World's First Zero-Emission Home: Made in the UK
The two-bedroom house features solar panels, water efficiency gimmicks such as rainwater collection, and a biomass boiler, which would run on organic fuels. Its advanced insulation ensures that it loses 60% less heat than contemporary homes.
What is the significance of a carbon neutral home? According to BBC, about 25% of carbon emissions come from homes in the UK, which means that homes are a significant source of greenhouse gases. Moreover, in March Chancellor Gordon Brown announced that zero-carbon homes will be free from stamp duty, which gives people (in the UK) a greater incentive to go green.
“The Kingspan Off-Site's Lighthouse design is the first to achieve level six of the Code for Sustainable Homes - which means the house is carbon neutral.”
So what’s the catch? Kingspan admits that the cost of building such a home will be 40% more than the contemporary home. Nonetheless, house designer Alan Shingler was optimistic about the idea and felt that costs would drop as more of the homes were built.