Eco-friendly home is ahead of its time

A modular, future proof eco-friendly home that uses the latest technology and construction techniques was launched this week – Wednesday 29 April – by Viridis Homes.

By blending the latest modular construction techniques with a unique use of technology, Viridis Homes has engineered a building that is up to 84% carbon neutral. Aimed predominantly at the affordable housing market, this groundbreaking building will slash energy costs and help to save the environment.

Occupants of a Viridis home can save almost 50% on their heating and hot water bills and can expect to enjoy a further 20% reduction in how much they spend on electricity. This adds up to an impressive minimum saving of approximately £600 per year.

What’s more a Viridis home is considerably quicker and cheaper to build than a traditionally constructed building. The flagship building can be erected for as little as £81,703 per home and in only 48 hours – a huge advantage for social housing providers.
Climate change, rising energy costs and a shortage of affordable housing were the inspiration behind the project to reduce the amount of energy we use to build and run our homes.

Alex Jubb, Managing Director of Viridis Homes, comments:

“This is a leap forward in sustainable design and engineering. Our modular homes will allow Social Housing Providers to meet current and future government targets to provide affordable and sustainable housing. As the UK’s first modular home of this standard we hope to show the way forward to a cheaper and greener future.”

It incorporates a host of environmentally friendly features, including water butts, a composter and integrated recycling storage area, triple-glazing, a bio-mass boiler system, solar roof panelling and water saving devices such as reduced volume cisterns and spray taps.

Its superior insulation and heating helps it to meet or exceed Level 5 of the Code for Sustainable Homes (CSH). This code stipulates the minimum standard that all buildings to be used for affordable housing must meet. CSH currently states that all homes must meet Level 5 by 2013, which means a Viridis Home is future proof.

Constructed with a timber frame – a method that has been used for centuries – a Viridis home offers excellent insulation properties for both heat and sound, ensuring greater warmth and privacy. And the NHBC (National House Building Council) reports fewer problems with timber framed buildings.

What’s more, Viridis Homes has an excellent pedigree behind it. In 2007, its sister company Joal Leisure provided over 450 homes used to re-house victims of the widespread flooding in the North and West and England.

HRH Prince Charles and then Prime Minister Tony Blair visited its pre-eminent temporary accommodation development, showing their support for the victims and organisations providing aid in the affected areas.

A host of key figures including, Politicians David Eccles and Phil Gray from the Welsh Assembly Government’s Climate Change and Water Division, Keith Robertson from the Welsh Assembly Government’s Department for Economy and Transport, Francois Samuel from the Welsh Assembly Department for Environment Sustainability and Housing, and councilors Dilwyn Roberts and Merfyn Thomas attended the launch in Porthmadog, Gwynedd.

For more information, visit viridis-homes.co.uk.