BUILT INFILL

the BedZED ecovillage In South London is relentless in its pursuit of zero carbon emissions. The

unabashedly modern browneld project located on the site at an old sewage works in the
Borough of Sutton, was born oi a partnership between Bioregional, the Peabody Trust. and Bill
Dunsler Architects. The development team capitalized on favorable conditions that allowed
them to buy the land at a below-market rate from the Borough. and erected a highly
experimental development.

Though the protects Ambitious technologies have faltered somewhat since its
construction,BedZEDs founders are still hopeful that the project can attain permanent carbon-
neutral status.

The achievement of carbon neutral status relies heavily on lifestyle factors. not merely efficient
buildings. To that end, BedZED incorporates several elements designed to foster a community
with a sustainable conscience, reinforcing green building with green behavior live/work units
offer residents a chance to eliminate the morning commute entirely.

Those needing to drive will find it easy to participate in the project's carshare program. which
uses solar panels to power up to forty electric cars. Perimeter parking made pedestrian-friendly
carfree blocks possible. However. the combination of one parking space per dwelling,
perpendicular parking and back-of-curb sidewalks is far less pedestrian friendly Community
facilities. including playing fields and I village square, are within easy walking distance, Shared
building walls and garden spaces promote casual interaction between neighbors and have
resulted in such events as a farmers market, and music festival, and an organic Christmas dinner.

The structures themselves are designed to combine I highly efficient building envelope with
usage at too percent renewable energy. When possible, construction materials were sourced
from within a 35-mile radius of the site, and 15 percent of materials were reclaimed or recycled,
such as the reclaimed steel commonly found In the buildings. An airtight building envelope that
far exceeds UK requirements for air leakage is the foundation of energy savings, Superinsulation
also maintains building temperatures. South-lacing living spaces maximize solar heat gain in
winter. while north-facing workspace: provide mallow, indirect light and keep office equipment
cool. Efficient fixtures and appliances have also reduced usage potable water and electricity, A
wind-driven natural ventilation system uses brightly colored wind cowls to draw fresh air into
homes, preheating it at it passes next to warm, stale air leaving the buildings.

These efficiency strategies have produced saving of percent in water usage, 90 percent in space
heating, and 25 percent in electricity in general.

Home efficiency is further mented by green infrastructure that provides renewable energy.
Initially a CHP combined air and power. The development is investigating a new biomass system
to provide hat and power.
On site composting and recycling programs make it easy for residents to reduce their household
waste. Social sustainability is addressed by providing fifteen units of social housing (affordable
units renied out by Peabody Trust). BedZED also includes 26910 square feet of office space to
promote a job housing balance.) BedZEDs successes are due largely to the light knit community
that has formed there through shared facilities and an interest in sustainability. Neighbors are
able to support each others energy saving habits while creating an inviting place to live. It is to
be hoped that the introduction og newer, more reliable green technologies will alow the
residents of BedZED to get back on the path to carbon independence.

Green Street Properties envisions Glenwood Park at an antidote to notoriously sprawling Atlanta.
soothing traffic congestion and introducing walkability to an automobile-addicted metropolis.

Led by Charles Brewer, the development company partnered with Dover. Kohl it Partners and
TunnellSpangler-Walsh and Associates to create the macro new urbanist community on an
abandoned browneld two miles from downtown Atlanta. Strong developer leadership led to a
cohesive produtt, tree at the uncertainty that can plague conceptual protect: that must woo
developers to actually construct them.

New urbanism is Glenwood

Parks forte. Aesthetics are important to the project, and the one thousand newly planted trees
lining Intimate streets are truth beautiful and a practical attempt to reduce the urban heat island
effect. The homes are striking as well, Incorporating historic southern architectural features that
also foster community, such as dean hunt porches. (at least 8 feet deep). (closely grouped
homes, and varied ironies. and varied facades that encourage residents to take leisurely walks
and admire their neighborhood. The developer also Took care to Incorporate historic design
features in Glenwood Park's town homes. a rare building type in Atlanta Automobiles are
deemphasized by placing garages along rear alleys and utiliting on-street parking instead at large
surface lots. One major goal for the development Is to invite civic participation. which Is
encouraged by a wealth at public gathering spaces. A central, elliptical park provides a
playground, community space, and water retention. Two smaller squares are lined with stately
trees in the Savannah style. One of them, Brasfield Square, Is home to local retailers.
Restaurants, and office space, an easy five-minute walk from nearly anywhere in the
development.
Storefronts must be within to feet on average from the sidewalk to keep the area friendly and
inviting to pedestrians. The Increased density at the area (Green Street Properties claims it Is
four times that at average subdivisions) also makes the neighborhood economically robust. Its
mixed-used pleasant atmosphere invites strolling and attracts people from outside the
development to visit and patronize its retailers.

Glenwood Park is also notable for Its participation in the EarthCraft Homes program, arguably
the strongest regional green building program In the United States. All homes At Glenwood Park
are guaranteeing that a third-party inspector has affirmed that each house meets criteria in
several categories .

The Holiday Neighborhood protect ln Boulder, Colorado.

Combnes sustainable urbanism with an impressive 40 percent affordability rare it accomplishes

this while delivering significant returns on : market rate homes, squelching concerns that Its
public sector land developer, Boulder Housing Partners, would not do the site justice as a
private developer would. Thoughtful, innova-live planning wan made possible by an EPA grant
wont by the Sustainable Future Society.

Which pledged to help green Holiday Neighborhood. The funds from the grant were used in
arrange a designer workshop at Which Boulder Housing Partners, the seven developers chosen
for the protect, and the Rocky Mountain institute collaborated.

The workshop gave the whole team a chance to research and explore sustainable technologies
would be practical and effective for Holidays Neighborhood.

Though the City of Boulder was initially not in favor of density beyond what the zoning specified.

Boulder Housing Partners and Barrett Studio Architects (master planners) convinced the city to
consider the benefits: of additional density in a mixed-use setting: it would prevent Holiday
from adding to the citys traffic congestion, and its thirty to forty retail spaces would provide
job opportunities to residents, Because affordability was a key goal, homes needed to be smaller
and more compact than in traditional residential subdivisions. The city approved a zoning
changed to allow twenty units per acre to be built in Holidays ten units per acre.

Another goal at increased density, is to favor mass transit over cars, and In support of this the

Wild Sage Co-Housing portion of the site reduced parking sprites to 1.1 per unit rather than the
typical 2.Substantial open space rounds out the community and further encourages

Holiday Neighborhood benefited greatly from Boulders progressive environmental

standards.The city already has an established Green Points.