Affordable home that pays its own bills

By Mark Melville
CompropScotland 9 January 2012

SPRINGFIELD Properties, in partnership with David Blaikie Architect and Kraft Architects, believe they could build a home for the future that could pay for its own energy consumption.

The three firms, who form part of the Future Affordable collaboration, were specially selected to take part in the Fife Housing Innovation Showcase 2012. The project hopes to influence the future of affordable housing in Scotland.

Appointed as construction partners, Springfield Properties will be responsible for three terraced houses which will demonstrate the requirements for meeting the Government’s 2010, 2013, and 2016
Scottish Building Standards. The 2016 building will feature technologies that the collaboration anticipate will make it a zero-carbon home that fulfils the Government’s carbon emission standards and maximises energy savings.

The project, which involves nine house building systems, will see 27 new homes built for Kingdom Housing Association and Fife Council using a range of modern construction techniques and renewable technologies.

The build will involve off-site construction of a specialised system called e.Core, which incorporates all of the service systems for the house. Developed by David Blaikie Architect, using ‘massive timber’ panels formed from Scottish timber, it will store heat within the heart of the house to even out the house’s daily heating and cooling cycles.

Innovative

The house of the future will also feature an innovative twin frame, closed panel timber frame system called K2. Designed by Kraft Architecture, and also featuring locally sourced timber, this system will significantly reduce energy loss through cold bridging and will lead to reduced carbon emissions.

Tom Leggeat, Springfield’s partnership director said:

“This is an exciting project and we are confident that we can work together to positively influence the future of affordable homes and reduce each home’s energy bill.

“It is great to be working in partnership with two innovative companies that share our vision of building houses for the future, and we are honoured to be the selected construction partners building one of the first zero carbon homes in Scotland.

“This is a community project, using locally sourced materials and manpower. Working closely with Adam Smith College, we intend to use talented young electrical, joinery and plumbing apprentices to
fit out the e.Core units. We are also creating jobs in Fife by using local unskilled labour to help fabricate the sub components.”

Currently, new homes are 73% more energy efficient than older properties, saving between £500 and £700 a year in energy costs in an average family home. “Springfield Properties is committed to
exceeding the Government’s targets and to building the most energy efficient homes,” said Leggeat.