UK Volume Builder Gets Level 6 Green Certification

I was interested to see how the US fared in comparison to other nations in terms of our eco-friendliness in building when I came across this press release. It's from a UK production builder that has achieved the highest rating of the country's green building code with one of it's new homes. I'm not exactly sure how the US and UK levels align or compare (and would welcome more information from someone who does know how they compare), but the other interesting thing I learned was that the new home isn't just a green home. The home is a zero-carbon home and will be the basis for the UK's first zero carbon community! Now that's cool.

The basic features are listed below, but there's much more detail in the release. Also, you can check out the photos and graphics here.

Joe

Joe Cline works in Austin Texas Real Estate. If you are looking to buy, sell, or lease Austin Real Estate, it would be my pleasure to help. I also work selling Lakeway Real Estate.

Below is an excerpt from the press release. You can read the full release at Barratt's web site.

THE BARRATT Green House – the first home by a mainstream housebuilder which is so environmentally friendly that it meets the criteria for zero stamp duty – will be officially opened today (15th May) by the Minister for Housing, the Rt Hon Caroline Flint MP.

The design of the ground breaking three bedroom family home meets the highest level six of the Government’s Code for Sustainable Homes and will emit zero carbon on average over the course of a year.

The Barratt Green House, designed by architects Gaunt Francis, has been built on the BRE (Building Research Establishment) Innovation Park at Watford. It will be the subject of rigorous scientific testing over a two year period to assess every aspect of the design, construction and materials.

Barratt plans to take the most successful aspects of the design and apply them to homes it builds in future.

Inspiration for the award-winning design has been drawn from contemporary and historical housing in the UK and Europe. The materials used in the structure and high-performance insulation will help keep the house warm in winter and cool in summer. Its flexible design can be adapted through its life to suit changing family needs or provide alternative uses such as B&B or student rooms.

Innovative eco-friendly features include:

• Aircrete concrete wall panels and pre-cast concrete floor slabs – heavyweight concrete construction achieves high thermal mass which mitigates peaks and troughs of temperature change within the house.
• An Air Source Heat Pump converts the energy of air from indoors or outdoors into heat supplying the internal needs of the house.
• Clothes drying is achieved at the head of the stairs using warm air rising through the house.
• Hot water is supplied by a solar hot water panel connected to the central storage unit.
• Automatic window shutters help prevent over-heating of the house during the summer.
• Solare PhotoVoltaic panels on the south-facing roof and the adjacent building simulates a district power supply (it is more efficient to power 20 homes than one).
• A rainwater harvesting system provides water to flush toilets.

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