An eco-home near Hexham has been given a major green prize because of its energy efficiency.
Steel Farm, the construction in question, has been described as being 100% more efficient than a conventional house would prove to be in terms of energy use. Builders from Cheshire could be inspired by the design of the building. The designer Mark Siddal, who works for LEAP Architects, has told the Evening Chronicle:
“Steel Farm faced stiff competition and winning the award is testament to the ambitions of Trevor and Judith Gospel, and their heroic decision to build a low energy house in the challenging, yet beautiful, heart of rural Northumberland.”
Partly as a result of the vision of the owners, a UK Passivhaus Award was granted the finished building in the category of small projects. The home was built in accordance with principles established in Germany. The general design rules which informed the project were developed within a Passivhaus institution located there.
The consequence of this is that the completed building will have a low carbon footprint. Heat sources, ventilation and insulation were all given special attention. The completed home will feature a building envelope that is airtight. As a result, internal air circulation will contribute to the positive environmental outcome.
Northumberland has never had a Passivhaus before. The hope of the builder behind the scheme is that Steel Farm will eventually be one of several properties to be certified in this manner. The building has been perceived as innovative and the industry could use similar materials and techniques to achieve excellent results in the future.
