No, passive homes aren’t argument averse or really chilled out. Passive homes are energy efficient, carbon-neutral or even carbon-negative properties.
Our research has uncovered passive homes in every corner of the country and at every price point. There are affordable, social housing schemes all the way up to millionaires’ budget, bespoke builds; starter homes to retirement properties; houses by the coast, in the city centre or overlooking a golf course.
Increasingly, architects, construction companies and property developers will have to be more environmentally conscious when it comes to designing and building properties. Octopus Energy have teamed up with a number of home builders to offer new homes Zero Bills™.
Zero Bills™ homes generate more energy than they consume. They achieve this using a combination of low carbon tech – solar PV and a battery – and electric heating.
£225,000 – Kelham Central, Sheffield S3 8SA
• Zero energy bills for two years
• Access to landscaped decking
• Dual aspect design
• Open plan kitchen, living, dining area
• Perfect for first time buyers, downsizers, couples and those living on their own
• Two storey, one bedroom, mid-terrace home
• 35th coolest neighbourhood to live in in the world
• Central location in Kelham Island
High levels of insulation coupled with an airtight membrane, create low U-Values and reduction of any thermal bridges. Your airtight home will allow you to reduce your energy usage and emissions on a daily basis.
* Mechanical Ventilation Heat Recovery (MVHR) systems are used to reduce heat loss from ventilation, and filter the air coming into your home, allowing for up to 4 times cleaner air.
* Triple-glazed windows aid with the efficiency of your home, whilst proving to reduce external noise levels- allowing you to live in the centre of a bustling city, without the noise.
* Every purchaser becomes a part of the Community Interest Company which gives residents more control over their surroundings & allows for a no ground rent policy. Our other established communities, created by CICs across Yorkshire, now arrange community activities such as summer BBQs, Christmas wreath-making and even a weekly pub quiz team.
* We maximise natural energies from the sun via solar panels and thermal modelling is used to check if buildings meet our low energy targets (15kwh/m2/year).
* Its central location allows you to maximise on eco-friendly living practices, supported by free on-site bike storage and provisions for electric car charging stations, making the switch to zero-carbon transport easy.
From £269,995 to £354,995 – Victoria Gate, Stafford, Staffordshire
Bellway is committed to bringing our customers low-carbon homes built with the future in mind, utilising the latest homebuilding technology to create forward-thinking green communities.
• Electric vehicle charging
• Solar PV
• Google Nest Learning Thermostat
• Air source heat pump
• Energy-efficient homes
• Additional cost-saving technologies – “These include thicker loft insulation, a waste water heat recovery system, thermally broken lintels, PV diverters, and many other advancements. You’ll also benefit from better air quality as we move to an enhanced ventilation system.”
From £320,000 to £640,000 – Church View, Bramford, Suffolk
• Air source heat pump
• Thermally efficient insulation
• Integrated photo voltaic panels
• Battery storage
• Underfloor heating to the ground floor
• Waste water heat recovery system
• Increased cavity insulation to 150mm
• UPVC double glazing
• Electric Vehicle Charging Point
Church View, Bramford offers an exquisite collection of energy-efficient homes powered by Octopus Zero Bills™. This smart tariff from Octopus Energy offers the opportunity of comfortable living with no energy bills.
To make this possible, we’ve added a combination of green tech devices to your new home comprising PV panels, battery storage, a wastewater heat recovery system, blown cavity wall insulation, air source heat pump, underfloor heating, thermally insulated uPVC windows and LED downlights to some rooms. This means that your new home has been built to support sustainable living.
£500,000 – Hardwicke Road Hastings, East Sussex TN34 3PE
• 4 bedroom
• 3 bathroom
• Freehold, detached, open-plan residence
• Ash parquet flooring throughout
• Island kitchen and breakfast bar
• Curved, vaulted ceilings
• Off-road parking for 1 vehicle
This sustainably designed, four-bedroom house occupies an elevated position overlooking the unexpectedly bucolic coastline of Hastings… The house’s environmental impact has been carefully considered and forms the crux of its design. An air source heat pump powers the underfloor heating and hot water while a Mechanical Ventilation Heat Recovery System (MVHR), ensures there is plenty of airflow. Triple glazing maximises solar gain and ensures there is an even temperature inside all year round.
From £550,000 – Birdie, The Green, Falmouth, Cornwall TR11 5BQ
• 2-bedroom, 2-bathroom apartments with garages
• Overlooking the golf course fairways
• Zero energy bills, zero carbon smart home
• Walking distance to beaches
• On the outskirts of the vibrant university town of Falmouth
• EPC Rating = A
• Solar PV with 9.5 kW battery system
• Air source heat pump
• Mechanical ventilation with heat recovery
• PIR occupancy sensors
• Triple glazing throughout
• Produces zero carbon emissions