22 NEW DEVELOPMENTS
First home finished at pioneering Northamptonshire ‘commuter village’
The superstructures of the three-storey townhouses in Corby, Northamptonshire, were completed in 34 days, and the first house – the scheme’s showroom – has been decorated and furnished. The homes are part of a 47-home eco project in Priors Hall Park consisting of 31 houses and 16 apartments. They are all equipped to produce their own energy, coupled with an earth energy bank/GeoStore system, which stores heat energy while batteries store electricity. This means residents enjoy little or no energy bills.
T Project Etopia homes are designed to deliver performance similar to
the Passivhaus energy efficiency standard, to complement their eco-friendly technology. The developer uses a panelised build system, which means wall panels are produced in a factory and delivered to site for assembly. This reduces construction time, lowering the cost to homebuyers. The panels have a thermal efficiency U-value of 0.13, which is superior to the 0.16 U-value for a typical well-insulated wall in a new build brick property. Most importantly, the panels’ air tightness is markedly more effective at maintaining heat within the home than traditional build solutions.
Also key to the Etopia Corby project is the energy storage system married to each dwelling. The scheme embraces the CHESS SETUP (Combined Heat Supply System by using Solar Energy and Heat Pumps). This is a programme (under the ‘Horizon 2020’ banner) which aims to implement a reliable and efficient heating system that can supply build- ings via renewable energy sources.
The Corby project is thought to be the only UK location working with the CHESS SETUP. The technology reduces emissions by using hybrid solar panels to generate heat that can then be stored and used by the ground source heat pump for hot water and heating. The energy earth bank/GeoStore system stores heat energy while batteries store electricity. The system has been optimised to meet the specific demands of the Corby site, and the installation monitors key data such as available heat energy, weather forecasts and electricity prices to optimise the energy flows within the systems. It is also connected to an independent electric grid owned by utility network provider GTC, and the energy produced on site can be diverted to the grid if necessary, ensuring nothing goes to waste.
Homeowners have access to a smart control tool which can be optimised to take into account electricity prices and the users’ requirements.
KEY TO THE ETOPIA CORBY PROJECT IS THE ENERGY STORAGE SYSTEM ‘MARRIED’ TO EACH DWELLING
WWW.HBDONLINE.CO.UK
he first home in what has been described as London’s only modular commuter village, Utopia Corby, has been completed inside out, according to Project Etopia.
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