Much of the technology that can be used in a low-energy home is improving all the time. Some of the features cost more than the conventional alternatives, but the saving in running costs - and in minimising the use of non-renewable resources and damage to the Earth - more than makes up for the difference.

At Ecopark, our houses have utilised the following features:

• Timber frames - timber is one of our few renewable resources, in contrast to brick or concrete.
  
  
• Insulation - the walls and roof have a U-value 0.25 W/m2K
  
  
• Advanced glazing - the double-glazed windows are filled with a safe but highly efficient gas called argon, which carries less energy between the panes of glass than air does. These have a U-value of 1.1 W/m2K (measured at the centre of the pane).
  
  
• Condensing boilers - the heating in each of the homes is provided by a condensing gas boiler which can potentially convert all but 2% of the energy from the gas into heat for the home. The boilers used at Ecopark are class 5 Nox (Nitric Oxide) emissions, which means that they are the most environmentally friendly make of boilers available.
  
  
• Solar water heating - solar collectors situated on the roofs pre-heat water before it enters the hot-water cylinder so less energy is needed to create hot water for washing and heating.
  
  
• Water-saving features - low-flush toilets with a choice of either 2.5 or 4 litre flush and special 'spray' taps that are highly effective and use less water. Smaller sized baths and the addition of showers all reduce water wastage. Each house also has a water butt to harvest rainwater for garden use.
  
  
• Energy efficient lighting - the bulbs used in all the habitable rooms consume only one-fifth of the electricity of traditional bulbs with the same light output, and last about ten times as long. The design used puts the necessary electrical circuitry in the light fitting, not the bulb, reducing cost and cutting waste.
  
  
• Recycling - all our homes have waste separation facilities in their kitchens to assist and encourage recycling. Furthermore, four underground recycling waste storage banks with a 3m3 capacity have been installed to enable the recycling of glass, paper, aluminium and (later) plastics.
  
  
• Sunspaces - Houses in blocks A and C feature a sunspace because they have a south facing elevation. This provides a bright, airy living space, similar to a conservatory, which also traps the sun's energy to passively heat air entering the home.
  
  
• Under-floor Heating - Block B features under-floor heating and mechanical ventilation heat recovery. Under-floor heating negates the need for conventional radiators as hot water from the boiler runs through plastic pipes under the surface of the floor, enabling the whole room to be heated evenly. The radiators in the other blocks are noticeably small as a result of the high insulation of the homes and do not need to be run at high temperatures.

All our houses have the following additional environmentally sustainable features:

• Compost Bins
• Water-based Paints
• Sheds big enough for a family's bicycles
• Non UPVC Flooring where possible
• Can Crushers in kitchens
• A public landscape designed to maximise the environmental potential of the
  scheme incorporating native flora

To view a printable list of our suppliers, select the icon below. The file is in Microsoft Word format.