News

SHORTLISTED IN THE SUSTAIN AWARDS - Biodiversity Category - February 2012
The shortlist for the Sustain Awards has just been announced and O2i Design are delighted to be amongst the finalists in Sector Three: Business & Society (in the Biodiversity Category). The decision will be announced on March 20th when the winners will finally be revealed. Sustain Magazine

HOMEBUILDING & RENOVATING - a two storey straw bale home - February 2012
Now out - Great article on one of our clients' self build home - a 2 storey straw bale home featured in the March 2012 issue of Homebuilding & Renovating Magazine. : Homebuilding & Renovating March 2012

BRITISH BUILDER AND DEVELOPER - Sustainable Building Supplement - January 2012
This Sustainable Building Supplement in the January 2012 issue of British Builder and Developer takes a look at our Somerset project of CfSH (Level 5) homes in Somerset : British Builder and Developer January 2012

HOMEBUILDING & RENOVATING AWARDS 2011 - READERS CHOICE ECO HOME WINNER 2011 - November 2011
O2i Design gained the Planning Application Approval for Daisy Farm. This self build eco home is a remarkable achievement by owners Anthony and Andrew and a real testament of their drive and vision. Using the stone of the house they replaced and incorporating many sustainable design features, the owners of this project have achieved a home that perfectly represents their interest in low-impact living. This wonderful two-storey strawbale, self-build house, was amongst the Finalists of the HOMEBUILDING & RENOVATING AWARDS 2011 (self build category), and in November 2011 was declared the Eco Home Winner in the competition (as voted for by readers). For more information: Homebuilding and Renovating Awards and Homebuilding and Renovating Winners

SOMERSET BUSINESS OF THE YEAR 2011 - WINNER October 2011
O2i Design is very proud to have won the much coveted "Business of the Year" award in the Somerset Business Awards. We are thrilled to be recognised as a “Business of the Year” (2-5 employee). The Awards are organised by Somerset Chamber of Commerce and recognise and promote the county’s talented entrepreneurs. Somerset Business Awards.

SUNDAY TELEGRAPH October 2011
The Sunday Telegraph's Environmental Property Journalist of the Year, Sarah Lonsdale, took a look at the ownership of eco homes, including one of our eco project. Some key lessons with complex technology, but "It is light, airy and pleasant to live in" says the owner "My only worry is that we'll never be able to live anywhere else as we have got used to such high standards." For more information: Sunday Telegraph 9.10.11

THIS IS SOMERSET October 2011
O2i Design is amongst the final 3 in Somerset Business Awards for Business of the Year (2-5 employees category). For more information: This is Somerset 13.10.11

SOMERSET BUSINESS OF THE YEAR 2011- FINALIST
O2i Design was very proud to be shortlisted in the Somerset Business Awards for Environmental Responsibility and Business of the Year category. We are thrilled to be amongst the three finalists for “Business of the Year” (2-5 employee). The Awards are organised by Somerset Chamber of Commerce and recognise and promote the county’s talented entrepreneurs. Somerset Business Awards. The results will be announced on 21st October.

SOMERSET ART WORKS 17 SEPTEMBER - 2 October 2011
We are delighted that one of our most recent projects will be used as a wonderful exhibition space and pop-up shop for some of this year's Somerset Art Works Somerset Art Works

PROJECT GRAFITTI
A young team of graffiti artists have just been given a blank canvas onto which to work. Under the watchful eye, and creative guidance of our client, this blank domestic interior has been transformed into a (graffiti) work of art. The artists were George Mayou (Art Director), George Higham, Greg Haynes and Owen Wolfe.

FINALIST FOR “BEST SUSTAINABLE PROJECT" FOR SOUTH WEST REGION IN LABC BUILDING EXCELLENCE AWARDS 2011
The shortlist of nominations for the Annual Regional LABC awards has been announced, and O2i Design Ltd are delighted that one of their projects made the final cut. The shortlist can be viewed in full here, and more information about the 2011 Awards can be viewed on the LABC website.

NEW WEBSITE & SOCIAL MEDIA
At the end of April 2011, O2i Design launched a new website, together with our first foray into social media. You can follow us on Twitter @o2idesign.

GREENER STILL...
For the last few years all our electricity requirements have been provided entirely from renewable sources.

LOW CARBON HOMES POST OCCUPANCY STUDY
As a key advisor to the Technology Strategy Board's "Building Performance evaluation Programme" and the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) Carbon Challenge Exemplar Programme, Dr Fionn Stevenson has been developing guidance on domestic post occupancy evaluation. Dr Stevenson interviewed O2i Design regarding our input on a housing development to Code for Sustainable Homes, level 5, in Somerset. The findings of this research are expected late 2011.

WINNERS OF THE BEST SUSTAINABLE PROJECT IN LABC BUILDING EXCELLENCE 2010
SEDGEMOOR, TAUNTON DEANE & WEST SOMERSET
We are very proud that one of our projects won the LABC Building Excellence Awards "Best Sustainable Project" for Sedgemoor, Taunton Deane and West Somerset. “The judges felt that the project by O2i Design Consultants was unique in its sustainability credentials. The development of five dwellings on a confined site successfully achieved Level 5 under The Code for Sustainable Homes. The project incorporates the latest technology and demonstrates that with innovative design high level carbon reduction can be achieved.” The project has now been put forward to the South West Regional nominations. A decision will be reached in late spring this year.

EuroACE 2011
The European Alliance of Companies for Energy Efficiency in Buildings, is developing a "Smart Energy Buildings Campaign" and has requested a case study on one of our sustainable projects for their campaign in 2011.

PAYROLL GIVING GOLD AWARD 2010 & 2009.
We are very proud to be recipients of the "Payroll Giving Gold" Award 2010 from the Institute of Fundraising and HM Government. We were also awarded a 'Payroll Giving Gold" Award 2009 in celebration of O2i Design’s decision to foster a culture of philanthropy and committed giving in our workplace, by making Payroll Giving available to our employees.

CODE FOR SUSTAINABLE HOMES (CSH) - Case Studies.
One of O2i Design‘s project featured as one of four national case studies in: The Code for Sustainable Homes- Case Studies. This project was also awarded ‘Best Housing Scheme’ by Regen South West for the development of five sustainable homes built to CSH Code Level 5. Code for Sustainable Homes

MENDIP OPEN GREEN HOMES
Mendip Environment showcased 'green' homes built sustainably or ‘eco-renovated’. After protracted negotiations O2i Design gained Planning Permission for a straw bale and timber framed house featured in this event.

SMARTER TRAVEL CHARTER 2010
O2i Design Consultants were awarded the "Smarter Travel Charter", an initiative to reduce congestion and pollution by helping to explore sustainable transport options.