Development:Environment
From AshWiki
Part of Development. Note that this page is just for environmental improvements to the existing co-op. Information about environmental options for building a new co-op is at Development:NewCoop:Environment
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CAR survey
Cambridge Architectural Research (CAR) put in a proposal to ASH to do a piece of work with two main parts: (i) a sustainability framework, and (ii) a long-term environmental improvement plan.
The framework would involve CAR consulting with the Co-op to determine our priorities and use these to customise a framework based on the SPEAR framework developed by ARUP. This could then be used to help make future decisions, e.g. in maintenance or development. Each possible decision would have a "footprint" that would show how well it met our stated aims in different areas, e.g. sustainability, community, financial, etc.
The plan would use this as well as a survey of the buildings (and our stock condition information) to put together a 15-year plan for improving the environmental footprint of the whole co-op according to priorites we set. It would integrate these improvements with cyclical maintenance work so that the work is done most efficiently and without duplicating effort.
The general ideas being discussed before the report was completed include;
- extra insulation
- for walls - would require making the walls thicker
- for the roof - tricky as we have no loft space
- solar hot water heating
- dual flush toilets to save water
It would also be nice to have better ways to let the heat out in the summer - air bricks have been mentioned ...
Note that the windows will all soon be double glazed and we already have cavity wall insulation and efficient boilers. Energy efficient light bulbs are available from the office, free of charge for co-op members.
ASH and Sustainability: Cutting CO2 from the Co-op's buildings
Cambridge Architectural Research Report, 30 July 2007
View PDF version of report: Media:Argyle_St._CO2_report.pdf
Sanford Co-op
Rich came across an article about an environmental improvements project at Sanford housing co-op in the CCH (Confederation of Co-op Housing) newsletter. A couple of things are interesting in relation to us
1. Sanford is very similar to ASH Co-op in terms of it's history, physical structure and so on. So, if they can do it, there's a good chance we can too if we want to.
2. Sanford seems to have got a big chunk of funding to carry out feasibility studies and the work itself.
You can read a little bit about it here : http://www.sanford.coop/C60.shtml
