In 2016, the UK will implement new standards for efficiency in residential homes. Nine years in advance, though, they’ve already got a complete demo home that complies with the future regulations, designed to “lose 60% less heat than the normal home,” according to the BBC. The Lighthouse, as it’s called, was constructed by Kingspan Off-Site, a company that specializes in sustainable integrated building systems and products. It’s on display at OFFSITE2007, a biannual event in Watford that “explores how modern construction and advanced technologies are coming together to deliver higher performing, more sustainable and smarter buildings.” The materials used [for the Lighthouse] include highly insulated, airtight building fabric which has been designed to provide generous daylight levels and includes effective solar control, together with integrated building services based around a platform of renewable and sustainable technologies. These include water efficiency techniques, renewable energy technologies, passive cooling and ventilation, as well as mechanical ventilation with heat recovery (MVHR). OFFSITE2007 is keeping a photo blog documenting the building process and the reactions to the completed zero-energy home during the course of the summer event. Right now, the cost of building such a home is undeniably higher than building a less efficient one… (more)
(Posted by Sarah Rich in Green Building at 11:20 AM)