Our Eco Efficiency
We are 100% committed to producing incredibly efficient, sustainable and
environmentally-friendly garden rooms and modular buildings that not only look stunning
but will stand the test of time.
Swift System Concrete Plinth Foundations:
Swift plinths offer a speedy, cost-effective and eco-friendly alternative to standard concrete foundations; they use 95% less concrete than conventional slabs and are 100% recyclable.
Ground Screws System:
Our ground screw foundations deliver a comprehensive foundation solution. The low-carbon screw piles have a low-impact installation method that causes minimal damage or disruption to natural habitats and removes the need for concrete bases.
Timber:
The C16 and C24 grade timber used to construct our pod structure is certified and responsibly sourced from Scandinavia. It is kiln-dried before the pressure preservative treatment is applied, this helps improve stability and the preservative combats rot, decay and insect attacks.
Insulation:
A fully insulated pod helps maintain temperature and lowers heating and cooling bills, therefore conserving energy.
90mm PIR insulation boards are installed throughout all of our pods as standard; this exceeds the U-Values required under part L of the UK Building Regulations relating to energy efficiency.
LED Lighting:
Light Emitting Diodes (LED) are an eco-friendly lighting choice that we install as standard. LEDs are incredibly efficient and are also longer lasting than other types of lighting. We use a combination of recessed spotlights, strip lighting and uplighting both internally and externally.
Aluminium Windows and Doors:
Aluminium is one of the most efficient and widely recycled materials. Recycling aluminium saves 95% of the energy cost of processing new aluminium and the process does not produce any change in the metal, so aluminium can be recycled indefinitely. We use argon filled double glazing which can improve a window's U-Values by over 30%. Therefore, as well as being maintenance free and long lasting, the double glazed, argon filled aluminium windows and doors we use are a highly sustainable, energy efficient product.
Western Red Cedar:
The majority of our pods are clad in Western Red Cedar (Thuja Plicata), which is responsibly and sustainably harvested in publicly managed forests of British Columbia, Canada. Less than 1% of the standing timber is harvested each year. For each tree harvested, three are replanted, resulting in more forests in North America than 100 years ago. When kiln-dried to a moisture content of 12% or less, WRC has a density of approximately 370kg/m3. As a result of this low density, it offers increased insulation advantages.
Composite cladding:
Made from 55% reclaimed wood fibres and 45% recycled plastics, the slatted cladding boards are not only beautiful with a natural looking aesthetic, but also ethically-sourced, long-lasting and low-maintenance.
External Protection:
All of our timber clad pods are coated in an Osmo UV Protection Oil which offers an added layer of protection against harmful UV rays; it also helps protect and enhance the natural colours of the cladding.
The foundation of Osmo wood finishes has been based upon purified and refined natural resources through the last 30 years. Osmo uses carefully harvested natural oils (sunflower, soya, linseed and thistle oils) an hard waxes (carnauba and candelilla waxes) for its finishes.
Sedum Green Roof and Living Walls:
These are living, self-sustaining products that offer a wonderfully diverse appearance of both colour and texture. They can provide fantastic thermal and sound insulation and a sedum roof can last longer than a conventional roof.
Both can improve air quality due to the filtering mechanism of the plants and substrate, produce an attractive green space in an urban area and, most importantly, provide a microclimate for birds and insects.
Firestone EPDM Rubber Membrane:
EPDM is an inert material with limited environmental impact during manufacturing, installation and use. The initial production of the membrane has a low embodied energy number (i.e. the amount of energy required to produce and implement a product from material extraction, manufacture and installation). Furthermore, at the end of its service life, the membrane can be recycled and re-used. EPDM's ecological benefits and physical characteristics, in combination with its life expectancy (up to 50 years) makes it a perfect solution for extensive green roofing applications.
Waste:
Mypods only construct truly bespoke pods.
The benefit of this is that every single building is carefully designed to ensure very little waste and all materials are sustainably sourced.
On average, we produce approximately 80% less waste constructing our buildings compared to similar sized traditional brick builds.
Carbon Footprint:
We are a local company.
In recent years, all of our builds have been in Kent - primarily the Sevenoaks area; therefore, as a team, we have an extremely low carbon footprint.
