COLLABORATING FOR COP26
To develop the COP26 House, RJA and BSW joined together with a number of other companies in the home building sector, forming Beyond Zero Homes. This group – including other core partners Robertson Timber Engineering Ltd and Urban Union, NorDan windows and doors, MEDITE SMARTPLY, Steico, Paul Heat Recovery, Scottish Forestry, National Timber Group, Herschel Infrared, Orluna Lighting and Fakro – are supporting RJA and BSW, bringing their individual expertise to the development and construction of the house.
Peter Smith, Roderick James Architects: “It is vital that the houses we are building now are truly sustainable, with low carbon in construction and in use. But with the COP26 house, I wanted to demonstrate that truly sustainable, ecologically responsible buildings can also be beautiful, comfortable to live in and low cost to build using natural materials.”
Roderick James Architects
Roderick James Architects are the UK’s leading designer of contemporary and traditional timber frame buildings. Specialising in the use of green oak, their designs have particular emphasis on space, light and a sense of fun. Originating from early work at the Centre for Alternative Technology in the 1970s, RJA have always incorporated low energy and sustainable building principles into their designs, and have extensive experience with renewable technologies and natural building materials. They work throughout the UK and have offices in Devon, Wiltshire, Scotland, and London.
Home Grown Homes
Home Grown Homes was the lead delivery partner for the COP26 House. Founded by Passivhaus architect and associate at Roderick James Architects, Peter Smith, and Sustainability Strategy and Communications Advisor, Harriet Woollard, Home Grown Homes was built on the principle that truly ecologically responsible new homes should also be beautiful, comfortable to live in, and low cost to build.
BSW Group
BSW Group is the largest integrated forestry business in the UK, operating across five main areas: tree nurseries, forestry, sawmilling, timber manufacturing and energy.
Having undertaken a £125m investment programme over the last 10 years, BSW is committed to supporting sustainable forestry. All the company’s timber is FSC certified – and Chain of Custody certification traces the wood from forest to distribution. This ensures that customers receive timber that is from legal, environmentally appropriate, socially beneficial and economically viable forests. BSW has 1,700 employees and is passionate about creating a sustainable future for British forests and woodlands, and as such the company is a proud member of Grown in Britain. For every tree BSW harvests, a minimum of three are planted in its place, and the group uses 100% of the log it receives.
Robertson
Robertson is one of the largest family-owned construction, infrastructure and support services businesses in the UK. Together with their customers, they invest, develop, construct and maintain across the whole built environment. After achieving carbon neutrality as a business in 2018 (one of the first UK built environment businesses to do so), Robertson’s Responsible Business 2030 Strategy commits to become a ‘climate positive’ business by 2030, generating zero emissions from the group’s offices, commercial fleet and construction site. Dedicated responsible business ambassadors operate across Robertson, championing all employees to support decarbonisation, encourage best practice and get everyone involved in thinking about ways to reduce all negative environment impacts, across the entire supply chain.
Urban Union
Urban Union, part of the Robertson Group, was formed to deliver large-scale housing-led regeneration projects. At the heart of Urban Union’s approach is an unrivalled commitment to creating communities, not simply building new homes, by working in close partnership with local authorities, housing associations, community groups and residents.
Medite Smartply
MEDITE SMARTPLY is a market leading, responsible manufacturer of sustainable timber construction panels. Based in Clonmel and Waterford, Ireland, MEDITE SMARTPLY produces a versatile range of Medium Density Fibreboard (MDF) and Oriented Strand Board (OSB) building products. As part of the Coillte Group, the company prides itself on their sustainable supply chain and manufacturing processes, meaning the company’s products are as environmentally conscious in their make up as they are in their application. MEDITE SMARTPLY has pioneered the sustainable timber industry in Europe, with all specialised timber panels produced essentially as by-products of sustainable forest management.
National Timber Group
National Timber Group is the largest independent added-value timber distribution and processing group in the UK, including marketing leading brands Thornbridge, North Yorkshire Timber, Rembrand and Arnold Laver. The group serves a diverse customer base with a full range of the highest quality timber, panel, decorative surfaces and engineered wood products supported by comprehensive timber knowledge and expertise.
Nordan
NorDan is one of Europe’s leading manufacturers of high performance windows, doors and smart accessories. Founded in Norway almost 100 years ago, this family-owned business operates across Europe, with sustainability and environmental thinking an integral part of the NorDan identity.
With timber at the core, the NorDan product range offers solutions that combine leading energy performance with longevity, to minimise environmental impact throughout their lifespan. The company’s environmental approach is also implemented throughout the value chain, from raw materials and production right through to transportation of finished products.
Today the NorDan Group consists of 12 factories, approx 30 project management offices and more than 2200 employees.
Steico
STEICO provides an integrated timber construction system that complements insulation materials and structural components, and over its 35-year history the company has positioned itself as a system provider for ecological house building and innovation drivers. STEICO is engaged in a “supporting healthy buildings” campaign across the UK to promote the health and wellbeing benefits of using its ecological wood fibre insulations and is collaborating with many organisations to endorse the credentials of natural materials in the built environment. STEICO is actively driving the trend amongst architects and specifiers to select natural, breathable wood fibre solutions that meet the UK government’s ambition for healthy homes and buildings.
Herschel Infrared
Herschel is a global market leader in infrared heating, and is the largest and longest established manufacturer and supplier of premium quality infrared heaters in the UK.
Orluna
Orluna has a mission to deliver the world’s best lit effect. We’re a British manufacturer that’s trusted by lighting experts across the world.
Fakro
FAKRO is one of the most dynamic and fastest growing roof window manufacturers in the world, with headquarters in Poland. Innovation is at the heart of the company, with development focused on three main areas: ecology, energy efficiency and developing the intelligent home.
PAUL Heat Recovery Scotland
PAUL Heat Recovery Scotland provides energy efficient ventilation solutions for sustainable homes in Scotland. Highly efficient heat recovery ventilation is the ideal partner for all new houses and renovated dwellings, which have become more air tight. Air tightness goes hand in hand with good standards of insulation in the drive to optimise the energy efficiency of buildings.
Ecomerchant
Ecomerchant are completely dedicated to making ethically sourced, sustainable building materials accessible to all at affordable prices. The environmental merits of every product is considered before including them in the Ecomerchant range, opting not to sell products which cause excessive environmental impact. The team of knowledgeable staff are keen to help people build and refurbish using natural and sustainable materials where possible to create healthier, more efficient homes, schools and workplaces.
Circular Ecology
Circular Ecology was founded in 2013 to offer resource efficiency services, including carbon foot printing, water foot printing, life cycle assessment (LCA), circular economy and general resource efficiency. Circular Ecology also offer a range of online training courses, carbon offsetting and tree planting.