University of Salford (with Mills & Reeve advising) and Barratt Homes have joined in collaboration to create Z House – a unique zero carbon home built in the centre of the University campus.
Packed full of new sustainable technology this is the first home in the country to be built which goes substantially beyond the Future Homes Standard.
Throughout the next year the property will be lived in by academics. The new technology can then be monitored, included in University research and ultimately, if found to be successful will be incorporated into new build homes in the near future.
Construction of the home included advanced “Modern Methods of Construction”, significantly reducing build time. This included offsite panelised masonry ground floor wall panels and closed panel timber frames.
New technologies being tested include an air source heat pump, infra-red heating panels, a fridge which keeps food fresh for longer, pollutant eliminating plaster and showers which can be programmed to each individual, saving water and energy. The garage at the property does not store the electric car (although it is charging outside) but instead is an information centre packed full of the data generated by the house in action.
In addition to the tech innovations the home benefits from a garden designed for nature with bird boxes and a hedgehog highway as well as butterfly and bee friendly planting. The garden is gold rated by the RSPB.
Mills & Reeve advised the University in respect of the collaboration with Barratt and provisions for the building to be occupied as a home as well as a research facility.
The Z House complements the University’s existing expertise in sustainability and energy performance having already won awards for its Energy House Laboratories.
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