LowC Communities, the Lincolnshire-based low-carbon energy
specialist, has scooped another award for its innovative nursery
and community building project in Shefford, Bedfordshire. Named
'BEST House' after its owner - Bedfordshire East Schools Trust
(BEST), the £2.2m building won the coveted 'Sustainability
Award' category in the RIBA Bedfordshire Architects Awards
2011.
BEST House is a brand new, innovative building that generates
the vast majority of its own electricity, heating and hot water
from locally-grown rapeseed oil - resulting in incredibly-low
running costs and carbon emissions. Designed and constructed by
LowC, the building was commissioned by Bedfordshire East Schools
Trust (BEST) at its site in Shefford, to bring together an existing
20-year-old nursery and provide office and conference facilities
for a number of local community organisations.
Richard Griffin, LowC's founder and chief executive, commented:
"We are truly honoured to have been given this award for the BEST
House project. Having already won the LABC's regional award for
Best Small Commercial Building and being short-listed alongside the
likes of Marks and Spencer for the Edie Awards for Environmental
Excellence - this project has grabbed a lot of attention -
particularly due to its A-rated, near carbon-neutral energy
performance."
"There's an increasing pressure on our industry to develop
buildings that not only have low-carbon emissions, but are also
affordable. I'm pleased to say that the BEST House project
delivered on both fronts."
BEST currently looks after the educational needs for some 6,500
pupils in 25 schools dotted around its mainly rural catchment area.
Ian Kite, chief executive of BEST Ltd, said: "This award recognises
the fantastic job that the team has delivered for our Trust. We are
delighted with the new building and it's going to help us deliver
our aims of promoting the advancement of education and community
cohesion."
BEST House is just one of an increasing number of projects that
LowC Communities has recently delivered - utilising innovative
renewable energy generation.