BedZED

BedZED is a now-famous large-scale, mixed-use sustainability community that has inspired many low-carbon, eco-friendly housing developments around the world. Bedzeg has 100 homes, ranging from small studio apartments to 131-square-foot houses. The homes have high levels of insulation, well above the 2002 Building Regulations, and windows are double and triple glazed. Passive solar heating is prevalent in Bedzed homes, as houses are oriented to face the sun and blocks are constructed so they don’t shade each other. Bedzed includes a district heating network to provide space heating for workplaces and homes, as well as hot water. The water circulating in this network is heated by a biomass boiler, and 777 meters of on-site PV panels help generate much of the electricity needed.