News & Exhibitions

Irish-company Kingspan Century win British Government contract for world’s most sustainable community

14 December 2007

Irish-company Kingspan Century has been awarded a €4-million contract by the British Government in a project to create 200 zero-carbon homes in the world’s most sustainable community.

The site for the community, located near Hanham Hall in Bristol, is the first to be identified under the British Government’s Carbon Challenge, which is being run to tackle climate change. The finished development will include a mix of affordable and private homes.

The Carbon Challenge will deliver the first development of zero carbon homes and communities, in advance of such standards becoming a mandatory requirement for all new homes in 2016. It will also help the building sector demonstrate that the targets are feasible and can be commercially viable.

The contract win follows Kingspan Century’s success earlier this year when the company created the world’s most advanced and sustainable home ‘Lighthouse’. It costs just €50 per year to heat.

The project will be a partnership between Kingspan and developer Barratt Developments Bristol, who will be using Kingspan™s TEK Building System. The high performance TEK Building System is based on Structural Insulated Panels (SIPS), which deliver very high levels of thermal insulation and airtightness, to ensure that the very high energy and sustainability standards are achieved.

Speaking at the announcement, Kingspan Century Managing Director Gilbert McCarthy said: “This deal is recognition of the efforts Kingspan Century has made in developing sustainable zero-carbon technology for homes. Our innovative building system proves that new developments don’t need to be dependent on traditional energy sources, or have a negative impact on the environment.”

The homes in the development will have an airtight building fabric and have been designed to provide generous daylight levels. They will include solar panels, which generate hot water.

The homes will also include:

- A district heating system with combined heat and power.
- Mechanical ventilation with heat recovery.
- Low water usage.
- Greywater recycling for WC flushing.
- Rainwater harvesting for washing machine and irrigation.

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