The Impossible House?

Designers at Cardiff University built a zero carbon house; something that George Osborne described as impossible.

17:37 20 July 2015

A zero carbon house has been built by designers at Cardiff University; a feat that George Osborne said was impossible. The house, which was designed to export more power to the grid than it uses, costs less than social housing to build.

 

The designers built the house in just 16 weeks and it cost £1,000 per sqm. Although the budget is within the range for social housing of £800 - £1,000 per sqm, designers said that owners will make money from selling excess energy.

 

The house has insulated render on the outside and air heating systems that rely on the sun. The house, which is located near Bridgend, will import energy in the winter and export energy during summer months.

 

Another zero-carbon home is being built at the Building Research Establishment (BRE).

 

John O'Brien, from BRE, said: "The chancellor’s reason for dropping the Code for Sustainable Homes and then the zero carbon homes commitment was because these could not be achieved while still coming in at £1,000/m2. These homes show that is flawed."