Examples
Green Buildings in Norfolk
Since 2005, as part of a campaign to promote practical solutions to climate change, CPRE Norfolk has been researching examples of local buildings that use renewable energy and low-impact construction techniques. A great variety of buildings have been discovered - from barns to water mills, cottages to smallholdings, studios to sheds, environment centres to ordinary council houses - and each has something remarkable to offer.
Technologies, Materials and Techniques
Many of the buildings harness the energy of the wind, sun, river and rain. Some are hand-made - built from straw, cob or rammed earth. Some have roofs of sedum, wildflowers and grasses. Many use sheep's wool, recycled newspaper or other recycled or reclaimed materials. Some are earth-sheltered or dug into local hillsides. Some are one off 'grand designs' and others are existing ordinary homes that have applied simple energy saving measures. Examples are below and a booklet highlighting 21 green buildings in Norfolk is available to download.
Honingham Earth Sheltered Social Housing Scheme, Honingham
The UK’s first earth sheltered social housing scheme is located in the Norfolk village of Honingham. Orientated south and passively designed, each of the four buildings is banked with earth to provide natural insulation. Solar water heating panels are mounted on the roof to provide hot water. Low running costs are the net result, for council tenants.
Architect: Jeremy Harrall (SEArch)
Owners: Flagship Housing Group
Three Owls Farm Cottages, Blakeney
This conversion of a redundant pig sty provides holiday accommodation on the North Norfolk coast. As well as recycling rainwater for the garden and toilets, the cottages were also the first buildings in the UK to be granted permission to filter rainwater for drinking. In addition, a ground source heat pump provides energy for underfloor heating and solar water panels provide hot water.
Architect: Ian Witcomb
Sedum House, Gimingham
Built by the architect as a permanent residence for himself and his family, Sedum House is buried into a grassy bank in what was once a disused quarry in North Norfolk. Windows have been cut into the hillside from front and above to provide ample natural light for ground floor living areas. A geothermal heat pump provides heating and hot water and rainwater is stored and recycled using a buried tank.
Architect: Tom Ground (C&M Architects)
The Old Barns, Upper Stoke
An exemplar conversion of redundant barns in South Norfolk, paying particular attention to the character of the original structure and designed to a very detailed energy efficiency specification. Sheep’s wool insulation, reclaimed brickwork and pantiles, organic clay paints and a multi-fuel stove have all been incorporated into the conversion. Rainwater is recycled and a ground source heat pump has been installed.
Architect: Peter Skinner
Owners: Ian and Gill Findlater
Eco-Shed, Potter Heigham
A single storey rammed earth garden building with a high thermal mass and extremely low carbon footprint. All materials have been sourced within 10 miles and the technique of ramming earth for the solid walls has been done by hand. The building has a roof of sedum, wildflowers and grasses. The owner, self-taught in the technique, now runs courses on rammed earth in the locality.
Owner, Designer and Builder: Michael Thompson
Marsham’s Barn, Kenninghall
These former agricultural buildings have been sustainably converted by the owners using traditional, local materials and renewable energy technologies. A 6kw, grid connected, wind turbine has been installed on land to the front of the property and provides electrical power throughout most of the year. A ground source heat pump provides hot water and underfloor heating. Rainwater is recycled for toilets using storage tanks.
Owner, Designer and Builder: Christian Mountney
Itteringham Mill, Itteringham
Itteringham Mill was built in 1778, abandoned in the 1920s but restored as a private home in 1938. Nowadays, the Mill is again using the water of the river Bure to provide its energy - this time as electricity. The present owners have installed a micro-hydro turbine and water source heat pump to provide electricity, as well as solar water panels on the side walls of the Mill.
Owners: Peter and Liz Downs
Booklet: Green Buildings in Norfolk
This 40 page full colour booklet produced by CPRE Norfolk in 2006 highlighted 21 Norfolk buildings pioneering the use of renewable energy. Examples included a social housing scheme, a backpackers' hostel, a major office development, schools, a church, holiday accommodation, a research institute and many 'ordinary' homes. A detailed appendix on the different technologies and building techniques featured was included. Contact the CPRE Norfolk office for your free copy. Volume Two is expected in 2010 with 21 more examples of local innovation.
Links and Further Information