We are completing Phase 1 of an exciting new project, renovating a high value, large four floored domestic property in Monte Estoril, Portugal, into a pioneering Sustainable Luxury house. The Master Plan will be completed in 4 phases, over three years, allowing the property to be occupied throughout the works and staging the investment by the owners. The completed project shall produce an improved sustainable lifestyle for the occupants, with the addition of an advanced, futuristic IP system for Multimedia and web-based controls and automated systems. All interior designs and finishes shall be of the quality deserved by a multi-million Euro valued property.

Sustainable Technology to be used in this Project:

• Roof Thermal Insulation Upgrade - Sandwich Panel system with integral RE structure
• Solar Assisted Space heating, with Auxiliary Heat Pump systems
• Occupation controlled Space heating system.
• Renewable Electrical Energy Generation, including storage capacity.
• Energy Efficiency Monitoring and Controls
• Usage of a 12V DC electrical circuits, integrated with AC circuits and Utility Grid.
• IP network, with supporting local Server, enabling house wide Multimedia.
• Interactive web based controls and Security.
• Water Consumption reducing systems, such as Hot water circulation and Grey water reuse.
• LED lighting fixtures and Occupation Lighting controls
• Fresh Air circulation, with Heat Recovery on Extract
• Solar Swimming Pool Heating, with reversible thermal storage circuit for Heat Pump.
• External wall cladding to improve thermal insulation characteristics
• Waste Recycling systems, including separation for occupant's reuse.
• Sustainable food production, based on the principal of Aquaponics.

More details once Phase 1 is completed.

We started the Design process nine months ago and we are into month four of the reconstruction works. Our client allowed us to suggest "Green" concepts into the Design phase, whilst allowing us to provide a design that is expandable as future technology comes on line. On top of that we had the challenge to reduce project costs but also direct the client to some innovative decorative solutions to bring the house back to the original Architectural look of the 1920's.

The "Green" systems such as Solar assisted heating, Passive ventilated cooling using Earth Pipes and Energy Efficiency control systems, meant we also had to introduce a none propriety, flexible, IT Network Solution into the house. The wired network was based on the Abitana IP Solution, integrating sensors, controllers, relay switches into this infrastructure. With a Home Server acting as the heart of the system, the clients family will be able to use Multimedia libraries (personal and Internet based), control and monitor Security and Building systems (Lighting & HVAC) easily, using wireless connected Tablet computers that will be scattered about the house.

Add all this to esthetic features such as indirect lighting and period decorative features (example... see the ORAC range), the result will be a house that can be visualised as 'model' for future renovation projects.

We will provide more detail in the coming months.

An Eco-Innovation Summit was held on the eve of the spring European Council, 23rd March, where EU government leaders discussed the key goals for the Europe 2020 Strategy, the Lisbon Council reconvened its Eco-Innovators Network under the timely theme of Europe 2020: Resource Efficiency as a Driver of Sustainable Growth and Jobs. Janez Potočnik, European Commissioner for the Environment, kicked-off the debates by sharing his vision of high environmental standards and resource efficiency as key drivers for Europe’s new sustainable growth and jobs agenda. Later in the day, Jules Kortenhorst, CEO of the European Climate Foundation, laid out a concise blueprint for a low-carbon future, explaining the important role that eco-innovation will play in replacing old and polluting technologies.

Our Managing Director, Neil Turley, as member of the Eco-Innovator Network took the opportunity to present our Policy Paper "How to make Eco-Innovation to a Commercial reality, rather than it just being identified as R&D" to Janez Potočnik and members of his cabinet, on viable commercial support for SMEs promoting Eco Innovation.

A graphical illustration of our proposal, Valuation & Validation Process, can also be downloaded

We have recently learned that the Papers content is presently being evaluated to become part of the EU policy in support of Eco Innovation throughout Europe. Our source indicated that the EU Strategy documentation should be completed in the late summer. We wait in baited breath. …

Read more soon…