Eco house one of the UK’s best
A STAPLEHURST house- builder has been recognised for producing one of the country’s most sustainable homes. Richard Hawkes’ arched eco house, Crossway in Five Ash Lane, was among a shortlist of three for the private property award by Passivhaus, the lead- ing international low energy, design standard. About 37,000 houses, offices, schools and other buildings have been designed, built and tested to this standard across the world. Mr Hawkes’ design has been monitored for its en- vironmental credentials by ex- perts at Cambridge University since it was completed in Feb- ruary 2009. The home, which was a big
hit on Channel 4 programme Grand Designs, ‘costs’ Mr Hawkes minus £400 per year in fuel bills – the surplus goes into the national grid. He has achieved this through:
A floor made of crushed glass bottles that absorbs heat and re- leases it when the temperature drops Walls filled with 10tons of re- cycled newspaper that pro- vides insulation Triple glazed windows for en- ergy efficiency and tomake the most of natural light Rainwater collected from flat roofs used for the washing
Richard Hawkes’ (below) eco house
Firms can ask for ban exemption
Continued from page one In themeantime, it has agreed
to make an immediate amend- ment to allow businesses to apply for an exemption from the zone. KCC’s traffic manager Andy Corcoran said letters would be sent out explaining how busi- nesses could apply for an ex- emption. Applications would be determined individually, provided applicants could prove they had been dispropor- tionately affected by the weight limit, he said. There had been confusion
machine and toilets An experimental phase change thermal store linked to the UK’s first photovoltaic ther- mal system Vacuum-insulated doors pro- vide insulation equal to 1.5ft of polystyrene A 5in thick curved roof cov- ered in clay tiles and topped with 80tons of soil and gravel keeps heat in and allows flow- ers to grow on the roof. A specially developed boiler system that stores seven times as much energy as a modern boiler but is much smaller. A judge at Passivhaus Trust
said: “It is a breathing research project which is continuing to help, test and develop new
over vehicles concerned with agriculture or horticulture and Mr Corcoran said the exemp- tion for vehicles “being used for the purposes of agriculture in connection with land adjacent to that road or length of road or for the conveyance or haulage of timber felled upon that land” would remain in place until a final decision on the order is made by the joint transporta- tion board in January 2014.
techniques and technologies. It’s also a healthy and inspiring family home.” Richard and his wife Sophie recently invested in more land so they can keep pigs, plant more fruit trees and increase their biodiversity even further.
All LOADS Ltd Loose or Bags 01622 873 231
Specialists in supplying aggregates
Top Soil • Sand and Ballast All bags £35.00 +vat Free Delivery
•Turf •Top Soil •Mushroom Compost
www.allloads.co.uk email:
aggregates@allloads.co.uk
To contact Downs Mail just phone 01622 630330 South 3
Trees may be felled JOHN Campbell has applied for conservation area consent to fell one hawthorn, one elm and three larch trees atHarts House, Bottlescrew Hill, Boughton Monchelsea. Maidstone Council will deter- mine the planning application.
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40