How our Koto homes are now built carbon neutral in the UK
‘A strategic approach to help slow the impact of climate change.’
Climate change is intensifying at a rapid pace, and although some trends are irreversible, we actively seek to contribute to carbon reduction through the delivery of Koto homes and prefab cabins. As architects and developers, we believe it is our and the construction industry’s responsibility to respond adequately to the current climate crisis by building both sustainably and holistically.
| THE KOTO CONSTRUCTION METHOD.
Koto’s design-led modular buildings are built off-site, using locally sourced and sustainable materials. This allows for exceptional levels of insulation, airtightness and sustainability in our cost-effective and low-energy homes. Prior to delivery of the modules, services can be tested at the factory giving clients complete reassurance when their Koto building arrives on site.
Koto homes are built almost entirely from sustainably sourced timbers, meaning carbon dioxide is captured in the fabric of the building and actively removed from the atmosphere, creating a carbon-neutral home. Such mass timber housing construction methods could become part of the solution to help reduce climate change.
| Whole life carbon.
There are two key components to understanding carbon emissions from buildings and construction:
Embodied Carbon.
Our buildings focus is primarily on timber construction with wood sourced from FSC sustainable forests. The amount of carbon that is locked up or sequestered by growing trees is effectively carbon dioxide which has been removed from the atmosphere and forms the structure and insulation.
As each of our projects are different and subsequently have different values and complexities, we have benchmarked data from case studies as a way of quantifying an approach to construction that can achieve carbon positive projects. Ultimately, our aim for each building is to sequester more carbon than it emits.
Energy in use in the life of our buildings.
We tend to approach projects with a ‘fabric first’ mentality whereby Koto buildings are designed with high-performance envelopes that limit the amount of energy required for services such as heating, cooling, and lighting.
Wherever possible, we actively avoid direct use of fossil fuels i.e. gas for heating and hot water. Utilising electric-based systems enables heavy use of renewables for on site generation whilst also allowing mains electricity to be integrated over time as it gradually becomes de-carbonised.
| Sustainable design.
Uncompromising sustainability with architect-designed modular housing and cabins, combining quiet luxury with sustainability. We deliver bespoke architectural services and beautifully crafted energy-neutral buildings.
| Koto’s sustainable business activities.
We aim to make all of our business activities carbon neutral; some activities inevitably will emit carbon into the atmosphere - inclusive of travel and heating properties. In response to this, we offset our emissions on a continual basis.
If you have a Koto project in mind and feel that we could help then please drop Poppy an email.
poppy@kotocabins.com
Architecture - Koto Design
Interior - Koto Living
Koto [Ko-To] the traditional Finnish word for ‘cosy at home’.