PART 1: DIAL CORNER
A Story of Transition
Civilisation is in the midst of a transition to a post-hydrocarbon era. Adapting to this future challenge requires living without resort to fossil fuels for power, transportation and heating. Transitioning our homes to operate free of their reliance on fossil-fuels involves decarbonising its construction process and its operation in use. The UK’s journey towards decarbonisation has already started with 230 Local Authorities having declared a ‘Climate Change Emergency’. South Norfolk District Council’s own declaration must not be far away.
Dial Corner directly responds to that challenge. This is a building design solution that delivers immediately, a home that makes the transition to a fossil-fuel-free existence, one ready for the post-hydrocarbon phase. It self-regulates its internal air temperature without resort to mechanical appliances, is naturally ventilated, generates its own energy, harvests its own water and manages its own waste.
It is these building characteristics that will be imperative in a decarbonised world. Energy independence with an off-grid capability will assist in reducing issues of grid capacity and form an integral part of smart micro grids. Annually, Dial Corner will generate a surplus of energy, sufficient to power another dwelling. If predictions of a warming climate and population increase prove accurate, then another building imperative could be to include better conservation and harvesting of our most precious finite resource, water. Norfolk is cited as the UK’s driest county. At Dial Corner, all its water will be sourced on site.
This will be one of the first new dwellings to innovatively blend high levels of sustainability with exceptional design, creating a home that fits perfectly with its immediate environment. Surrounded by newly planted trees, a new pond to encourage wildlife its juxtaposition with the adjacent trunk road will starkly illustrate the urgency with which we must embrace our post-hydrocarbon future.
Dial Corner’s story of transition is to become a Website and YouTube blog, in which, Tim will share the journey working towards decarbonising his live, encouraging others to follow his example.
