Sustainable Homes article in Devon Life Magazine
For the September 2026 edition of Devon Life Magazine A21architects contributed an article about Sustainable Homes as part of their advertorial.
The original copy for this article is transcribed below... enjoy!
SUSTAINABLE HOMES
Cool in summer, snug in winter, homes with real sustainable performance have never been more urgent
Extreme weather is here to stay and much of the UK's housing stock is simply not up to it, built as it was for a bygone era of mild summers and cheap fossil-fuelled winter heating.
Successfully constructing beautiful, sustainable homes that are comfortable all year round requires a number of key elements. Some of these may be familiar; energy efficiency or sustainable energy sources. Others perhaps less so; low embodied carbon and closing the build quality performance gap.
The lesser-known low embodied carbon construction presents an exciting opportunity to really embed your home within the local context. Low embodied carbon construction involves building or renovating your home using materials and techniques that generate minimal greenhouse gas emissions from the moment they are harvested or manufactured to the day they arrive on site. Locally sourced natural stone from nearby quarries, clays from nearby brick manufacturers, local timber and recycled elements are all inherently low carbon. Construction methods garnered from locally produced resources and small industry add true interest and integrity.
Energy efficient building envelopes need to be carefully matched with sustainable heating and cooling systems which are so often seen as an add-on by others but are in fact fundamental to a balanced building delivering just the right amount of energy input at the right time. Heating and cooling systems are integral to building fabric efficiency, so need to be designed and specified to match.
Build-quality is the secret to achieving true sustainable performance. The build quality performance gap is the difference between the theoretical performance of the building designed and the actual performance once the building is constructed. It has been shown that projects can significantly underperform in post occupancy analysis. This is averted with thorough design details, specifications and effective monitoring of builders to achieve the intended performance.
A cool in summer, snug in winter home is appreciated by our clients. A21architects knows that it is often the small, thoughtful details that have a profound impact on daily life. As certified passive house designers, sustainability is woven into the very fabric of our practice. We pioneer low embodied carbon strategies and high-performance building standards, ensuring our buildings are as environmentally responsible as they are striking.
Based in Devon and London, RIBA award-winning A21architects not only builds contemporary new homes we also work on listed historic architecture, incorporating subtle interventions to improve comfort, extend use and conserve the historic fabric of these beautiful buildings.
Please get in touch to discuss your project by email or fill out the form on our website.
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