Our team here at ep architects have extensively studied the practicality of sourcing and implementing the use of such materials locally for projects. Whilst this needs the team and particularly contractor to commit to researching and widening their reach beyond the trusted building material suppliers, it can unearth some surprises and advantages.

During study on most MSc courses in Sustainable Construction one would expect to see a module (or more) on the subject of “Bioregional mapping and sourcing”. Such study would cover locality, availability, competitiveness, mileage assessment and carbon impact amongst many other aspects.

We all appreciate that the Victorians and other historic procurement methods would have been far more local and regionally focussed than it is today, not least as a brick works would be not too far away, maybe a quarry, lime kilns, skills to build from Cob at hand and other “from the land” methods along with farmers producing Hemp, Flax, etc… on a wider and far more available basis than we have today.

Whilst we are slowly seeing many of the latter methods and materials slowly reappearing and gaining traction along with the use of strawbale and other materials in construction, these are not mainstream activities or available at your average local builder’s merchant. But please do not allow this to deter you in considering them as the results can be stunning and highly sustainable, bring low-carbon benefits and deliver buildings which breath and by their nature provide wellbeing in abundance to their occupants.

The impact of importing and sourcing materials from across the globe, whilst accelerating and making easier certain aspects of construction (and driving down cost), does incur enormous carbon impact, energy use and transportation emissions which must be a consideration as we move ever closer to Net Zero and related targets.

A couple of real-life examples demonstrate this in action. Firstly, do we really need to specify a specific-coloured tile from Mexico (however gorgeous it might be) when there are many beautiful and varied colours available which are made in the UK and nearby Europe? Secondly, visit your local sawmill and talk to them about timber choice, availability, quality, and what is home grown, we find their competitiveness to be excellent and of course the provenance and trail of sourcing is second to none, because you can talk to the person that felled the tree and often replanted many others in its place to complete the sustainable circle.

As with the adoption of many other sustainable methods and processes, more effort must be made by the client, design team and contractors if you set local sourcing as one of your target requirements, but we would encourage you to do so! This will undoubtably become another key aspect of the Net Zero standards as we progress and what is there not to like in improved sense of fulfilment and knowledge of where something is from? Oh, and made or cared for by someone locally.

Please do not be afraid to ask questions and discuss, whether you agree or disagree!

ep architects   

info@eparchitects.design