PRP Carbon Challenge Design Competition 2007

Created on 03.09.2007

The competition, Carbon Challenge 2007 – the second in a series of annual design competitions held at PRP to respond to industry issues – shows new approaches by PRP’s architects that include embodied energy and solar gain, currently not part of the calculation of carbon neutrality. Many of the schemes also acknowledge the importance of generating renewable energy for a wide area rather than relying on micro-generation, an implication of Code level 6* and much current planning policy.

A total of 8 entries were submitted from across PRP's multidisciplinary practice. Interestingly, a number of common themes emerged alongside some unique concepts, including:

Consideration of the wide area context in terms of energy generation and supply through new infrastructure
Wind turbines and CHP fuelled by bio-gas or bio-mass sourced locally
Need for flood defence and storm water storage combined with grey water recycling on a site-wide basis
A neighbourhood approach to issues to car pooling, community facilities and workspace to address social and economic sustainability as well as environmental sustainability
Incorporating devices and methods that encouraged a change in lifestyle of the occupants – such as real time data systems
Incorporating live/work accommodation to reduce car usage, the single biggest contributor to people’s carbon footprint
Sourcing local food or facilitating farmers’ markets for locally grown food and orchards within the developments
Linkage with farms for bio-gas production
Adaptive house principles for future flexibility
Use of heat pumps, solar heating, photovoltaics and wind turbines on house types as a supplement to the area wide renewable energy generation
Use of natural materials such as rammed earth and timber frame Trombe walls for heat storage and transfer
Passivhaus principles for the building fabric to minimise heat loss
Passive stack ventilation from earth tubes for warmth in winter and coolth in summer
Use of geothermal energy
Use of new emerging technologies such as sun tubes, monitoring devices and electrical offsetting devices

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