Renewable Energy - Zero-carbon home taps into efficiency trend

04/03/2008

A zero-carbon house kit, which uses solar heating, has been unveiled at Ecobuild, the green homes show held at Earls Court.

The house, designed by RuralZed, conforms to level six of the Code for Sustainable Homes, which all new housing will be expected to meet from 2016, reports the Green Building Press.

Solar panels on the roof generate enough power to run the house, while a wind turbine can be fitted to provide extra power for, say, labour saving kitchen appliances.

Water heating is provided by more solar panels, but in winter extra heat can be provided by a wood-fired biomass boiler.

For those that don't want to buy a new house become more energy efficient, energylinx provides several tips.

In the kitchen, regular defrosting of fridges, turning off taps immediately and always washing a full load can promote efficiency and save money, while in the bathroom, a shower only uses two-fifths of the water that would be used in a bath.

Over the long-term, the site advises that replacing boilers over 15 years old will save between 20-40 per cent on heating bills, while insulating the hot water tank can save up to £15 each year.