…and so it would appear at EcoBuild. Quite the most popular exhibit by far, every day this complete house in the middle of Earls Court attracted long queues of visitors anxious to take a guided tour.

ruralZED is a true zero carbon housing system, providing an affordable solution to the code for sustainable homes. ruralZED uses traditional proven natural materials and construction techniques it is designed for a minimum lifetime of five generations and uses technologies and building physics solutions which have been proven on existing ZEDfactory buildings over the past ten years. It claims to be a solution for the 70% of UK sites which are built at 50 homes per Ha or less.

The house aims to be future proof and this is ruralZed’s clear upgrade path from Code 3 to Code 7.

CODE LEVEL 3
STANDARD BASE SPECIFICATION: Super insulation; Thermal mass; Airtight construction; AAA rated appliances; Low energy lighting; Low water fittings; Green flat roof

CODE LEVEL 4
ADD: Passive heat recovery ventilation; Solar hot water; Wood pellet heating

CODE LEVEL 5
ADD: Pitched roof; 7no 180w PV panels; Rainwater harvesting; Green roof on north slope

CODE LEVEL 6
ADD: Pitched roof; 7no 180w PV panels; Rainwater harvesting

CODE LEVEL 7
ADD: Wind turbine

Code 4 costs £900 sqm in kit or £1150 erected; Code 6 is £1250 sqm in kit form and £1500 erected.

In the next issue, we will be taking a detailed look and understanding of what is involved here in this clever design and extremely practical, very popular concept. In the meantime, visit www.ruralZed.com.

 Forum Questions:

Will the zero carbon house mean an exemption from stamp duty or other taxes?

How are we going to sort out the nation's large quantity of underperforming housing stock?

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