Environmental Issues

An oak framed house, if looked after properly, can last many hundreds of years, far longer than the time taken to grow the trees used in it. This makes oak an ideal material for sustainable housing. In fact locally sourced green oak has the lowest embodied energy of any primary building material. Although the energy used in constructing a building is very important, the energy consumed when the building is in occupation is likely to be far greater. Westwind take account of this by designing buildings which offer a high level of insulation and using Architects who have a good record on environmental issues.

Westwind has forged many links with local conservation organisations, the Association of Environmentally Conscious Builders and has become one of the founding members of the Forest of Avon Products Co-operative. The aims of the group are " To promote local timber and woodland crafts in the local economy and support the sustainable management of woodlands in and around the Forest of Avon". Through the co-op Westwind have entered a joint venture with Avon Wildlife Trust to make charcoal from the off cuts of oak frames made in the workshop. Also we have been able to buy locally produced timber from other members and then have it sawn to size with a mobile sawmill by another member. It is hoped in the future that the membership will rise and further Agenda 21 issues can be addressed.