As the effects of climate change are becoming better known, people are adopting more sustainable practices in order to lessen their environmental footprint. That’s one of the reasons why living in a floating home or working in a floating office has become so desirable.
In this blog we’ll look at the different ways we are ensuring our buildings are made in a more sustainable way, and why we are proud to have the word ‘Eco’ as part of our brand.
1) Sustainable wood
As you’d expect, we use a lot of wood, and buy it all from sustainable sources. But we go a lot further than that. The timber we use for our superstructures comes from managed forests on either 100 year or 300 year harvest cycles which provides high grade timber.
In addition, we use engineered wood which has many sustainability benefits. Rather than use large beams which are cut from the trunk (and wastes a lot of the wood around it), engineered wood slices the tree into veneers and puts them together to make something that is a lot stronger than even the thickest beam. In a team of timber, it’s impossible to look inside to see if there are any defects caused by knotholes or splitting, which means you have to err on the side of caution and use a lot more wood in the construction to compensate for unknown faults.
Engineered wood is put together in veneers - there are 15 veneers in a two inch piece of timber. If one of those veneers fails, the timber is still just as strong. Engineered timber is therefore a lot stronger and more stable than ordinary planks or beans, which means we don’t need to use so much wood in the construction of our floating homes. This gives us a lot more living space to play with, at the same time as making the finished home significantly lighter than it would otherwise have been.
In addition to ensuring we use sustainable wood, it is also important for us to trust the people we buy it from. We use suppliers based in West Africa, Poland and Latvia because we know the sellers, and know they are knowledgeable, responsible, and not only look after the trees but also each other. In this way, they’re looking after the community and future generations as well as doing their best for the planet.
2) Long life materials = minimum maintenance
Timber buildings will last hundreds of years if they’re looked after properly. Because the engineered wood we use is stronger and sturdier, it lasts even longer and is less likely to need a lot of maintenance or replacing altogether.
3) Recycled steel
The hulls that our floating homes sit on are made from recycled scrap steel, with no need for minerals to be mined and extracted. A properly made hull will have a lifespan of over a hundred years, and at the end of its life, it can be recycled again. So again, this lessens the environmental impact.
4) Efficient design
Sustainability starts from the get go. And for us, it’s an important part of the design process. Our floating homes are designed in a way that uses the materials effectively and efficiently, providing the strength needed to create a robust and long-lasting house using the minimum amount of materials. Our homes use only around a third of the materials that are used in the construction of a traditional building.
5) Less waste
Our homes are entirely built in our workshop so everything is under one roof. We find it a very efficient process which minimises waste. We estimate we produce around 5% less waste than a normal house construction produces.
6) Built by artisans
Our floating homes are constructed by skilled carpenters because we know they will do a good job. Even though we use technically sophisticated timber, we use traditional ship-building techniques which means the structures are immensely strong but still very light.
7) Insulation
All our floating buildings are fully insulated which significantly reduces energy use. Some of our owners want green roofs, which also helps to slow down heat loss on cold days and heat gain on hot days, reducing the need to use fans or air conditioners.
8) Light footprint
Our buildings sit very lightly in the environment. Because they’re floating, they don’t need foundations or a concrete infrastructure - as the production of concrete uses a lot of energy, we’re further minimising our footprint. They can also be placed in areas where standard constructions can’t be placed, such as on marsh land or tidal rivers, which means we’re using the land more efficiently.
And in the distant future when it reaches the end of its natural life, the building can be dismantled and the separate components recycled or repurposed.
9) Minimum disruption to ecosystems
Environmental sustainability is key to help protect natural resources. As our floating homes don’t need foundations, there’s no permanent disruption to the local ecosystem, even when the buildings are in tidal areas where they spend a lot of time resting on the ground. As a general rule of thumb, if you can walk or stand on a piece of ground without sinking, you can build a floating house on it without the need for concrete or piles. This means that when the building is moved or eventually dismantled, there’s a minimal impact on the ground which will swiftly go back to nature.
10) Low impact fittings and decorating
We are always looking for ways of keeping the footprint of our floating homes as low as possible by the use of:
low water use taps and showers
heat recovery systems
high quality paints that are made more sustainably, such as Little Greene
upcycled furniture and found objects
In addition, we will not install air conditioning unless the client particularly wants it. The water keeps the temperature more even and comfortable.
11) Adaptability
Ultimately, we design our floating homes and offices to be as adaptable as possible. They can be easily altered and adapted in order to extend their useful life, so you don’t have to undertake disruptive building work to make changes. And, of course, they can be moved with relative ease, enabling you to relocate without having to leave your home behind.