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I
am a British part-time student, studying music technology - and a DJ in
my spare time. Eighteen months ago I moved, with my family from a typical
British semi-detached town house in the south of London to Bed Zed, which
stands for Beddington zero-energy development, our new energy efficient
house.
Simply put, Bed Zed uses no energy produced by fossil fuels - and consumes
half the normal amount of energy. It is 'carbon neutral' and so does not
add to the problem of global warming. It achieves this with a combination
of renewable energy and innovative architecture. Electricity and hot water
are supplied by a combined heat and power plant which meets all the development's
needs, burning waste wood from a tree surgery, instead of oil or gas.
Any extra electricity generated is sold to the national grid.
The development
is specifically designed to generate and hold heat, and this helps give
our house a unique character. The walls are 70 cm thick, so virtually
no heat escapes through them - and we have window sills deep enough
to sit in. The entire south-facing wall is made of glass, and so provides
solar heat even in the dead of winter, like a greenhouse - and gives
us a conservatory on both floors. We don't have to open windows for
fresh air because there are brightly coloured 'wind cowls' on the roof
collecting air, which is then circulated around the house. In winter
cold air coming in is heated by warm air going out, in what is known
as a heat exchange system.
Our water is metered
and this has made us more conscious of our usage. A green water system
is used for the lavatory and garden hose. The water is recycled in reed
beds, which is more sustainable than treating it in the same way as
drinking water.
My mother is a director
of BioRegional Development Group, an environmental organization that
developed the Bed Zed idea. She is also a single parent and leads a
demanding life, but she does not own a car. At Bed Zed there is a communal
'car club': you pay a small cost for the mileage and time you use and
there is a user-friendly internet booking scheme and swipe card system.
On-site recycling banks and an organic fruit and vegetable delivery
service are also available.
The
success of Bed Zed rests on how easy it is to lead a sustainable lifestyle
when given the opportunity, and the main force behind the community spirit
here is a common belief that living this way makes sense. |
