03/10/2013 01:19 PM
Commitment to renewable energy in the UK has been reinforced once again as the nation's first fully solar-powered house has gone up for sale.
The Leicestershire property, aptly named The Solar House, is made from a timber frame and is valued at £1.2 million. It features five bedrooms, which incorporate solar electric energy, triple glazing and rainwater storage. Buyers which have an electric car will be able to charge their vehicle from the points outside. The best thing about it is there are no electricity bills.
Developers Caplin Homes stated that the home, set in two acres in Great Glen, is the first new property which will be heated by the sun's energy all year round. The hybrid solar panels will collect both electrical and thermal energy and will be able to provide power for central heating, hot water and electricity for the entire year.
There has been much interest surrounding the energy efficient property and, while it is connected to the main electricity network, Caplin stated that it believes there is enough energy to power the home and any electrical items. It marks the end of a project carried out by a consortium of sustainability specialists including Caplin Homes and partnered by Newform Energy, De Montfort University and John Cotterill Sustainable Architecture.
Michael Goddard, director of Caplin Homes, said: "The design and construction, down to the materials, were used specifically for their low footprint. We want to prove government targets are achievable and genuine zero-carbon homes are a viable investment for UK house builders."
It is a major step forward for the country to achieve the renewable energy targets laid out by the government. Ministers laid out policies in 2009 which aim for 15 per cent of the UK's energy demand to come from renewable sources by 2020. This includes investing in projects such as wind farms and more hybrid or electric vehicles and should the solar house be a success it could lead to more in the future.
View more on solar farm fencing
The Leicestershire property, aptly named The Solar House, is made from a timber frame and is valued at £1.2 million. It features five bedrooms, which incorporate solar electric energy, triple glazing and rainwater storage. Buyers which have an electric car will be able to charge their vehicle from the points outside. The best thing about it is there are no electricity bills.
Developers Caplin Homes stated that the home, set in two acres in Great Glen, is the first new property which will be heated by the sun's energy all year round. The hybrid solar panels will collect both electrical and thermal energy and will be able to provide power for central heating, hot water and electricity for the entire year.
There has been much interest surrounding the energy efficient property and, while it is connected to the main electricity network, Caplin stated that it believes there is enough energy to power the home and any electrical items. It marks the end of a project carried out by a consortium of sustainability specialists including Caplin Homes and partnered by Newform Energy, De Montfort University and John Cotterill Sustainable Architecture.
Michael Goddard, director of Caplin Homes, said: "The design and construction, down to the materials, were used specifically for their low footprint. We want to prove government targets are achievable and genuine zero-carbon homes are a viable investment for UK house builders."
It is a major step forward for the country to achieve the renewable energy targets laid out by the government. Ministers laid out policies in 2009 which aim for 15 per cent of the UK's energy demand to come from renewable sources by 2020. This includes investing in projects such as wind farms and more hybrid or electric vehicles and should the solar house be a success it could lead to more in the future.
View more on solar farm fencing
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