Christmas Presents
New Government plans to build ten ‘eco-towns’ across the UK reveal 100,000 new homes will be heated by central, bio-mass generators - marking the beginning of the end for the traditional chimney stack. Ideal Home Show experts worry Santa could be left out in the cold by new ‘environmentally friendly’ funnels measuring only 150mm across.
Maxine Soghmanian, Ideal Home Show, said: “Chimneys like the bio-mass heater in our ‘Ultimate Eco House’ at the Ideal Home Show in March will be far too small for Santa! Government plans to build super-energy-efficient homes with community heating means the traditional chimney is on the way out and Santa will have no way in!â€
However, it’s not all bad news for Santa and his reindeer. The topsy-turvy ‘Ultimate Eco House’ offers a glimpse of how houses will look in the future and demonstrates how the lawn can be switched to the roof to make good use of space and act as extra insulation. Experts believe landing the sleigh on this roof will be much easier than on the traditional sloped variety; and the reindeer will have something to eat while they wait!
The show’s ‘Ultimate Eco House’ is designed to be a pragmatic solution to the problems of the housing in the face of issues like climate change, diminishing fossil fuels, adapting lifestyles and changes to building regulations.
The house is designed by eco-architect John Prewer, known as the grandfather of modular design. Prewer has been an advocate of sustainable building for 20 years and revolutionised the concept of prefabricated housing. The Ultimate Eco house demonstrates the very latest thinking in sustainable construction, promotes low-carbon living and is built with minimal impact on its surroundings.
John Prewer said: “I have created this house with the modern sustainable principles of doing more with less. This type of architecture is not just about saving energy but is also about saving materials too. Living a sustainable lifestyle also means higher self-reliance which is why these houses have a high level of ‘self-buildability’ and many aspects are multifunctional.â€
Features of the Ideal Home Show’s Eco House include:
An easy-to-build design, requiring low skill levels, which can be ready to move into in just three weeks.
No site excavation is required and can be moved easily with no residual affect on the site.
Thirty two steel pins drilled into the ground raising the house making it adaptable to flood land. The steel pins also draw heat in in the winter and channel heat away in the summer. Large reservoirs underneath the house collect up to 50,000 litres of rainwater.
Insulation combining natural materials like wool and hemp with recycled products.
Vacuum insulation panels for windows which are as effective as triple glazing.
Vertical axis “Helix†wind turbines generate power.
Photo-voltaic roof panels also provide energy for heating and hot water.
Excess electrical energy from solar and wind power devices is stored as high pressure air in home’s tubular steel structural columns.
Motion-sensitive taps and water efficient showers.
The garden on the roof can be used as to grow vegetables increasing the potential for self-sufficiency.
It is fully compliant with the code for sustainable homes and renewable energy generation.
The design can be adapted for one or two people making it affordable for first time buyers or families.
See the ‘Ultimate Eco House’ of the future at the Ideal Home Show, 14 March – 6 April 2008, Earls Court. For more information visit www.idealhomeshow.co.uk, for tickets call the ticket hotline on 0844 415 4144.