The Pines CalyxGoing Green:

Carbon Reduction Through Nature

CaReLANDS, Interreg IV A, 25 June 2014Steve Charter, Education Development Manager

The Bay Trust, St Margarets Bay, Kent, UK

The Pines Calyx

Carbon Reduction through natural design

How it was built

The Pines Calyx®

© Carbon Free Group & Helionix Designs

design principles

• Re-thinking the way we design our buildings…

• … so nature leads the design process

Nature as guide and mentor in design

“We cannot solve the significant problems of our time at the same level of thinking that created them – we have to move to a higher level of thinking”

Albert Einstein

design principles

At nature’s level of thinking … • there is no such thing as ’waste’• every output becomes an input - ‘waste’ is ‘food’

© Real-Health Ventures 2007

So chalk ’waste’ from site preparation …• becomes an input to the construction process

Re-using the site ‘waste’…

Simple & cost effective construction using rammed chalk

…with:• ultra low embodied energy• zero toxicity for workers & environment

Mimicking process – Manufacturing tough materials

Using nature’s structural designs

…to guide our own

Working with Nature = biomimicry

Can result in elegant, simple structures that are simpler, quicker and cheaper than ‘conventional’ alternatives.

Nature leading the design process

Making the most of nature’s own heating and cooling

… resulted in a buildingwith low infrastructurecosts and approx 80% less energy and maintenance costs

The Water Cycle:• Waste water feeds 2 reed beds -

increasing local biodiversity• Bore hole supplies fresh water• Lake holds excess storm water

On-site food production

Any design is only as good as the team that implement it

… now it’s movie time!

key features

• 80% reduction in embodied energy & CO2• approx 80% reduction in operational energy• optimal healthy learning space– maximum natural light– passive natural ventilation– lighting system mimics natural daylight

• use of waste materials, recycled and re-used materials

unique innovations

• rammed-chalk construction – the first building in the UK in nearly a century to apply this method of construction throughout

• Catalan vault construction – the first building in the UK ever to incorporate this “thin shell”, ultra-sustainable method of roof construction

• earth-sheltered, high thermal-mass design, with minimal use of concrete

• hybrid solar-powered heat and energy systems• the first non-domestic building in the UK to be constructed

using “passive-house design” principles

collaborative design

the Pines Calyx has received numerous awards for its architectural, engineering and construction innovations.

The concept by Helionix Designs blends centuries-old construction methods with the latest advances in building technologies. Flowing with nature’s own creations, the design-and-build collective has delivered a conference centre that is as much a nature-inspired sculpture as it is an example of modern, sustainable architecture

Pines Calyx phase 2

Pines Calyx phase 2

Pines Calyx phase 2

other carbon reduction activities

• we are taking part in national Building Performance Evaluation (BPE) research, as a leading low carbon commercial building

• we are working towards ISO 20121 – the international standard for Sustainable Event Management Systems

• we are more than doubling our food growing output on site, with plans to go much further with a local food project in the village

• partners in planned 5MW community renewable energy project

• partners in low carbon regeneration projects, to undertake low carbon housing new build and retrofit (30+ homes)

what we do

• Pines Calyx – Europe’s first zero carbon conference and events centre

• Rippledown - 68 bed environmental education centre• incubation of social innovations and education

focused on sustainable solutions and real health • partnership in local sustainability initiatives –

community farm, biomass power plant, youth project, etc.

• a social enterprise with around Eu.10mn land and property assets

what we offer

What we can contribute:

• Expertise and competence:

– Low carbon and sustainability initiatives, training and education programmes

– Professional skills in low carbon agenda, green building, renewable energy, sustainability skills and training, etc

• Established low carbon and social innovation incubator rooted in a rural locality within Kent Downs AONB area

• Access to social enterprise finance & mentoring

what we look for

Partnering / learning with or from other low carbon and social innovation incubators – for:

1. LC building design and construction projects; housing retrofit; local food projects; community renewable energy; community transport and waste initiatives;

2. Incubating social innovations delivering low carbon solutions, local sustainability + training;

3. Develop and pilot a ‘Curriculum for Sustainable Living’ community learning programme

4. Youth programmes e.g. 1 year sustainability skills + social entrepreneur training

Pines Calyx: Carbon Reduction through design with nature

Thank you

Steve Charter, Education Development Manager steve@baytrust.org.uk www.baytrust.org.uk

www.rippledown.com www.pinescalyx.co.ukTelephone: ++ (44) 1304 851737

THE BAY TRUST The Pines Garden

Beach RoadSt Margaret’s BayKent CT15 6DZ

Reg. Charity No.1026765