For Ty Koad, éco-construction ("eco-building") means :

Simplicity :

A simply shaped house, which makes you think of the Breton long houses, little subject to the wind, directed to the south; an indoor (nearly) open space which makes stove heating easier. The housing environment becomes part of the hamlet: the wooden weatherboarding which turns to grey, looks like stones of pentys and surrounding barns.

Energy efficiency :

Maximization of glazed surfaces to the South, optimized insulation (a dynamic thermal study with simulation on computer was achieved to size the thickness of insulating material at best), EVR (Energy Recovery Ventilation) with high yield, choice of butagaz for cooking, the pellets stove for heating. Solar hot water.

Sobriety :

The Gite is comfortable but not luxurious. A big shower cubicle but no bath, no spa no swimming pool! Recycling of rainwater for the toilets, the washing machine and the outer taps.
No tumble-dryer (very greedy in energy) : we rely on the traditional dryer -the Breton wind- under the open shed.

Proximity :

The architect and all the craftsmen and companies involved in the realization are based nearby (center of Finistère) . All the furniture in the kitchen, the bathroom, was made of massive wood, by a craftsman. The douglas pine tree for the framework and the boarding comes from Morvan; the beech tree for the staircase comes from Moselle. Beds and mattresses were made in Quimper (Valentin bedding) .

"Naturality" :

Natural and non-aggressive materials were selected : boarding douglas left raw, fermacell rather than placo-plaster,loose-fill cellulose rather than wool of rock, natural biosourcée paint (less than1g / l of COV while the EU standard is 140g / l) .

Accessibility :

See the home page PRM (people with reduced mobility) .