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New test houses are being built at the BRE innovations park. Three hit the highest eco-standards, but there isn’t a contemporary curve in sight
Some frantic building is going on near Watford. Three cutting-edge demonstration houses are underway at the at the Building Research Establishment innovations park - all must be up by 1 June. That is when the natural house, the renewable house and the CREO apartments will be thrown open to attendees of the Insite 09 conference.
Back in 2007, the BRE park was home to the first house to hit level 6 of the code for sustainable homes: the Kingspan Lighthouse. Unlike the curves and timber of the Lighthouse, these homes do not shout ‘eco-home’. The emphasis is on traditional build and affordability - good news for those looking for green answers in the recession.
The renewable house
An eco-house should be measured on more than just emissions. The renewable house showcases natural building technology, using materials such as hemp, lime and wool. The backers, including the government, are keen to marry affordability and sustainability.
What: A three-bedroom detached house, which can be used as part of a terrace. It is timber-framed with Hemcrete sprayed on the outside to give high levels of insulation. Hemcrete is made from hemp, which can be grown in this country and is recyclable.
Who: The Department of Energy and Climate Change, the National Non-Food Crops Centre, developer Empire Homes, Linford Group and Lime Technology.
Code for sustainable homes: Level 4, with optional extras that could be added to take it up to levels 5 and 6.
The natural house
The Prince’s Foundation for the Built Environment, Prince Charles’ advisory body for architecture, is behind this house. It wants to build eco-friendly houses that will be popular with the public and healthy to live in. There are no outlandish shapes here - the house looks traditional and is built with natural materials.
‘It is vital that we find a simple, high volume, low carbon approach to house building, creating a new eco-vernacular that people will love and enjoy for hundreds, not tens, of years,’ says Hank Dittmar, chief executive of the foundation. ‘We tend to assume that low carbon must mean high-tech, but that’s not the only option.’
What: Houses must last for centuries to be sustainable - so this one can be transformed from a family home to a maisonette or smaller flat, depending on need.
The walls are made of aerated clay blocks rendered in lime and hemp, with internal wood fibre board to provide high levels of insulation. Materials are being sourced to make sure they can be recycled when the house finally comes of the end of its life. The house should be quick and simple to build and repair, minimising the need for specialist training.
Who: The Prince’s Foundation. It is working with developer Swan Country Homes; Roger Bullivant plc which is doing the pilings and foundations; and Natural Building Technologies, which is supplying the clay blocks.
Code for sustainable homes: Level 3/4 (Passivhaus Standard)
The CREO apartments
Unusually for a test eco-house, this is a four-storey building with flats, a two-storey apartment and a retail unit - M&S in this case - underneath. Unlike the other two houses, developer CREO has opted for a modern look.
What: The walls are made from hollow polystyrene blocks, which lock together to form the frame for the house. Concrete is poured into them - when it sets, the result is a strong structure with low U-values, making it highly energy efficient.
Who: European manufacturer and developer CREO Prokoncept. It is working with Prokoncept Zrt (Hungary), Neopor/BASF, Aggregate Industries, Daikin, Marks and Spencer, British Gypsum, Polypipe, Pick Everade, Greenled Lighting, Akvaterm (Finland) and MJP Architects.
Code for sustainable homes: Level 6
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