bio-regional

These approaches emphasise the use of local, bio-based materials. Bio-regions are ‘geographical areas defined by biological or environmental characteristics, rather than by political or administrative boundaries’ (OED). Bio-based materials (made from living or once-living organisms) sequester carbon from the atmosphere as they are grown. Sourcing materials locally minimises the carbon emitted by their transportation. These approaches can be low-carbon by reducing the amount of embodied carbon involved in a project.

The Enterprise Centre

Architype

Flat House

Practice Architecture/ Material Cultures

References:

“Bioregion, n. Meanings, Etymology and More.” [n.d.]. Oed.com <https://www.oed.com/dictionary/bioregion_n?tab=meaning_and_use> [accessed 25 February 2024]

“Bioregional Design Practices.” [n.d.]. Lina.comMunity <https://lina.community/programme/event/57/bioregional-design-practices/> [accessed 25 February 2024]

“Bio-Based Products.” [n.d.]. Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs <https://single-market-economy.ec.europa.eu/sectors/biotechnology/bio-based-products_en> [accessed 25 February 2024]

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Embodied carbon is 'the emissions from the construction materials, the building process, [...] as well as from deconstructing and disposing of [the building] at the end of it’s lifetime' (UCL).

The figures featured on this website were calculated using Structure Workshop's Carbon Calculator v4 (unless otherwise stated).

Each case study includes carbon equivalents - the equivalent barrels of oil burnt and the equivalent hectares of US forest growth per annum to offset it. The figures these are based on are available here.

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In future the website aims to compare 'whole life carbon' - this is 'the carbon emissions resulting from the materials, construction and the use of a building over its entire life, including its demolition and disposal' (Greater London Authority, 2022).