Working from home - upgraded!

Remote working isn’t new to our Founder, Kerry Thompson. In fact, she remembers the days of working from a “painfully slow” wired dial up network that rendered the home phone redundant whilst you were online - those of you who know are now thinking of that screeching and ticking sound as the internet was firing up its connection!

However, like so many people, Kerry found her small office in the box room at home starting to burst at the seams whilst full-time remote working during the Covid pandemic. And post pandemic, as hybrid working has remained so popular, her home office space was becoming more cramped and feeling much smaller!

So, in 2022, it was finally time for a new remote working office space. It was decided that a garden office was the route to go.

Working with the Automotive industry and seeing all the benefits of going greener, inspired Kerry. As we can see from all the hybrid and electric vehicles on the road now, the automotive industry specifically, has made a huge effort to become more environmentally aware in the last few years, and Kerry was keen to join in on behalf of Akeno!

Kerry is a keen recycler at home and has bought the same approach to Akeno. At Akeno, we always play our part to be environmentally friendly, using recycled materials where possible, and always recycling our office waste, but why stop there!

Kerry decided to opt for a zero waste, energy efficient office pod.

Natural Building Systems, (naturalbuildingsystems.com) founded in 2019, develops construction solutions that combine low embodied carbon materials with Modern Methods of Construction (MMC). They have focused on materials-technology, digital tools, and building physics, to create ADEPT, a comprehensive construction system made from exclusively climate-neutral materials. ADEPT consists of a breathable, high-performance thermal envelope, floor and roof elements, and internal walls. One of the key features of ADEPT is that all its parts are individually demountable, allowing for adaptation during use, end-of-life disassembly, and reuse.

The materials used are designed to actively combat climate change - these materials remove more carbon dioxide from the atmosphere than it takes to manufacture and build them. They are made from fully natural, non-toxic, breathable materials which improve air quality for those in them.

The starting point was the design. Natural Building Systems listened to the requirements and designed a number of options that were refined carefully until it was perfect for what Kerry needed. The brief was a dedicated working space for all those online meetings, a dedicated meeting area, and lots and lots of light! After years of working from the box room, it was time for light and space!

Natural Building Systems manufactured and installed a highly insulated, energy efficient, office pod which is now home to Kerry when remote working. Not only does the office pod look great, it’s enhanced by the use of natural insulation materials, such as HempSil, which offers greater energy efficiency throughout the year, reducing summer overheating, improving air quality by regulating relative humidity, and enabling better moisture control to avoid issues like condensation and mould, which means it’s also cost-effective to run (that element has been very much welcomed, especially after a winter of extortionate energy prices!)

On top of all that, the Natural Building Systems Team were super helpful during the design and construction process. Plus, due to the structure being so efficiently designed, the panels are individually demountable, so should Kerry need to adapt or move the space in the future, that is completely achievable! 

Kerry would highly recommend an office pod to anyone considering a little more space, and can’t thank the team at Natural Building Systems enough for her little climate positive, carbon negative haven.

For more information please visit: naturalbuildingsystems.com