Green Housing in Cornwall
Designing sustainable homes in Cornwall is both a privilege and a challenge. At ARCO₂, we’ve dedicated over two decades to creating buildings that are low-energy, healthy, and respectful of Cornwall’s unique landscapes. Here, we answer some of the most common questions about our approach to green housing in the county.
What are the key principles of green housing in your projects?
We adopt a fabric-first approach. This means prioritising the building envelope with high levels of insulation, airtight construction, and thermal bridge-free detailing. By minimising heat loss at source, we create homes that are comfortable, energy-efficient, and designed to perform for generations.
How do you respect Cornwall’s architectural heritage while embracing modern green technologies?
Cornwall has a rich architectural heritage, and every project demands sensitivity to its setting. We use traditional vernacular materials — such as slate, stone, and render — but apply them in contemporary ways. This ensures our buildings are of their time while still reflecting the region’s identity. Our designs must sit comfortably within Cornwall’s dramatic scenery, so we always balance modern technologies with a respect for scale, materials, and context.
Which eco-friendly materials work best in Cornwall’s climate?
Cornwall’s climate is increasingly unpredictable, with heavier rainfall and stronger winds — especially in coastal locations. This demands robust, low-maintenance materials.
We often specify:
- Locally sourced stone and slate for durability and a timeless quality
- Timber and lime render for breathability and warmth
- Green roofs to enhance biodiversity, manage rainwater, and blend with the landscape
These choices balance resilience with sustainability, while respecting local tradition.
How do you ensure energy efficiency given Cornwall’s weather patterns?
Energy efficiency is at the heart of everything we do. In addition to insulation and airtightness, we carefully design for solar control:
- Roof overhangs protect façades from driving rain and reduce summer overheating.
- Solar shading with louvres or brise soleils helps control glare and solar gain.
- Triple-glazed windows with solar-control glass keep homes cool in summer and warm in winter.
We also integrate rainwater harvesting, providing filtered water for toilets, laundry, and garden use.
What innovative green techniques and technologies do you use?
We combine low-tech passive design with carefully selected modern systems:
- Optimised building orientation for passive solar gain in winter
- Thermal mass to regulate indoor temperatures naturally
- Ground, air, or water source heat pumps for heating and hot water
- Whole-house mechanical ventilation with heat recovery (MVHR) for healthy, filtered air
- Solar PV and battery storage to meet the home’s energy demand
- Smart systems to optimise energy use
Our aim is always to design homes that are simple to run, low in carbon, and comfortable all year round.
How do you approach water conservation?
Rainwater harvesting is frequently built into our designs, alongside low-water-use appliances. This reduces mains demand and helps clients live more sustainably in Cornwall’s sometimes fragile water environment.
Can you share examples of successful projects?
We’ve completed a wide range of green housing projects across Cornwall — from coastal new-builds with wildflower roofs to countryside homes achieving Passivhaus standards. While we can’t always share personal details such as addresses or budgets, our case studies showcase the breadth of our work and the sustainable features that make each home unique.
How do you engage with local communities?
Engagement varies depending on the project. Sometimes this means discussions with parish councils, planning officers, or neighbours. Where possible, we aim to improve views and settings — for example, replacing a tired roof with a biodiverse green roof that enhances the outlook for everyone.
We recognise that architecture, like art, is subjective — not everyone will share the same view. But we always strive to listen, adapt, and design sensitively.
What role do renewables play in your projects?
Cornwall Council’s Climate Emergency DPD Policy now requires renewable energy generation to match predicted energy use at design stage — a positive step towards carbon neutrality.
At ARCO₂, we integrate renewables such as solar PV and heat pumps into almost every design. Cornwall already benefits from significant renewable electricity through wind and solar farms, making it one of the leading regions for sustainable energy in the UK.
What challenges do you face, and how do you overcome them?
Over the past two decades, our greatest challenges have often been in planning rather than technology. Early on, some councils and communities were hesitant about the aesthetics of sustainable design or renewable technologies. Today, as these solutions become mainstream, many of those barriers are falling away.
From the start, sustainability has been our only focus. This gives us the confidence and experience to adapt, innovate, and deliver homes that are truly fit for the future.
Closing thought
Green housing in Cornwall is about more than energy efficiency — it’s about designing beautiful, robust, and site-specific buildings that respect their setting while offering a sustainable, healthy lifestyle. At ARCO₂, we’re proud to lead this movement, one home at a time.
