Industry gears up for eco-homes

Eco-homes are here to stay and will become ever more popular as uncertainty about fuel supplies increase and costs continue to rise, according to a leading architect in the field.

In the UK the government is committed to building 10 eco-towns even though the planning process is bound to be controversial. There is also a UK wide target for all new homes to be carbon neutral by 2016.

'The idea of developing new housing which can respond to the ever growing demand for carbon neutrality really is here to stay, even if there is still scepticism over economic viability and how far it is possible to go,' said Ian Moores of Ark Design & Architecture, CFSH (Code for Sustainable Homes) and SAP assessors with wide-ranging experience in both public and private housing.

'In the past a green home was very often a lifestyle choice of those who advocated a return to nature, however, the growing long term uncertainty about fuel supply and rising costs means the drive towards sustainability is now officially mainstream,' he added.

To attain such targets new construction techniques are needed as traditional brick and block construction cannot achieve the necessary airtightness and insulation.

There is also the amount of carbon used in construction to consider as well as heating, lighting, and water requirements.

Simply using new technologies to generate heat and electricity isn't enough. 'Wind turbines on the roof certainly advertise your green credentials, but if you are loosing all your heat through gaps in the windows and doors any benefit will be lost,' suggested Moores.

Manufacturers are clamoring for a share of this huge emerging market. New techniques include interlocking pre-fabricated timber panels, insitu concrete walls and blocks which are bonded with adhesive mortar. Mechanical ventilation systems which can extract the heat from stale air and use it to warm fresh air from outside, are needed.

'In Europe many homes have been built to this standard and the heat generated by the occupants mean that is some cases no heating is required,' explained Moores.

When designing the house the final orientation is critical in order to maximise the amount of solar heat collected during the heating season. Very often a 'sunspace' is introduced, which is effectively a greenhouse to trap warmth from the sun. Windows which face north should be limited to smaller openings.

Hot water and lighting energy requirements can be effectively reduced by efficient water storage and low energy fittings. Reducing the water used can be achieved by careful selection of fittings; in addition greywater recycling and rainwater harvesting help reduce the amount of water needed.

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