Matthew and Kit were delighted yesterday to receive the news that the Zero Carbon Home design by John Christophers at Associated Architects has got its 6 Stars certificate. Matthew help John with the design and specification of the renewable energy systems and Kit provided the Code Assessment. Since completion it has taken 3 months of careful inspection and verification of Kit's assessment by BRE to give the go ahead for the certificate which is now registered on line in the Governments database. More on the house from John's website.
A unique zero carbon house has been built in inner city Birmingham, to meet the stringent requirements of Level 6 of the UK Code for Sustainable Homes. It's an eco-house that will produce at least as much energy as it consumes, and it's been built around an existing house!

Designed by John Christophers of Associated Architects as a family home, the ground-breaking carbon-neutral building is now being lived in. It's an extension of a redbrick Victorian house, converting a 2-bedroom semi-detached into a 4-bedroom dwelling with a studio loft. It extends upwards and outwards: upwards to catch the sun otherwise obscured by a taller neighbouring house, sideways for more space. The original 1840 brick house is preserved, as are the mature ash trees in the garden. Integration with the surroundings is important, and the design takes account of the neighbouring architecture.

More information/links
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7JHzaqqjs0g

http://zerocarbonhousebirmingham.org.uk