Work on an innovative Cumbrian housing development pioneering net zero carbon emitting smart homes is nearing completion.
Genesis Homes is leading the way in the UK sustainable housing sector with its EcoGen pilot project, through which they are constructing 16 homes fully powered by renewable energy sources and managed by smart technology.
A specially selected group of guests were given an exclusive tour of the homes as the first EcoGen homeowners prepare to move in at the end of October to the Cumbrian village of Calthwaite as part of the Pennine View development.
During the tour of the EcoGen homes, guests witnessed how the smart technology within the property works and how it will help remove the use of carbon emissions around the household.
Nicky Gordon, the Managing Director of Genesis Homes, said: “Thousands of hours of research, development, meetings and execution have gone into making the EcoGen project a reality. This is not tokenism – this is Genesis Homes going all out to create one of the UK’s most advanced and sustainable net zero living housing developments.
“We won’t stop here; this is a springboard for future development in this area for Genesis Homes and it was a pleasure to invite our specially selected guests ahead of the first families moving in. The first official completion on our EcoGen site comes at a time when energy costs and the climate crisis are front and centre of everyone’s minds.
“Receiving first-hand feedback about the homes and seeing people’s positive reactions has demonstrated to the entire team that this project will have a wide ranging impact on sustainable housing in the UK.”
Each property includes solar photovoltaic panels on the roof that will obtain energy from daylight to power the home, a solar assisted heat pump, powered by a thermodynamic panel, which provides hot water storage for the dwelling and a small powerful battery unit that will be charged predominantly from the electricity grid, using 100 per cent green tariff energy, during off-peak, low-cost hours.
They also include infrared heating panels which convert electricity into radiant heating which will be installed in each room, electric vehicle charging points, and a smart home system managed through an integrated app which allows the management of all parts of the house technology.
Company Emico brought together the partners providing the different smart technology components to the home, and said it was thrilled to be part of such a nationally significant project.
John Currie, the company’s business director for the energy sector, said: “Working with Genesis Homes, this project presented an opportunity to use our expertise in electrical energy fields to reshape the way developers build their houses in a sustainable way and give homeowners a more sustainable way of living without compromising the way they live.
“It has been really refreshing to work with somebody as committed as Genesis Homes to providing energy efficient homes on a larger scale rather than just one or two trial homes as has been more common with housebuilders. It has been a really exciting project to work on and the positive reactions from people seeing how this home will work for the first time hasn’t surprised me in the slightest.”
Four of the 16 homes have also been designated as affordable housing to help members of the local community get on the property ladder.
Eden District Council provided funding to ensure these homes would have the same sustainability levels as the other properties on the development.
The council’s housing and health portfolio holder councillor Judith Derbyshire, the ward representative for Dacre, said: “The Eden Valley has one of the highest rates of fuel poverty due to it being rural, having older properties and an aging population, so anything that can be done to tackle this is a good thing.
“This project is particularly pleasing as it is making sure that newer properties are up to a good standard, energy bills aren’t as much as before and it’s helping to save the planet.”
Interest in the EcoGen homes has been high since news of the project was revealed in March, with only a few homes available for purchase.
