Innovative Eco Ideas

Pupils from Auchenharvie Academy in Stevenston recently presented their innovative ideas to a panel of experts including RobertRyan Homes Director Billy Kirkwood, as part of the ground breaking project “Tomorrows Homes Today”

Auchenharvie’s Eco Group researched, designed and presented their ideas on energy conservation within the home to the panel. This presentation was supported by actual models from their ideas that they built.

Billy comments “ These young people have worked hard on this project since I visited them last October, and often in their own time. They have shown commitment and enthusiasm throughout and it has been a pleasure working with them”

From an educational standpoint, organisers Irvine Bay Regeneration Company say the project has been highly effective in enhancing skills for life and work as outlined in the Enterprise in Education agenda and delivered the educational targets in the Scottish Government’s Curriculum for Excellence. Irvine Bay’s i-live theme was also used as a context for learning across the curriculum, proving an understanding of, and input to, their local area through studying subjects such as art, technical subjects and social studies.

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Billy Kirkwood explains to the pupils the concept behind the design and setting of the Halkshill Project in Largs.

After their visit to Halkshill House which was the former home of the famous ice cream family the Nardinis, Billy arranged a trip for all the pupils to Nardinis Cafe on Largs Seafront. Owner John Fox kindly provided for ice cream for all to enjoy, including the teachers and Billy.

Tomorrows Homes Today

Arty Pupils from Irvine Royal Academy are helping to design homes for the future. In a joint initiative between RobertRyan Homes and Irvine Bay Regeneration Company they were asked to come up with i-live. Pupil groups were required to carry out research in all curriculum areas, including expressive arts, technology, health and well-being, social studies, science and maths.

A group of pupils recently visited the RobertRyan Homes show home complex at their Halkshill development in Largs. This gave them the opportunity to see a range of housing with particular attention being paid to the layouts, design and ranges of external materials, finishes and colours.

Johnny Little, Curriculum for Excellence Coordinator at Irvine Royal Academy said:
“the feedback from the visit yesterday from staff and pupils alike was absolutely fantastic. All were "blown away" by the houses and the tour/information provided by Billy. Everyone loved the experience.”

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Billy Kirkwood explains to the pupils the concept behind the design and setting of the Halkshill Project in Largs.

After their visit to Halkshill which was the former home of the famous ice cream family the Nardinis, Billy arranged a trip for all the pupils to Nardinis Cafe on Largs Seafront. Owner John Fox kindly provided the ice cream for all. This picture is within Nardinis Cafe with John explaining the ice cream manufacturing process while the pupils enjoy the end results.

Hair Raising Experience.

Past Scottish Building President Billy Kirkwood recently caught up with Jedward on a trip to Hanover in Germany. Billy comments "Robert and I were visiting a manufacturing facility and low and behold there they were John and Edward, obviously they were not as pleased to see me as I was of them hence perhaps the long faces”

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Zero Carbon Target has the X Factor.

Saltcoats based brothers Billy and Robert Kirkwood are pushing on with research and development of their Zero Carbon modular house building system. This is hot on the heels of their off-site modular system also under development, Billy comments “our ongoing research of our low/mid market housing will clearly lay the foundations for our real target, and that is zero carbon. We have identified a suitable site on land that we own, is South facing and unconstrained. We intend to refine the design prior to submitting a detailed application, just the usual planning hurdle to navigate.”

The brothers have made a clear commitment to delivering this objective for all values of property, especially the mid to top end who are in most cases the worst offenders of excessive energy consumption.

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Kirkwood brothers confirm Passive is their Passion

RobertRyan Timber Engineering owners Billy and Robert Kirkwood move a step closer to refining their first modular off-site constructed passive home system. This will clear the path and lead the way for new home building in the Scotland, and it will not just embrace the proposed new building standards on energy but go beyond them.

Billy comments, "Quality, Design and Energy efficiency are all addressed at the outset and we are now refining our off-site fabrication system to allow us to deliver a quality product built within a controlled environment."

RobertRyan are about to submit their formal application for their new factory at Sharphill, which will be purpose built to deliver new homes designed with the future in mind.

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NEW BUSINESS AND EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR SALTCOATS.

Ayrshire based RobertRyan and RDK Construction have recently appointed Planning Consultants McInally Associates to progress the Public Consultation requirements for their Sharphill Estate Development in North Ayrshire. Due to the recent changes in the planning system the proposals constitutes a Major Development, and there for requires following a pre consultation format.

The project is for a mixed use development which will provide for some 30,000 ft2 of first class commercial office accommodation, along with a new dedicated joinery and off-site low carbon house production facility for RobertRyan. A new roundabout and upgrading of the existing roadway and infrastructure will also provide for access to twenty six new low carbon family homes.

Managing Director Billy Kirkwood comments "the vision has been 10 years in the making, the future of the house building industry will require to fully embrace not just low carbon technology, but to also build more off-site, in a controlled environment which automatically reduces waste and improves the efficiency of the build as well as the quality of the finished product."

The new facility will allow RobertRyan to fully develop their panel and modular house building system towards delivering zero carbon homes. This will also allow the company to expand and create new employment opportunities within the new facility with a real focus on training and education.

Billy further comments "talking low carbon and zero carbon can be quite a challenge, however what people do clearly understand is the financial cost of energy such as gas and electricity, we will deliver new homes that require minimal energy consumption but will still be comfortable and appealing to live in. Whilst researching and delivering the new homes market technology we will also look at how we can retro fit the existing housing stock in Scotland of some 2.3 million homes, of which we believe some 25% of the people whom live in them also live in fuel poverty."

Patrick Wiggins, Chief Executive of Irvine Bay Regeneration Company, said:

"While we note that these proposals are at an early stage, they are interesting and we look forward to seeing them develop as they go through the public consultation and planning process. It is encouraging to see a local firm seeking to invest in the area as Irvine Bay continues to work hard to improve the environment for jobs and prosperity."

Further information will be published in the local press confirming when and where you can view the proposals.
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