A team of seven from Covell Matthews, led by George Simpson, are in the process of producing an ERD (Environmentally Responsible Design) Guide for the company, leading towards the RIAS
Accreditation in Sustainable Building Design. The team are currently working through a 15 module program covering a holistic evaluation of the total building process from inception on through the buildings life cycle.
As part of the learning experience the team, along with clients from Castlehill Housing Association, Langstane Housing Association, Grampian Housing Association and The MacRobert Trust, visited the Findhorn EcoVillage pioneers in ecological housing.
Following an impressive vegetarian buffet the tour started in the original garden where it all began 42 years ago when the founders were spiritually guided to this location.
The Ecovillage
An EcoVillage is defined as being sustainable ecologically, economically, spiritually and culturally.
The tour meandered through the community whilst our guide informed us of the various construction materials, styles and concepts.
All Eco-houses on the site are built to a high standard, at least 50% above current building regulations. In most cases central heating is no longer required. Their aim is to minimise energy used during the build and reduce energy use over the buildings lifetime. Most building supplies, including timber I-Beams and windows are locally sourced.
House styles are generally simple, practical designs, yet each are individually beautiful buildings.
The tour concluded with a visit to the Living Machine plant where the private system treats sewage before arriving in a greenhouse containing a series of planted tanks, similar to a reed bed system. At the end of the process the water is deemed to be potable.
The Eco-village has recently been selected as North Europe's first United Nations training centre, specialising in environmental policy and sustainable development training.
Click for more photographs of Finhorn Village
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