Off Grid Living

H

Satellite Architects

azel Hill Eco-Lodge is a 90 m2 off grid retreat built in 70 acres of woodland in Wiltshire. Satellite Architects were approached by a client who expressed a wish to

create a new single storey Eco-Lodge which generated its own heat, power and electricity. The spatial requirement for the retreat was to provide 2 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms, 1 of which had to be fully accessible for those in wheelchairs or with mobility problems. The overriding requirement for the project was that the building needed to be self sufficient and exceed The Code for Sustainable Homes standard.

Pollution, Health & Well Being

One of the most important elements was to

create a healthy building where all finishes were of low toxicity and organic origin. A thick layer of natural insulation was used to achieve a low level of thermal conductivity keeping the building cool in the summer and warm in the winter. The insulation used is a natural product made from recycled cotton and hemp and is combined with modern construction techniques to achieve

an airtight structure. All glazed areas have high performance Low E double glazed insulated units. For the

central thermal mass a combination of local bricks, cob and cob blocks were used. The environmental advantages of cob include the use of naturally plentiful material in clay. In this case the clay was sourced from the existing site using the material dug out for the foundations, and the renewable material straw. Natural paints made from organic substances, lime renders and washes, and natural organic wood treatments, were used throughout the interior of the building, all of which are non toxic, breathable substances.

Local, Sustainable & Ethical

An important element of the brief was to maintain a social and economic approach to this project. Caution was used when sourcing and specifying materials trying where possible to use local construction materials, involve local suppliers, and use local labour and production. Virtually all the timber used for the Eco-Lodge was sourced from Hazel Hill wood and, where possible, all other materials used were locally sourced. Contractors, project management and consultants were selected from the local region to ensure efficiency and limited transport emissions.

Off Grid Living

The choice of energy systems was

pre-determined by the following factors: reliability, simplicity of operation, low frequency of maintenance and moderate costs for the specification, purchase and installation of the equipment; low embodied energy for the production and transport of the systems. The building requires approx 200 kwh per year. This electricity is mainly generated by the photo voltaic panels with the addition of a backup generator for the long periods of darkness in the winter months. The generator runs on clean fuel and, due to the buildings orientation that maximises the solar gain, is infrequently used.

Heating & Hot Water

The main heat source is from a Biomass boiler which is fed from the abundant supply of timber on site. Low thermal touch radiators are connected to the boiler and a link is connected to the solar thermal panel on the roof to take any additional hot water produced through the heating system. The solar thermal system generates hot water in addition to the Biomass boiler. A “15 tube collector” (1270 x 2000 mm) which has a minimum flow rate of 50 litres/hr and a maximum of 300 litres/hr was installed. A separate photo voltaic panel is situated adjacent to the solar thermal collector on the south east side of the roof to provide electricity for a DC pump to take the water to the hot water

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