e+p have experience in assessing environmental advantages and opportunities of schemes proposed by the client, and we can design the approach to sustainable energy use within the planned development. We have an ongoing collaboration with property developers to design a model sustainable development.

For a typical sustainable urban development model, background information is gathered and data about the study area and the main issues and interests are identified. The potential environmental benefits, and capital and operational costs of the selected scheme (including gas and electricity network connection cost estimates) are both assessed.

Three important factors are taken into account: water, energy and waste.

WATER
Grey water recycling (the re-use of waste water from washing and bathing), and rainwater harvesting (after filtration) for purposes such as flushing toilets and watering domestic gardens, also run-off water recycling from paved areas all contribute to conserving the invaluable resource of water.

Sewage processing facilities that have an environmental advantage over traditional methods of treatment, for example anaerobic waste digesters, are considered.

ENERGY
Climate data from the area is collected and the possibilities of various renewable energy devices such as photovoltaics, solar water heating, and wind generated power are assessed.

Passive Solar Design should be considered when building to give natural solar heating and ventilation incorporating design features such as large south-facing windows and building materials that absorb and slowly release the sun's heat.

WASTE
The actions are premised upon supporting a development in allowing a site facility to handle its waste supporting systems, in a form of semi self-supporting sustainable cycle. In such a cycle, waste product regeneration, in liquid and solid form is sorted and managed according to its potential usage, to produce the necessities of urban life. Householders should be encouraged to compost their organic waste, of which each person produces 74kg daily, and CHP plants can be utilized to incinerate solid waste.

The inputs and outputs of the site are reviewed to examine technical, commercial and environmental impacts of introducing self-supporting processes on an urban residential and mixed-use residential/commercial site.

No-go points and key issues are identified in the use of sustainable and self-supporting technologies.

Grants that may be available for the project are investigated.