O2i Design Consultants, based in Langport, have been awarded a prestigious industry award for Environmental Best Practice at a presentation ceremony held at the Houses of Parliament in London.
Duncan and Andrea Pyle were presented with the Gold Award at the Green Apple Environment Awards ceremony on 11th November. Their winning project was the design of two detached eco homes on the outskirts of Langport, which competed against more than 500 other nominations to win the highly regarded award.
Speaking following the awards presentation, Duncan Pyle, founder and director of O2i Design Consultants, said, “It is hugely rewarding to be recognised amongst companies and organisations from around the world for our continued efforts in the design of sustainable architecture. We are grateful to have been given this opportunity to demonstrate what is possible in the design of interesting houses that are very comfortable to live in and have very low running costs, as well as being almost carbon neutral. The houses have generated considerable interest and we are talking to a number of clients who are looking to build their own homes along similar lines.”
The two ingeniously designed homes have extremely low running costs thanks to the renewable energy systems and sustainable construction that are fundamental to both properties. Solar thermal panels and PV cells were integrated into the roofs, whilst ground source heat pumps on 60 metre deep bore holes, backed up with wood burners, allow the houses to run entirely on renewable energy.
Very high levels of insulation and high specification glazing enable the properties to retain the small amount of energy required to heat them. After taking into account the feed-in tariffs from the on-site micro generation, the total energy cost per house is calculated to be less than £25 per month, according to the BRE approved Standard Assessment Procedure (SAP).
The eco homes have generated a great deal of local interest by their interesting and attractive appearance. They are also attracting significant attention from the wider construction industry as, in addition to the Green Apple Award, they were shortlisted in this year’s LABC (Local Authority Building Control) South West Building Excellence Awards.
The Green Apple Awards, which began in 1994, have become established as the country’s major recognition for environmental endeavours amongst companies, councils, communities and countries. This is the second time that O2i Design has won a Green Apple Award, having been presented with a Gold Award in 2012 for sustainable architecture in the Built Environment and Architectural Heritage.
O2i Design Consultants is a family-run design and architectural studio with considerable experience in sustainable architecture, located in Langport on the Somerset Levels. The company works with individuals and businesses across the South West and beyond, and is building a strong reputation for innovative, award-winning and sustainable design solutions.