Towards sustainable residential communities; the Beddington Zero Energy Development (BedZED) and beyond

Abstract

This paper describes the design, construction and management of the Beddington Zero Energy Development (BedZED), a high density residential development that accommodates a mix of income groups and combines homes and workspaces. It dramatically reduces carbon dioxide emissions per person from the homes and encourages and supports other aspects of a sustainable lifestyle — including reduced water use and reduced private automobile use. The paper also describes and discusses the limits to what residential developments such as these can achieve by themselves in relation to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and ecological footprints, especially those related to household choices (for instance, residents’ choice to fly) and to the policies and infrastructure for the district and city where BedZED is located (for instance, the quality of public transport). The paper outlines a residential development in Brighton that drew on the experience with BedZED and describes work with the local government in the borough where BedZED is located to address these larger-scale sustainable lifestyle issues.