Whether you are an eco-enthusiast, a tree hugger, or simply cannot bear the thought of being carbon neutral, there is nothing wrong with wanting to reduce, or at least minimise, your impact on the environment.
Going green may appear overwhelming at first, but there are many low-cost ways to reduce your carbon footprint without completely overhauling your lifestyle or moving out of your dream home. Here are six of the coolest eco-homes available in the UK, as well as information on what makes them so environmentally friendly.
5 Best Coolest Eco-Homes Available In The UK
Here is the list of coolest eco home in the UK
1: Primrose Hill Passivhaus, Plymouth
Passivhaus buildings are a German concept that means designing a home that requires very little energy to heat or cool.
Because the structure is so well-insulated and has no heat loss, occupants can enjoy air-heat generated by themselves, the sun, or household appliances.
Using a Passive House Planning Package (PHPP), modelling is extremely accurate, resulting in a 75% reduction in the need to heat up space in the home. As a result, the Passivhaus standard results in an 80% reduction in carbon emissions.
Whitleigh has a new shared ownership and affordable rented housing development. Plymouth is the UK’s largest Passivhaus development. The houses are extremely energy efficient and airtight, with triple-glazed windows and doors.
The 72 new homes were completed in June 2019 to the high specifications required by the Passivhaus standard, and the development received Passivhaus certification upon completion.
Plymouth City Council offered the site for free to housing developers, which was taken up by Plymouth Community Homes, who then consulted with Passivhaus experts.
The project, a former school, was fraught with difficulties and took 5 years to complete. The end result, however, was well worth it, with 72 highly efficient, low-carbon properties for local families to thrive in.
The project was deemed so successful that it was nominated for a ‘Inside Housing Development Award.
2: East Village, London
The East Village in London was specifically designed as an Olympic Village for the Summer Games in 2012.
It has since been converted into 2,818 urban residential housing units with a level 4 in the code for sustainable homes, making it an eco success.
With 90% efficient heating systems and 90% construction waste saved from landfill, an onsite biomass power station generates energy for the entire community.
The East Village has saved 5k tonnes of carbon emissions by using LED lighting, and the presence of living roof gardens helps replenish and nurture local wildlife.
East Village London has 6,000 residents and onsite restaurants, shops, and bars, as well as 35 acres of open space and three children’s parks.
3: Schoolmasters Eco-House
We couldn’t compile our top ten eco-houses list without including this stunning home in Scotland. The modular nature of the construction ensures high aesthetic values, but it’s the green credentials that really stand out!
To ensure lower operating costs, the single-story house employs Passivhaus design principles and renewable technologies. A 5.5kw solar PV array and a biomass stove power the house. Any export electricity is diverted by a solar switch to heat the 500 litre water storage tank. In the winter, the pellet stove provides any additional heat that may be required. The super insulated, airtight structure was built with a ‘fabric first’ approach and features south facing triple glazed windows and doors. Mechanical ventilation heat recovery recycles and warms the internal air. Tyvek reflective membranes aid in the retention of heat within the structure.
4: M House
Eco-houses are always looking for the best value from their designs and want to support not only sustainable construction but also longevity. Once built, an eco-house should be as self-sustaining as possible, which is simple to achieve with careful heating, power, and insulation plans in place.
We adore this open-plan home that ticks all the eco-boxes with ease, and thanks to super insulation and a woodburner, the impact of running it will be far less than that of standard homes. The view is making us want to go off the grid as well!
5: Primrose Hill Passivhaus, Plymouth
Passivhaus buildings are a German concept that means designing a home that requires very little energy to heat or cool.
Because the structure is so well-insulated and has no heat loss, occupants can enjoy air-heat generated by themselves, the sun, or household appliances.
Using a Passive House Planning Package (PHPP), modelling is extremely accurate, resulting in a 75% reduction in the need to heat up space in the home. As a result, the Passivhaus standard results in an 80% reduction in carbon emissions.
The largest Passivhaus development in the UK is a new development of shared ownership and affordable rented homes in Whitleigh Plymouth. The homes are extremely energy efficient and air tight, with triple glazed windows and doors, resulting in a small gas boiler and only two radiators in total.
The 72 new homes were completed in June 2019 to the high specifications required by the Passivhaus standard, and the development received Passivhaus certification upon completion.
Plymouth City Council offered the site for free to housing developers, which was taken up by Plymouth Community Homes, who then consulted with Passivhaus experts.
The project, a former school, was fraught with difficulties and took 5 years to complete. The end result, however, was well worth it, with 72 highly efficient, low-carbon properties for local families to thrive in.
The project was deemed so successful that it was nominated for a ‘Inside Housing Development Award.’
