Zero Carbon House

Key to zero carbon building design is insulation. To minimise energy consumed in heating the volume of the building, insulation should he highly specified and as efficient and effective as possible. There are varying categories of super insulated buildings.

Zero Heat Building
Through highly specified insulation and draft proofing the Zero Heat Building, requires no additional heating, except for in extreme conditions. The heat provided by the occupants’ bodies, household appliances, the sun and artificial lighting is sufficient to maintain a comfortable temperature during normal occupancy. Typically such buildings require triple glazed windows and doors, insulation of 500mm of cellulose fibre the roof, 300mm of expanded polystyrene in the floor, and a 250mm filled wall cavity.

Zero CO2 Building
A Zero Heat Building when supplied with power and heating from renewable sources becomes a Zero CO2 Building. A further important criteria is that it must produce zero net CO2 emissions over its lifetime.

The Autonomous Building
Remove a Zero CO2 Building from mains gas, water, electricity and sewage services, provide it with a method of electricity generation, sewage disposal and water collection solutions (all of which are renewable, sustainable and ecologically sound) and you have an autonomous building.