“I believe that we have to solve the problems of reducing the carbon footprint of our homes in all sorts of innovative ways not only technical, but also personal, organisational and monetory.”

Greg Condliffe

Newbeck Cottage, Flower Lane, Amesbury is no ordinary house!  It is jammed full of innovative ideas for reducing its carbon footprint.  Architect Greg Condliffe, of Harnham, Salisbury was nominated by South Wiltshire Agenda 21 in this year’s Regen South West Green Energy Awards. Greg was runner-up in the housing category and was the only award winner from Wiltshire.

 Regen SW is the sustainable energy agency for South West England, funded by the SW Regional Development Agency.  Its mission is to speed up the transition to a low-carbon economy by unlocking sustainable-energy business opportunities, accelerating the uptake of the region’s renewable-energy resources and championing effective energy-demand-reduction initiatives in the region.  

Greg, who owns the firm Concrete Ideas, likes a challenge.  If he comes up against a problem he will find a solution even if this is unconventional and has never been tried before.  He also values the skills of his builders and uses their experience and ideas to enhance his own.  His philosophy is affordable sustainability, which will not cost the earth, can be easily replicated and retrofitted into existing buildings.

 Newbeck Cottage is a small, new home in a conservation area, built using lime mortar (making it recyclable).  It incorporates a range of carbon neutral technologies including:

• a novel rainwater harvesting system using a series of water-butts linked by a simple pond pump to a storage tank in the roof
• solar panels, which not only supply the hot water, but also enhance the under-floor heating system
• an air-heat recovery system supplying continuous fresh air, warmed in winter and cooled in summer, so removing the need for ventilation and consequent draughts
• insulation to the highest standards, including that made from recycled plastic bottles

All the plant is stored in the attic, making use of this waste space, and the controls are cleverly hidden behind a mirror in the bedroom.