Largest zero carbon homes project opens in Slough

£3.5m has been invested in the UK's largest development of zero-carbon homes, which has been opened in Chalvey, Slough.

The ten eco-homes were developed in a project named 'Greenwatt Way', designed to understand the changing role of the energy supplier in a low carbon society.

It also aims to study renewable energy generation and consumption, and find out what the residents think about living in their energy efficient zero-carbon homes.

Over the next two years, this highly energy efficient community will be studied to better understand what customers will need as the UK moves to reduce its carbon emissions by 80 per cent by 2050.

Scottish and Southern Energy (SSE), is the first utility in the UK to build such a development, which features rainwater harvesting, grey water recycling, triple glazed windows, enhanced insulation and its very own renewable heat hub. Also, the latest energy efficient kitchen appliances and smart meters which SSE will use to monitor the homes’ energy and water usage.

Four different renewable heating sources including air and ground-source heat pumps, a biomass boiler and solar thermal panels are also installed.

The houses have their own private terraces, communal garden, bike shed and space to grow vegetables. Charging points have also been installed for electric vehicles and integrated solar photovoltaic tiles entirely cover the homes’ roofs, supply renewable electricity, with excess power being sold back to the grid.

The mixture of two and three bedroom family homes and one bedroom flats, complies with ‘Code 6’ of the Code for Sustainable Homes, the highest possible standard.



Rt Hon Chris Huhne MP said: "Homes in the UK account for more than a quarter of the UK’s carbon dioxide emissions. With feed-in-tariffs, the micro-generation strategy, smart meters and the ‘green deal’, sustainable living will transform our community, create green jobs, cut emissions and fuel bills."


Further information:
Scottish and Southern Energy