Oxford Ecohouse is a
house
A house is a single-unit residential building. It may range in complexity from a rudimentary hut to a complex structure of wood, masonry, concrete or other material, outfitted with plumbing, electrical, and heating, ventilation, and air condi ...
in
Oxford designed to maximise energy efficiency. It is equipped with the first
photovoltaic cell roof installed in Britain (in 1995). Situated in a suburban street in
North Oxford, it was designed by
Susan Roaf, a professor at
Heriot-Watt University
Heriot-Watt University ( gd, Oilthigh Heriot-Watt) is a public research university based in Edinburgh, Scotland. It was established in 1821 as the School of Arts of Edinburgh, the world's first mechanics' institute, and subsequently granted univ ...
.
A six-bedroom family home, it produces only 130 kg /annum per metre square, in contrast to comparable UK houses that produce 5000 kg /annum m². It has 4 kW peak of photovoltaic output, 5m² of solar hot water panels and additional heating from a
passive solar sun space. It was designed using low energy construction techniques, high thermal mass and a wood-burning
stove to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by over 95%. The house has featured in a number of architecture books and is used as a research source in
sustainable design
Environmentally sustainable design (also called environmentally conscious design, eco-design, etc.) is the philosophy of designing physical objects, the built environment, and services to comply with the principles of ecological sustainability ...
.
See also
*
Energy efficiency in British housing
References
Further reading
* Sue Roaf, Manuel Fuentes, Stephanie Thomas - ''Ecohouse 2'' (Architectural Press, 2003)
External links
Oxford Solar Initiative
Buildings and structures in Oxford
Low-energy building in the United Kingdom
Energy conservation in the United Kingdom
Sustainable buildings in the United Kingdom
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