VELUX unveils first designed to new zero carbon standard at Ecobuild

3 March 2010

VELUX has today unveiled the design for its ModelHome 2020 properties, which it believes are the first homes designed to what is expected to be the official definition of zero carbon under the new carbon compliance levels.

Through the design and build of two new semi detached properties to be built in Rothwell, Kettering, VELUX aims to provide a pioneering example of sustainable homes that are both appealing to the consumer while remaining affordable and easily replicable for the mass housebuilding market.

The design concept of the three and four bed family homes, launched today at the EcoBuild exhibition, have been designed to deliver a 70% reduction in carbon emissions with the remaining 30% of carbon offset by allowable solutions; for example by funding improvements of existing local housing stock.

The open-plan layout and careful placing of large windows are intended to maximise light and promote Active Living - reconnecting modern life with the rhythms and patterns of nature.

VELUX has submitted its planning application to Kettering Borough Council for the ModelHome 2020 project and is expecting to be given the go ahead on the scheme before the end of the month.

The company is working with a number of key partners including HTA Architects, which has extensive experience in the regeneration and sustainability sector; Willmott Dixon; Kettering Borough Council, and North Northants Development Company (NNDC), to ensure the successful delivery of the project by the end of Q2 2010.

Kevin Brennan, head of Sustainability at VELUX Company Ltd, comments: "ModelHome 2020 was conceived as a pioneering experiment, which aims to prove that it is possible to build extremely energy efficient housing that is appealing to the consumer and can be easily and affordably replicated by the volume house builder - setting it apart from previous prototypes built by other firms.

"We believe that our homes will be the first properties designed to what is expected be the government's new zero carbon standard and are delighted to be in a position to share more detail of the design at EcoBuild, which is a forum for sustainable thinking and discussion within the industry.

"The homes' open-plan layout and floor-to-ceiling windows will maximise light, making them attractive and healthy places to live. They will be built to the principle of Active Living, which means that they will compliment the lifestyles of their occupants, reconnecting modern life with the rhythms and patterns of nature; encouraging families to spend more time at home, working, caring for the allotment, entertaining, or just relaxing. With this design, VELUX believes that it will achieve its ambition to build the first zero carbon homes that people can afford to buy and will want to live in."

The wider VELUX ModelHome 2020 project is Europe-wide and incorporates plans to build eight one-to-one experiments between 2008 and 2010, in the form of eight demonstration houses in several European countries. The houses will all reflect and respond to three main principles – efficient energy design, high liveability factor and minimum climatic impact – as well as the different climatic, cultural and architectural conditions of the countries which they are in.

The houses in Denmark (Copenhagen, Aarhus) and Austria have already been completed, with the UK, Germany and France on track to follow in 2010. Each house will also have a number of local and regional partners, suppliers, architects, engineers and researchers.

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