Barratt London claims that its Lo-E designs will offer residents as much as an 80% saving in heating and hot water bills compared to today’s district heating systems, and as much as a 90% saving in carbon emissions.
Passivhaus is an international standard for exceptionally energy-efficient buildings designed to require very little heating or cooling.
The developer will deliver its first Lo-E homes at its High Barnet development in partnership with Places for London. This development will comprise around 300 homes, 40% of which will be ‘affordable’.
All of the affordable homes will be Lo-E on this scheme, as will every future home in the capital, says Barratt. The company says the homes will meet a Gold-standard Passivhaus specification and be “as good as it gets when it comes to class-leading environmental homes”.
Barratt hopes to develop an initial 728 homes at its High Barnet and Bollo Lane, Acton, developments, both in partnership with Places for London. Together, the schemes will represent one of the biggest rollouts of Passivhaus in the country, says Barratt.
Craig Carson, managing director at Barratt West London, said: “Our Lo-E homes concept is an opportunity to think differently and deliver a new approach to high-density, sustainable housing in London. This is a significant milestone for the business, as we look to the future and consider the unique challenges faced in the capital, such as more heatwave conditions every few years.
“Feedback from local councils and the GLA [Greater London Authority] has been supportive, so we look forward to securing planning approval and moving ahead with our first homes, before rolling out on all future London schemes, subject to relevant approvals.”
Key components of the Lo-E design include facades engineered to limit heat from solar gain; triple-glazed Passivhaus windows to offer maximum thermal insulation and “climate-resilient” air tempering to fully filter air and improve indoor air quality.
Crucially for consumers, Lo-E homes will offer significant savings in running costs and greatly improved winter health and comfort, alongside using less energy and producing lower carbon emissions.
Barratt says a typical resident could save around two thirds on their heating bills compared to today’s district heating system that relies on energy from a central source. This is around a 75% saving in heating energy, and as much as 90% reduction in carbon emissions. As Passivhaus standard homes use less energy overall, this limits the impact of future energy price changes on residents.
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