Le Clos de la Croix Blanche provides luxurious living in a bespoke eco-friendly development built and finished to the highest standards, with a touch of contemporary design in a mountain environment. Timber-framed construction, photovoltaic panels, grey water recycling and rainwater harvesting, heat recuperation and geothermal preheating are some of the eco-initiatives installed.

• zero-carbon

Photovoltaic panels mounted within the roof structure will provide electricity. High levels of thermal insulation will feature through the use of wood structure wrapped with wood fibre panels, and triple-glazed windows; a ventilation system with heat recuperation and geothermal preheating will be installed. A high-efficiency gas-fired boiler will heat homes. All systems will be managed by an intelligent building system working according to pre-programmed needs.

• zero-waste

Recycling of plastics and glass bottles, jars and papers will be encouraged through inhouse provision of receptacles. A building waste management feasibility study is in progress. Composting will be implemented providing climatic conditions are beneficial.

• sustainable water

Potable water will be drawn from a local spring. Grey water recycling and rainwater harvesting from roofs will be undertaken and stored onsite for use for dual flushing WCs, washing machines and garden irrigation.

• local and sustainable building materials

Timber, which is the main building material, is sourced from a European sustainable forest. Concrete for the foundations comes from a local quarry and marble and stone materials are sourced from neighbouring Italy. Construction is undertaken by local labour from within the Mont Blanc region.

• sustainable transport

There is very limited onsite vehicular access, essentially an underground parking facility. The site is in immediate proximity to public bus and rail services and an airport shuttle services is provided in the valley. The ski lifts of the Grands Montets are only a short walk away.

Snobbys are detached two- and three-bedroom houses, each set in a private, walled courtyard garden in an attractive region of the southernmost Greek island of Crete. The boutique development of seven homes is the first of its kind in western Crete to specifically incorporate a green initiative that includes photovoltaics, solar water heating and high thermal density with a high specification interior finish.

• zero-carbon

The homes have been constructed using thermal bricks which provides excellent insulatory properties to keep the homes cool in summer and to retain heat in the winter months. Renewable energy systems installed are photovoltaic panels to convert sunlight into electricity, which is stored in deep-discharge gel batteries for recall and reuse on demand. A Sine-Wave Inverter converts the supply into the household mains. A solar water heating system with a 100 litre cylinder provides hot water on demand. Low energy light bulbs are installed throughout.

• zero-waste

The developer reports recycling in Crete is only available within cities. In villages, houses do not have an individual refuse collection. The system depends on a few large bins dotted around the village, which are used by everyone.

• sustainable water

Reduced flush toilet mechanism only installed.

• local and sustainable building materials

Local materials have been sourced and used, including timber from sustainable local forestry and stone from an island quarry. Local labour and contractors have been hired.

• sustainable transport

The development’s design reflects a traditional Cretan village with alleys and walkways to each courtyard. Vehicles have no access to the development.

Home to contemporary properties designed by many of the world’s leading architects, including RIBA Stirling prize winner David Chipperfield, BOM SUCESSO has committed to reduce carbon emissions and has signed a Carbon Social Protocol with the local, Óbidos, town hall. All properties have roof gardens and water conservation devices installed. Homes in the latest phase 3 will have solar thermal hot water provision. The golf course is irrigated from harvested rainwater held in lakes which is automatically drawn when required, depending on the prevailing local weather conditions as relayed from a local meteorological station.

• zero-carbon

Phase 3 will incorporate a new solar heating energy plant, providing hot water to all the houses in the village. All villas and resort facilities will feature roof gardens and climbing plants with gardens arranged according to a carefully planned landscape project. The effect will be to reduce solar gain in sunshine, reduce the energy requirement and consumption from air conditioning by 25 per cent and to provide thermal warmth during colder periods. All lighting in communal and private buildings is provided by low consumption light bulbs. Direct carbon offsetting is being practised by the planting of more than 2,000 trees and plants onsite.

• zero-waste

As is commonplace in Portugal, a recycling programme has been initiated at the site, in a partnership with Obidos, to regularly collect and recycle non-organic waste (paper, cardboard, glass and plastic). Construction waste is recycled.

• sustainable water

All properties have been designed with sophisticated drainage to capture rainwater, which is then used for irrigation purposes on the golf course and in the surrounding ecosystem. Three man-made lakes will restore and distribute water; a weather forecast site station dictates irrigation needs and maintains the lowest possible level required based on a scientifically based and programmed detection method. The grass species and plants used onsite and on the properties’ roofs have been carefully selected for their low irrigation needs. All WCs have low-flush mechanisms installed.

• local and sustainable building materials

Only materials with environmental certification have been used during construction. More than 1,200 olive trees (some over 100 old) would have otherwise been cut down have been re-planted from a different area in south Portugal which was reclassified for non-agricultural use. More than 1,000 pine trees have been planted, replacing eucalyptuses that were initially in that land.

• sustainable transport

Electric buggies are provided at the golf course. There are internal shuttles for people to move across the resort as well as down to the lagoon and to the beach. An agreement with the local, Obidos, town hall to share local buses to take residents and guests to and from the resort to other locations in the vicinity as required.