Velux applies for planning for zero carbon homes

5/3/2010

Aim is to build two ModelHome 2020 homes.

Velux has applied for planning permission to develop a pair of zero carbon homes in the UK under its ModelHome 2020 research project. The homes will be built in Rothwell, Kettering, if the company gets the go-ahead from the planners as hoped later this month. Partnering Velux in the project are HTA Architects, Willmott Dixon, Kettering Borough Council and North Northants Development Company.

The three and four bed homes, launched at Ecobuild earlier this week, have been designed to deliver a 70 per cent reduction in carbon emissions with the remaining 30 per cent of carbon offset by allowable solutions, eg, by funding improvements to existing local housing stock.

Kevin Brennan, head of sustainability at Velux Company, said: "We believe that our homes will be the first properties designed to what is expected to be the government's new zero carbon standard." The Velux ModelHome 2020 project is Europe-wide and incorporates plans to build eight demonstration homes in several countries. The homes will all reflect and respond to three main principles - energy efficient design, high liveability and minimum climate impact - as well as the different climatic, cultural and architectural conditions of the countries where they are developed. Homes have been completed in Denmark and Austria, and homes are being built in the UK, Germany and France this year.

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Comments

I’d appreciate some clarification on the ’zero carbon’ aspect of these proposed homes, as the 70 per cent on-site plus 30 per cent allowable solutions mentioned in the article only achieves 100% carbon reductions (equivalent to Code for Sustainable Homes level 5). As I understand it, true zero carbon is actually ~150% reduction as it takes the unregulated emissions into account as well - thus requiring an ~80% reduction from allowable solutions. Can anyone comment on this?

posted by Cecilia Liszka , 16/3/2010

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