Project 45
THE HOCKERTON HOUSING PROJECT (HHP) IS THE UK'S FIRST EARTH SHELTERED, SELF-SUFFICIENT ECOLOGICAL HOUSING DEVELOPMENT. THE RESIDENTS GENERATE THEIR OWN CLEAN ENERGY, HARVEST THEIR OWN WATER AND RECYCLE WASTE MATERIALS CAUSING MINIMAL POLLUTION OR CARBON DIOXIDE
EMISSIONS. THE HOUSES ARE AMONGST THE MOST ENERGY EFFICIENT IN EUROPE.
ZERO CARBON HOUSES Nick Martin, Hockerton Housing Project
By 2016 all new homes built in the UK will be expected to reach a zero carbon standard. According to the house building industry, reaching this standard will be extremely expensive, unrealistic, unfeasible or just plain impossible.
These views are supported by studies that give a detailed breakdown of the additional costs involved at different levels within the CSH culminating in the zero carbon house.
This view is at odds with our experience. The question being asked is ‘How much extra will it cost to bring standard houses up to the required levels?’ Ask a different question ‘How do you build to this standard with no additional cost?’ you, perhaps surprisingly, find that it can be done.
The definition of a zero carbon home- ‘Where net carbon dioxide emissions resulting from ALL energy used in the dwelling are zero or better. This includes the energy consumed in the operation of the space heating/cooling and hot water systems, ventilation, all internal lighting cooking and all electrical appliances. The calculation can take account of contributions from on site renewable/low carbon installations’- can be found in the background documents to the CSH.
CSH level 6 and the Hockerton experience
Using a ‘Green’ tariff is not permitted probably because many of these tariffs are green in name only. This leaves new on site renewable sources.
How much will it cost? We have to make the assumption that the average new house is not going to be on the optimum site for renewable energy generation. Very few sites include streams or rivers for micro hydro, or decent average wind speeds with no obstructions causing turbulence for wind turbines, or even unobstructed access to sunlight on the southerly façade. The most likely usable resource is sunlight as this is the only resource that can be optimised through the design of the house rather than selection of the site.
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