Geography Case Study - BedZED, London - Sustainable Urban Development

What is BedZED?

> UK's first large-scale, mixed use sustainable community

> Aimed to be carbon-neutral

> Built on land once used for spreading sewage sludge

> Construction began in 2000; completed in 2002

What organisations were backing BedZED?

> Backed by the London Borough of Sutton in 1998

> Constructed at the initiative of BioRegional (an entrepreneurial charity) alongside the Peabody Trust + Bill Dunster Architects

How many homes and residents are present in BedZED?

100 homes with approx. 220 residents.

How much office space is present in BedZED?

2500 square metres.

What are the physical characteristics of BedZED houses that make them sustainable?

> Almost every flat has a small land / sky garden + a double-glazed conservatory

> Exterior walls have a 300m layer of rockwool insulation, between an outer brick layer and an inner concrete block layer

> Sale prices above the local average

> Triple-glazing on north / east / west-facing windows; provides good daylight illumination

> Pedestrianised streets safe for children / cycling

How does BedZED make its management of water / electricity sustainable?

> Heating / power / electricity bills are much lower than regular housing

> On-site water treatment plant

> Woodchip-fueled combined heat / power plant

What radius did BedZED source most of its bulk materials + labour within?

50 miles.

How do the multi-coloured wind funnels on BedZED homes work?

> Provide passive ventilation

> Rotate to always face the wind

> An opening at the front collects fresh air which moves down into the building through closable vents

> An opening at the back emits stale air from the buildings

> Outgoing stale air warms the incoming fresh air through a heat exchanger

How was BedZED successful at bringing neighbours together?

> Car-free, greener, quieter environment has connected neighbours

> Residents on average know 20 of their neighbours by name, compared to 8 in surrounding areas

What percentage of BedZED residents say their quality of life has improved since they moved in?

84%

How have car journeys in BedZED decreased?

> Reduced by 65%

> Car-pooling service was London's first of many

How has electricity / gas consumption in BedZED changed between 2012-2015?

> 27% reduction in electricity consumption

> 36% reduction in gas consumption

How has BedZED been unsuccessful?

> It didn't achieve its original target of carbon neutrality; however, it did substantially reduce its ecological footprint + provide experience for future projects

> District-heating power plant was too small-scale to run