We check out some of the other green options on the market including carbon neutral homes and other nifty green features to make your new home guilt-free.
ruralZED™, a consortium of architects and specialist manufacturers at the cutting edge of the eco house-building industry, have launched the UK’s first affordable, carbon neutral house at the annual EcoBuild exhibition.
The house is the first durable laminated timber frame to incorporate high levels of thermal mass that will help keep residents cooler in summer and warmer in winter, state of the art energy saving building fabric, and enough building integrated renewable energy systems to achieve zero carbon status.
By using a frame and traditional materials, as opposed to plastic foam, the construction is both durable and avoids problems with off-gassing and poor indoor air quality that can be inherent with other modern construction techniques. Hence it also has none of the concerns with combustibility that have been encountered with plastic foam construction.
www.ruralzed.com
Candler Place, Twickenham
Michael Shanly Homes have gone beyond the call of duty with their Candler Place development.
Six of the homes have solar water heating via roof mounted evacuated tubes, which contribute to the properties domestic hot water supply. Other environmental features on the development include low emisity glazing (providing enhanced solar gain), the use of selected timbers from sustainable resources, dual flush 4/6L WC systems, energy efficient kitchen appliances (‘A’ rated where possible), bird boxes to all gardens and communal grounds, lockable cycle storage, communal water butts and solar powered bollard lighting to the external areas.
www.michaelshanly.co.uk
Aspect
Upton, Northhamptonshire
Aspect at Upton is a development of 26 three, four and five bedroom homes feature a wide range of environmentally friendly technologies.
There are roof mounted photovoltaic systems which will generate electricity to assist power to individual homes and will allow unused power to be sold back to the National Grid. Fuel bills will also be reduced by the introduction of green roofs, acting as superior insulation, keeping homes cool in the summer and warm in the winter. High efficiency boilers are assisted by solar thermal panels and advanced combustion fireplaces powered by dry wood have been selected for optimum energy efficiency. Harnessing natural resources also extends to rainwater harvesting for washing cars and watering gardens.
www.dwh.co.uk
Holborough
Snodland
Berkeley Homes (Kent) Ltd is the largest builder of timber frame Super E® homes in the world, with its Holborough development in Snodland leading the way in the energy saving stakes. The Super E® technology being used at Holborough creates a ‘sealed’ environment in homes.
This means warm air inside can’t escape through holes in windows and doors, or through the roof. The ‘sealed’ environment is achieved by using panels that are constructed under strict factory conditions for better quality control. Once in place, the panels provide an airtight setting and superb insulation.
The Super E® system also helps to regulate three other areas where heat is lost in the home, including the stack effect (when heat rises and cold air is sucked in), the flue effect (when warm air escapes up the chimney) and the wind effect (when a home is subjected to strong, cold winds).
In addition, Super E® technology employs a heat recovery ventilator that brings fresh air into the house and controls humidity. The old air leaving the building warms the incoming air, although it is never mixed. Therefore, the need for central heating is vastly reduced.!
www.holborough.co.uk
Campbell Square
Milton Keynes
The Campbell Square development in Milton Keynes boasts a sustainable design includeing renewable energy such as solar panels and environmentally friendly green roofing.
All the homes have superb facilities such as energy efficient white goods, low energy white downlighters and insulation which go beyond current building regulations. Some of the development's apartments can expect the solar panels to provide 40-50% of their hot water helping to reduce gas bills and carbon emissions.
The residences will comply with the EcoHomes excellence rating.
http://www.georgewimpey.co.uk/