier for people to live sustainable lives, this includes helping major developers to create pioneering eco-communities. BedZED was the UK’s first large-scale, mixed-use sustainable community. The project was initiated by Bioregional and developed by Peabody Trust in partnership with Bioregional and ZEDfactory architects. The development is made up of 100 homes, office space, a college, and community facilities. It is also home to Bioregional's headquarters. The idea for BedZED grew out of Bioregional’s search for new office space back in 1997. Sutton Council was selling a plot of brownfield land for housing development, and we thought, ‘Why don't we build not only an office but a community as well?’ We worked closely with green architect Bill Dunster, engineers Arup, and the local housing association Peabody Trust as project partners. BedZED – the UK's first eco-community – was completed in 2002. BedZED was designed to be free of fossil-fuel consumption once it was built, radically reducing its residents’ emissions of climate-changing carbon dioxide gas and giving them energy security. BedZED is made up of mixed-size and mixed-tenure properties, from studio flats to four-bedroom townhouses. The development brings together a huge number of sustainable technologies and community initiatives to promote climate-conscious and sustainable living. Major energy savings are provided by high levels of insulation and airtight design while power-generating solar arrays are integrated into buildings. Water waste is minimised through water-saving appliances, and abundant private and shared outdoor spaces and green roofs provide space for local wildlife to thrive. Colourful wind cowls are perhaps the most eye-catching part of the BedZED design and act as a ventilation system – bringing in fresh exterior air and expelling stale air without wasting heat in the process. BedZED was also the site of the UK's first car club and includes shared, traffic-free spaces that promote a sense of community. Through the experience of developing BedZED, we created the One Planet Living ® framework – a sustainability framework that provides a vision of the world where we can live within the Earth’s finite resources. Anyone can access and use the One Planet Living ® framework and it has helped organisations and communities around the world to shape their sustainability ambitions. BedZED is arguably the most ambitious attempt at a truly sustainable housing development and has inspired similar projects around the globe. The development has won and been shortlisted for numerous awards: • Shortlisted for the Sterling Prize 2001 • London Lifestyle Award - Evening Standard New Homes Award 2001 • Special Awards: Sustainability - RIBA London Awards 2003 • Best Project & Sustainability Award - Housing Design Awards 2003 • Ashden Award 2003 The strength of the community at BedZED is one of its greatest success stories. The design of communal, pedestrianised spaces means residents are much more likely to know their neighbours compared to surrounding streets. It has demonstrated that sustainability can help people to live healthier and happier lives without making sacrifices.

Use our One Planet Living ® Framework – The framework is free for anyone to use under licence and includes goals and guidance for lots of different types and scales of project. Developers can also make their project a One Planet Living ® development by publishing an action plan that outlines how they will reach the goals outlined in the framework. There is lots of detailed information available around this on our website: https://www.bioregional.com/one-planet-living Involve all of the stakeholders in the design process – It’s important to get everyone involved at a community level and understand their needs and goals. It really needs to be a very consultative and bottom-up process. Ask us for advice – Bioregional provides consultancy and advisory services whether you need help drafting your action plans or technical support. If you are planning a new development, you can reach out for expertise and insights. Our Metrics – • Energy savings • Renewable energy generation • Water waste savings • Community engagement • Ongoing development performance • Travel emissions

Read more: www.bioregional.com

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Revisit: BedZED in Beddington, UK by ZEDfactory

1 May 2023 By Steve Webb and Paul Downie Buildings

BedZED by ZEDfactory in suburban south London promised a utopian future which has failed to materialise

W hen BedZED – ‘Bed’ for the suburb of Beddington and ‘ZED’ for zero energy development – was completed in 2002, it was heralded by the architectural press with endless fanfare, declaring a new dawn in sustainable housing. Combining three terraces of 82 housing units with 1,500m 2 of live/work and commercial units, the project was described as ‘a piece of radical architectural design’ and ‘a model for future volume housing’ by Rob Gregory in AR November 2003. Nearly bagging the Stirling Prize, it was vaunted as the birth of a typology that would stop global warming, avoid the crisis as fossil fuels dried up, reduce urban sprawl through greater density, and eliminate driving by co‑locating work and housing in the same urban village.  

Click to download the drawings

Developed by Peabody, with a mixed tenure of a third for social rent, a third for shared ownership and a third for private sale, BedZED was intended to make living more affordable by lowering running costs for buildings. It was conceived to a backdrop of the adoption of the Kyoto Protocol (signed in 1997) and recognition that buildings were responsible for around 40 per cent of all emitted greenhouse gases. Seeking to make habitation truly sustainable, the designers – ZEDfactory, headed by Bill Dunster, with Arup as MEP engineers, Ellis and Moore as structural engineers, and Bioregional as sustainability consultants – were in front of the carbon reduction curve: the EU Directive on Energy Performance of Buildings was not signed until 2002, the year BedZED was completed.  

BedZED, nestled in a south London suburb, loudly proclaims its sustainability credentials, with green sedum roofs and its famous brightly coloured wind cowls. However, a structure of concrete, steel and brick supports this conspicuous green infrastructure

Credit: Martina Fererra

The group worked with carbon footprinting team Best Foot Forward to establish that Britain could sustainably produce 250kg per capita of fuelwood annually without reducing agricultural land. They therefore set out to power the development using a combined heat and power (CHP) system that would consume just that amount of fuel, topped up by solar panels. To make this goal achievable, the power demand of the units had to be brought way below what was normal at the time. With 300mm‑thick insulation (significantly exceeding the contemporary building regulations), north‑facing argon‑filled triple glazing, and glass‑enclosed winter gardens soaking up solar gain in winter, the designers believed that the development’s power demand could be reduced to the point that this small amount of wood chip would do the job and the inhabitants could live in balance with nature. This approach appeared to provide a utopian energy source: a zero‑carbon method of creating electrical energy, with heat as its by‑product.  

However, the centrepiece of the design, the biomass CHP plant, malfunctioned in 2004, resulting in the development being heated by gas boilers until the installation of a biomass boiler four years ago (today, the system includes a biomass boiler and three gas boilers; the CHP plant is long gone). The idea that we can power our lives with forestry is appealing, but air pollution is back on the agenda now and biomass is not an option. Today, we would include an air or ground source heat pump as the main heat source, though these are not without their technical issues and deficiencies. In twenty years, we will likely be condemning their use, and there will hopefully be an abundant alternative – green hydrogen or technologies yet to be devised.

The winter gardens – two‑storey glass conservatories fronting each flat – are a fundamental element of the project’s passive heating and cooling system, but while a source of winter warmth, the flats on the upper level of the development are subject to overheating, as documented in a study completed in 2006. Cost savings meant that high‑level openings were omitted by the client, causing much of the excess heat to be trapped. Presumably this has only worsened as the initial effects of global heating are starting to increase air temperatures.  

The development’s most striking feature is the colourful wind cowls that sprout from the roofs and orient themselves towards the wind, naturally ventilating spaces through a heat exchange. While they undoubtedly help ventilate during summer, in the winter they are a source of cold air to spaces which are only warmed by the winter garden. Occupants can close the vents within rooms but then these spaces are unventilated.  

The high‑performing fabric is insufficient to deal with the very high levels of ventilation created by the wind cowls, which is nearly 2.5 times more ventilation than current Passivhaus standards. Much time and effort was likely spent mitigating overtemperature, and underheating was missed. This has resulted in some of the residents installing individual gas boilers and central heating to heat their homes. Today we would use heat recovery ventilation together with a high‑performing fabric but also, when using Passivhaus principles, further limit the air change rate or permeability. It would still be an extremely confident designer who would not heat each space to deal with the lowest temperatures.  

To limit overheating, the designers made the buildings thermally massive using exposed precast concrete slabs and block walls; concrete strip footings support concrete ground slabs, brick and block walls, and precast concrete slabs for floors. At the time of construction, the energy efficiency of most buildings was so woefully poor that the energy in use exceeded the embodied energy of the frame, and there was rarely any focus on limiting the amount of carbon associated with building materials; the number of huge steel and concrete buildings crowned with novelty windmills that were built is a bleak indictment of the attitudes that prevailed.  

‘The minute someone so much as turns the key in the ignition of a digger, building projects stop being zero energy’

In this development, the designers have made some efforts to decarbonise the structure, using lighter precast concrete planks, ground granulated blast‑furnace slag (GGBS) blocks, recycled steel and local bricks. While laudable, these are building techniques deeply rooted in the fossil fuel era. Recycled steel is still steel that could have been used elsewhere (meaning someone else has to make fresh steel); GGBS comes from coal‑fired blast furnaces; bricks, although local, were most likely fired with coal; and concrete, even though lightweight in this case, still involves very carbon intensive, gas‑powered manufacture.  

Solar cells integrated into the glass of the upper‑storey winter gardens both generate energy and provide shade to prevent overheating. A series of bridges and stairways connect second-floor flats above ground level

Through today’s eyes, these approaches seem to stand in contradiction to the project’s post‑fossil - fuel era ambitions. Thermal mass might excuse a thin layer of internal soffit concrete, but does not warrant extensive concrete and steel use. Similarly, green roofs offer a minuscule improvement in biodiversity on top of a building nearly in the countryside; it is difficult to see these as anything more than an affectation. On the other hand, BedZED’s embodied carbon is certainly much better than most housing developments today, twenty years on.

Ground-floor maisonettes are entered via the south‑facing winter gardens, which provide warmth to the adjacent spaces through solar gain

The development is covered in an impressive array of photovoltaics (PVs): both surface‑mounted panels on roofs and integrated into the verticals and returns of upper‑level winter gardens. The integrated individual cells, although less than half as efficient as today’s PVs, are spaced to cleverly allow daylight to stream into the winter garden while creating shading, in an attempt to reduce excessive solar gain during the summer. While PVs have a very good life expectancy, the inverters required for connection to electrical systems need maintenance and replacing, and we understand that in most instances this has not happened. The development as seen today is not autonomous in terms of power, but reliant on the national grid and its blend of fossil fuel and renewable generation.  

Upstairs bedrooms open onto balconies which include both a portion inside the winter garden, and a portion outside, open to the elements

Named the ‘living machine’, the biological water treatment system – with an ecosystem of plants, bacteria, algae, plankton and snails, to process sewage and create water usable in toilets and irrigation – has been replaced by another treatment plant. Ahead of its time, this development was left in Peabody’s hands, but without engineering staff experienced with gasification plants, biomass auger mechanisms or ‘living machine’ water treatment systems, they were out of their depth. A resident tells us that when the project was completed, the operation and maintenance manuals were limited in detail and scope.

The winter gardens are a threshold space, occupying the zone between living rooms and gardens

In addition to housing and workspaces, BedZED was intended to include a crèche, a café, a community football pitch, gardens and allotments. There would be no need to leave this neighbourhood, and so it encouraged minimal car use. Sadly, but not unsurprisingly, the hermetic live/work village did not fully take off in the middle of the commuter belt; a resident tells us that people fight over parking in the road running around the site. Initially occupied by the designers, the commercial units have since been rented to an adult education charity. Some of the live/work units have been converted into fully residential spaces, although the architects claim some of these are in use as live/work units again since the beginning of the pandemic.  

Many aspects of BedZED, which is now more than twenty years old, are maturing, including trees and vegetation and the sedum roofs

The name ‘ZED’ was a harbinger of current climate hyperbole. The minute someone so much as turns the key in the ignition of a digger, building projects stop being ‘zero energy’. Zero energy was possibly meant to mean zero carbon, but that also feels untrue when considering the embodied carbon of a scheme like this one: the gas that made the cement and the coal that made the bricks and the steel. Today we are drowned in the meaningless language of the ‘net zero’, ‘carbon neutral’ and ‘carbon negative’, and it is possible that this project in some way contributed to that trend.

However, anyone who has attempted to develop new ecological principles, battling with bureaucratic, industrial and economic constraints, will understand how hard the designers under Bill Dunster’s guidance worked to achieve the carbon neutral (in‑use) utopian dream: the 20‑year‑old concept we are still striving and failing to achieve today. What will our design descendants say of our own attempts, with the industry today predominantly consuming steel and concrete at an unsustainable rate?

The project was forward-thinking in its time, though some residents have responded to its teething problems by installing central heating. The learning centre for children with special needs installed air conditioning as there is a need for a quiet environment not conducive to open windows

Many of BedZED’s principles, rare at the time, have slowly made their way into the mainstream; the publicity attracted by the project pushed sustainability forward in the minds of many practitioners, although most building designers and commissioners still appear indifferent to climate concerns. We have a toolbox of sustainable techniques at our disposal today, helped in part by BedZED – the project was certainly a stepping stone on our journey to more responsible design. Gregory concluded his review in the AR by imploring developers to ‘go to BedZED, then wake up and help us all live the dream’. We are saddened that, despite their best efforts, BedZED’s grand ambitions have not fully materialised.  

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BedZED Beddington Zero Energy Development

Hackbridge, Sutton, United Kingdom

Photo by Tom Chance , CC BY-SA 2.0

BedZED Beddington Zero Energy Development is a brownfield development that contains a mixed use sustainable community with residences, office space, community space. This zero-carbon development encourages a lifestyle dedicated to reducing electricity, heating, water and fossil fuel transportation demands.

2000 - 2003

Peabody Trust, BioRegional Development Group, Bill Dunster Architects

Performance levels achieved:

Regenerative

Goals & Strategies:

Goals: Promote a local food network.

Strategies: Farmers market, walking distance to community garden.

Goals: Increase biodiversity in the area.

Strategies: Garden plots, balcony gardens, green roof, reed wetland for waste water filtration.

Transportation

Goals: 50% reduction in resident vehicle mileage.

Strategies: Car sharing, bicycle infrastructure, walking paths between units, vehicle parking on periphery, proximity to public transportation.

Goals: Hot water consumption reduction by 33%, potable water consumption reduced by 33%, on site water treatment.

Strategies: Water efficient appliances, water meters monitor consumption, resident education, biofiltriation gardens that filters blackwater into greywater for use in non-potable applications.

Goals: Zero-carbon development, 90% reduction in space heating needs, generate sites energy on site.

Strategies: Passive solar heating, passive ventilation and heat exchangers, district hot water, PV arrays, energy efficient appliances, monitor performance.

Health + Happiness

Neighborhood design.

Goals: Not defined.

Strategies: Shared public square and sports fields, community center, sports area.

Embodied Energy & Carbon

Goals: Use low embodied energy materials and construction practices.

Strategies: 52% of materials were sourced within 35 miles, 15% of construction materials were reclaimed or recycled products.

Goals: Waste reduction by 30%.

Strategies: Encourage recycling.

Neighborhood & Access

Goals: Percent of affordable units: 25%-50%.

Strategies: Variety of housing options.

Access to Nature

Strategies: Outdoor spaces and gardens connected to homes, outdoor seating area.

Photo by Nigel Cox , CC BY-SA 2.0

Photo: ©2018 Google Earth

Sources: energy-cities.eu/ *Note: This case study was developed using found information. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, contuer adipiscing elit, sed diam nonummy.

Bioregional, with its project partners, developed the UK’s first large-scale, mixed-use sustainable community in the London Borough of Sutton.

100 Sustainable houses are home to approx. 220 residents

-61% BedZED residents consume 61% less water per day than average homes in the area

Creating the UK’s first large-scale sustainable community.

Bioregional is an environmental consultancy, charity, and social enterprise that works with communities around the world to tackle the climate and ecological emergency. We provide a range of sustainability consultancy services that make it easier for people to live sustainable lives, this includes helping major developers to create pioneering eco-communities. BedZED was the UK’s first large-scale, mixed-use sustainable community. The project was initiated by Bioregional and developed by Peabody Trust in partnership with Bioregional and ZEDfactory architects. The development is made up of 100 homes, office space, a college, and community facilities. It is also home to Bioregional's headquarters. The idea for BedZED grew out of Bioregional’s search for new office space back in 1997. Sutton Council was selling a plot of brownfield land for housing development, and we thought, ‘Why don't we build not only an office but a community as well?’ We worked closely with green architect Bill Dunster, engineers Arup, and the local housing association Peabody Trust as project partners. BedZED – the UK's first eco-community – was completed in 2002. BedZED was designed to be free of fossil-fuel consumption once it was built, radically reducing its residents’ emissions of climate-changing carbon dioxide gas and giving them energy security. BedZED is made up of mixed-size and mixed-tenure properties, from studio flats to four-bedroom townhouses. The development brings together a huge number of sustainable technologies and community initiatives to promote climate-conscious and sustainable living. Major energy savings are provided by high levels of insulation and airtight design while power-generating solar arrays are integrated into buildings. Water waste is minimised through water-saving appliances, and abundant private and shared outdoor spaces and green roofs provide space for local wildlife to thrive. Colourful wind cowls are perhaps the most eye-catching part of the BedZED design and act as a ventilation system – bringing in fresh exterior air and expelling stale air without wasting heat in the process. BedZED was also the site of the UK's first car club and includes shared, traffic-free spaces that promote a sense of community. Through the experience of developing BedZED, we created the One Planet Living ® framework – a sustainability framework that provides a vision of the world where we can live within the Earth’s finite resources. Anyone can access and use the One Planet Living ® framework and it has helped organisations and communities around the world to shape their sustainability ambitions. BedZED is arguably the most ambitious attempt at a truly sustainable housing development and has inspired similar projects around the globe. The development has won and been shortlisted for numerous awards: • Shortlisted for the Sterling Prize 2001. • London Lifestyle Award - Evening Standard New Homes Award 2001. • Special Awards: Sustainability - RIBA London Awards 2003. • Best Project & Sustainability Award - Housing Design Awards 2003. • Ashden Award 2003. The strength of the community at BedZED is one of its greatest success stories. The design of communal, pedestrianised spaces means residents are much more likely to know their neighbours compared to surrounding streets. It has demonstrated that sustainability can help people to live healthier and happier lives without making sacrifices.

Use our One Planet Living ® Framework – The framework is free for anyone to use under licence and includes goals and guidance for lots of different types and scales of project. Developers can also make their project a One Planet Living ® development by publishing an action plan that outlines how they will reach the goals outlined in the framework. There is lots of detailed information available around this on our website: https://www.bioregional.com/one-planet-living Involve all of the stakeholders in the design process – It’s important to get everyone involved at a community level and understand their needs and goals. It really needs to be a very consultative and bottom-up process. Ask us for advice – Bioregional provides consultancy and advisory services whether you need help drafting your action plans or technical support. If you are planning a new development, you can reach out for expertise and insights. Our Metrics – • Energy savings. • Renewable energy generation. • Water waste savings. • Community engagement. • Ongoing development performance. • Travel emissions.

Read more: www.bioregional.com

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