Piloting sustainable community living with Elmsbrook
A Global Example of Affordable, Green Living
Located in Bicester, Oxfordshire, eco-town Elmsbrook is the first of its kind in the UK. Promising net zero carbon sustainable homes, abundant idyllic green spaces and a thriving local community, the affordable housing estate serves as a global example of what green living can really mean. It was first commissioned by the government as part of a network of similar projects across the country, and the only eco town to meet those rigorous standards.
Still in the exemplar phase of construction, the community is rapidly growing, and quickly evolving. Utilising solar energy, a district heating system, and offering Brompton bike hire, this A2Dominion project marks a turning point in how we think about affordable housing.
Our Shimmy Solution
Through the creation of our Shimmy phone app, we have developed a place-based solution to both building performance monitoring and community living.
The app gives residents access to a list of ever-expanding features and enables users to:
Monitor their water, electricity and heat usage in real-time and compare this to the local and national average
Instantly be notified of leaks, inactive solar panels, or any other technical issues that arise to allow for swift resolution
Obtain local bus information and rent bikes
Access a community calendar as well as a local news and weather feed
Connect with other local residents via Twitter
Access information manuals to assist with the use of household appliances
In this way, our community technology provides a collaborative solution to performance monitoring that brings the neighbourhood together.
Towards a Greener Future
Elmsbrook eco town is now largely occupied and work on the fourth and final phase of construction has begun.
When complete, these 400 homes will be an exemplar of sustainable community based building.
Further project expansion is anticipated, and it is hoped that Elmsbrook’s success will inspire similar projects.