Renewable energy features include a wind turbine (the first in Brighton), solar domestic water heating, geo-thermal boreholes and heat pump to provide energy for space heating, sun pipes and natural ventilation.

HMY also incorporated sustainable and
demountable materials including lime mortar, locally sourced bricks, recycled paper insulation, ‘Masonite’ timber external wall structure and aluminium roofing with a 50% recycled content. Wherever possible demolition materials were recycled too, with only 4% going to landfill.

Other sustainable measures have been incorporated such as ‘growing walls’, bird nesting boxes, low flush toilets, low energy light fittings and the installation of a local real time bus indicator board to promote use of public transport.

The scheme was carbon balanced with continuous monitoring throughout the construction process – a first for a project of this type.