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Approach / Philosophy

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Architecture

It is our objective to incorporate good sustainability principles into our design output and actively encourage our clients to: use low embodied energy materials (both in manufacture and transport); adopt solutions which result in low energy consumption in use; allow for the incorporation of renewable energy sources; install water saving components and techniques; use environmentally benign/non-polluting materials; use timber from sustainable sources; adopt insulation standards above the current building regulations; use components and materials that can be safely recycled; and minimise waste in the construction process.

Progress against our environmental aims and objectives is monitored at regular partners meetings and to ensure that we keep abreast of environmental topics at least 50% of our training plan relates to environmental design issues.

We have initiated the process of seeking certification to ISO 14001:2004 Environmental Management Systems from Quality Certification Systems International of Chilcompton and anticipate achieving certification in December 2010.

Urban Design and Masterplanning

Sustainable Design

Today, more than ever, environmental considerations are crucial issues for the success of our business. This is particularly so for our apprach to design, in which promotion of truly sustainable solutions is a cornerstone.

So much of the energy expended in buildings is due to the way in which the external environment impacts on the building facades. We therefore establish the key parameters on building orientation, massing and fenestration, on building materials, insulation methods and construction techniques to minimize embodied CO² and create the internal environment necessary for really low energy building services installations. We use our understanding of human factors to develop designs that are responsive to both people and to the seasons, considering key criteria such as access to daylight, natural ventilation and building adjacencies. This creates internal environments that are both delightful and stimulating, but also are cheaper to run and maintain.

To achieve both sustainability and value for money in our designs we favour a 'passive' approach to energy conservation concentrating on high insulation values, low airtightness and thermal mass, and a compact building form narrow enough to avoid air-conditioning while minimising the external envelope subject to heat loss.

In our urban design work we are very conscious of the need to create settlements which will stand the test of time and where the communication patterns are such that people are encouraged to travel on foot, cycle or by public transport rather than by private car.

We recognise that the products of our designs will have a significant environmental impact and we are committed to exercising our professional skills in such a way as to minimise such environmental impact in so far as this is possible within the instructions received from our clients. Therefore it is our objective to incorporate good sustainability principles into our design output and actively encourage our clients to: use low embodied energy materials (both in manufacture and transport); adopt solutions which result in low energy consumption in use; allow for the incorporation of renewable energy sources; install water saving components and techniques; use environmentally benign/non- polluting materials; use timber from sustainable sources; adopt insulation standards above the current building regulations; use components and materials that can be safely recycled; and minimise waste in the construction process.

Please visit our Sustainability page for further information on our approach sustainable Design.

Quality & Environmental Management

ESHA Architects quality management system has been developed to set out the systematic working methods of the Practice. Policies and procedures have been documented which contain detailed processes relating to both the management of the Practice and to all project related activity. The main design processes of the Practice are based upon the RIBA Plan of Work. Our quality system meets the requirements of the Standard for Quality Systems BS EN ISO 9001:2008.

We are committed to providing a safe and healthy workplace for our employees and to ensuring that our activities minimise our potential impact on the environment. We operate in compliance with all relevant environmental legislation and we strive to use pollution prevention and environmental best practices in all we do. We have deliberately located our office premises in the centre of Bristol, close to public transport and other central facilities in order to reduce the dependence on the private car and we actively encourage staff to use public transport or to cycle or walk to work as well as using public transport to visit sites and make other journeys in connection with our work whenever possible. All waste paper, cardboard and plastic cartons are recycled as are used toner cartridges.

Progress against our quality and environmental management aims and objectives are regularly monitored and to ensure that we keep abreast of environmental topics at least 50% of our training plan relates to environmental design issues. We have initiated the process of seeking certification to both ISO 9001:2008 Quality Management Systems and ISO 14001:2004 Environmental Management Systems and anticipate achieving certification in December 2011.

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