Green awards.
OU Business School Green Awards Winners Eco Design Consultants were the winners of the SME Buckinghamshire OU Business School Green Award in recognition of our work to reduce carbon emissions. The 2017 SME Buckinghamshire Business Awards recognise innovation, enterprise, employers, employees and excellence across various sectors. It is open to all business in the region with less than 250 employees. Through investing in software we have been able to reduce our requirement for travel, seeing their total CO2 emissions (KG) fall from all forms of transport by 261KG compared to the previous year. Through the purchase of our 2 electric vehicles, we are able to make most site visits and meetings without burning fossil fuels, the electricity which fuels the cars is purchased from Ecotricity. When travelling to sites in city locations we utilize cycles and public transport so as not to contribute to congestion and associated emissions of the idling traffic. Though we are proud of their own carbon reductions it is through their clients that they have the greatest impact. In London, we produced an energy strategy and worked as architects on a Victorian Terraced home, Hiley Road which reduce the homes space heating demand from 343kWh/m2a, to 15kWh/m2a, a 95% reduction, saving 5.23 tonnes of carbon every year. Just last month work was completed on Carrstone house a large 3-bedroom home which is expected to achieve Passivhaus Plus meaning that the home will produce more power then it will use, providing all the energy needed for the home plus 16,000 miles in an electric car every year. Alan, Director at Eco Design Consultants, said "We are delighted to have won for this award. We set up the company back in 2008 with the desire to combine great Architecture with sustainability thus truly sustainable buildings and it's great to get recognition for something we enjoy doing and are passionate about. None of it would be possible without a great team."