This document summarizes a presentation given at the Beyond Zero Carbon Housing Symposium at the University of Nottingham in 2012. The presentation was about the Activ-House project, which aimed to design a home that reduces carbon footprint through holistic performance rather than just construction and technology. It explored how contexts like community, location, and personal behavior can impact carbon emissions. The project also aimed to change personal behaviors around energy usage and maximize the possibilities of passive and active building components to further reduce emissions beyond what standard zero carbon programs focus on.

1. Beyond Zero
Carbon Housing
exploring solutions to sustainability issues
beyond the zero carbon agenda
2 4 th O c t o b e r 2 0 1 2 a t T h e U n i v e r s i t y o f N o t t i n g h a m
Department of Architecture and Built Environment

2. ©
Copyright Notice
A l l t h e m a te r i a l i n t h e s e s l i d e s
m ay n o t b e u s e d o r re p ro d u c e d w i t h o u t t h e ex p re s s
p e r m i s s i o n o f t h e a u t h o rs

3. The Activ-House
Designing for Holistic Performance
Beyond Zero Carbon Housing Symposium University of Nottingham 2012
Professor Julian Marsh
Sheffield Hallam University and Marsh:Grochowski Architects

4. What is an Activ- House? Not Passiv-Haus or Active House
The Meat Factory

5. Extending the notion of Performance
Numbers are important
But getting effective performance depends on so much more than construction
and technology
Reductions in carbon footprint are as much conditioned by politics, economics,
psychology, culture and belief
The Meat Factory was an attempt to explore holistically some of the other areas
where carbon reducing performance might be considered

6. The importance of Context – using and giving
Community Location, Transport and Services
4500kg C02 p.a
4500kg C02 p.a
Site Site and Primary Energy

7. A ‘Living’ Brief
To respond to the risks of climate change – through a change in personal behavior
Something that can’t be done in theory
To explore how to make a holistic home and way of life
Through designing an environment and a method of living that would reduce our carbon
footprint dramatically
To respond to our life circumstances both for the present and for the future
Thinking about productive time use opportunities and growing older
To reduce our living space, maximise our individual working space, and make an edible
garden
To provide a shared and flexible space which can be used to suit our ad hoc needs

8. The nature of ‘Dwelling’
Ideal Harmony Being
Living ‘in the environment’

9. An ‘experiential’ plan

10. A ‘Layered’ Approach

11. Maximising the possibilities of activ and passive components
Future Climate Change

12. What about ‘unregulated’ emissions between 8-11kWh/m2/pa total site energy 35kWh/m2/pa
And other resource based issues

13. What about ‘unregulated’ emissions between 8-11kWh/m2/pa total energy 35kWh/m2/pa
And other resource based issues

14. Living a ‘low energy lifestyle’
Control and Self sufficient possibilities Habitual and learnt behaviour
Pride and ownership Winter/ summer doors
Enforced behaviour Encouraged behaviour
The larder Codes/Opportunities

15. Style and Performance

16. Thankyou