SUSTAINABILITY

Sustainability and the environment is central to our approach both in terms of our design approach and the way we operate. Every client has there own approach to sustainability, some are very enthusiastic and to give their home an extremely low carbon footprint, others are more circumspect. We always work directly with our clients to ascertain what approach and what technology (if any) is appropriate to them. It is important that when considering this that payback in terms of finance and environment are considered. Our approach is as follows.

• Understand the client, the site and its microclimate
• Keep energy requirements to a minimum by maximising insulation and solar gains and using an appropriate method of construction
• Carefully considering the type of technologies to use and advising our client of how appropriate they are for their situation and lifestyle

Where appropriate, we will advise on procedures to achieve the various levels required on the 'Code for Sustainable Homes' and through BREEAM assessment for commercial buildings.

Our offices are located in a business centre built as part of a sustainable mixed use development in 1998, where we work alongside other sustainable businesses. Our energy use is kept to a minimum, and mainly used for lighting an IT.

The car parking is supplemented by cycle storage and an external power socket provides for the recharging of electrically powered vehicles if required.

People are invited to visit us using other forms of transport than cars and people employed locally often walk or cycle to work. There is a regular rail service to the village with direct trains to Lincoln, Newark and Nottingham. There is also a regular bus service to Newark that stops very close by.

Work towards keeping our resources requirements low. For example, we make planning applications on line, avoiding the need to make excessive paper copies of drawings. We also reuse paper where appropriate and recycle paper, card, plastics and metal and compost organic materials.