- News
- Magazine
- Awards
- CRC
- Legislation
- Housing
- Renewables
- Non-domestic
- Water
- Energy
- Waste & recyc..
- Refurbishment
- Innovation
- Materials
- Biodiversity
- Interiors
- Books
- Training
- Transport
- Links
- Events
A newbuild home at Church Hall Gardens
http://www.greenbuildnews.co.uk/images/img/articles/297_198/Articles_496_1_1328013339.jpg
A typical kitchen
http://www.greenbuildnews.co.uk/images/img/articles/297_198/Articles_496_2_1328013671.jpg
Ensuite bathroom
http://www.greenbuildnews.co.uk/images/img/articles/297_198/Articles_496_3_1328013671.jpg
The walls, extra thick insulation and windows are fitted to exceptional standards, preventing heat loss, the kitchens are fully fitted with minimum A-rated appliances, even down to the eco-taps with their water-saving mechanism. There is underfloor heating downstairs, which is more efficient than traditional radiators. There’s even the promised bike shed and rotary washing line in the gardens to promote the green concept.
The three main big-ticket items (or the ‘eco-bling’, as I call it) for our project are the photovoltaic panels, the air source heat pump and the rainwater harvesting system. It’s important to point out that these things alone do not an eco-home make - it’s all the other tiny details that make the build what it is. It doesn’t help there are a few misconceptions about the way these things work: for instance, PV panels require daylight to work, not sunlight. The air source heat pump works like a fridge in reverse and works even at outside temperatures of -20C and the rainwater harvesting system has some filtrations and is used as flushing water, thus saving on water bills.
There were a few hitches in putting all these elements together on site and it was clear to see, as we came up to the point of fitting with missing or wrong parts and so on, that the industry is still taking baby steps in this area. It’s not surprising given the enormity of the accompanying kit for each item of green equipment. Obviously as the technology becomes more widely used, it will all become a lot slicker in the process, but right now it pays to have an eagle eye and a fair piece of knowledge on what you’re doing when it comes to the fitting.
As mentioned in the previous diary entry, it’s not only the build technology that’s been new and exciting.
We’re marketing in a completely different way and – as well as taking cyberspace by storm – we’ve been putting out interviews on local radio, something we wouldn’t have thought of doing before. Normally newbuild housing wouldn’t attract much interest, but add the prefix ‘eco’ and suddenly they’re ready to talk. It hasn’t even been that difficult to attract interest from the media – and even the nationals have been sniffing around, so we’re clearly doing something of note. We’d even go so far as to say, with the latest marketing blitz, we had above-average interest pre-Christmas, which isn’t the kindest time of year to those in the building trade.
One of our marketing mainstays is that, although these eco-homes have been more expensive to build, we have been careful to price them at no more than a standard equivalent newbuild. We’ve have been rigorous in keeping the cost as low as possible while maintaining the absolute highest of standards. However, it’s fair to say that the main difficulty in this whole project was the bringing together of the materials, the technology, the build quality and the people all together under one roof. I’m glad to say we feel we’ve succeeded – and hopefully given the green light to anyone else contemplating the same.
For more details visit ukecohomes.co.uk or email info@ukecohomes.co.uk
This article appeared in the January/February 2012 issue of Greenbuild. For a free subscription, click here.
Search related articles
