Week 7 Discussion: Bedzed South London Infill Project, Glenwood Park Atlanta

WEEK 7 DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
Student's Name:
Institution:
1 BEDZED SOUTH LONDON INFILL PROJECT
The above project is the first mixed-use development and sustainable community in the United Kingdom. Completed in 2002, the project consists of 100 homes, a college, community facilities, and office space. It is indeed the pioneering eco-project in the south of London because it always serves as an inspiration for sustainable neighborhoods. The major purpose for developing BedZED was to achieve great reductions in greenhouse gas emissions as well as water use. Greenhouse gases are known to be the major cause of climate change; the project, therefore, took this into consideration in designing and implementing the development project. Since its inception, the project has made life easier for its residents. The residents currently have greener lifestyles because they rely less on private cars; they also produce less waste. The sustainability of BedZED can be readily transferred and adapted in other modern development projects. For example, a majority of the houses at BedZED are passively heated by solar heat. The houses are also highly insulated and well ventilated on the roofs through the use of distinctive wind cowls (Fry 2006). Air enters from outside and is pre-heated by stale air going outwards; the exchange of heat happens in heat exchangers installed in the housing units. The availability of water-saving dual flush toilets and washing machines also contributes to the sustainability of BedZED, a component that can be transferr...