How to live the good life

By Heather Rose
Posted: 2009/07/01

ECO homes are the future but buyers have to adapt lifestyles

Eco homes have long been hailed as the way forward for new-build housing because of their green credentials. But one of Scotland's homegrown housebuilders has now discovered these environmentally friendly properties require other ingredients to enable them to notch up success in the future.

From research carried out over the past year, the Stewart Milne Group has discovered that renewables alone are not the sole answer in winning approval from consumers for low to zero carbon homes.

Centred around the Group's Sigma prototype home at the Building Research Establishment in Watford - with the study including a family living in the house - the research examined the practical aspects of building to meet the Code for Sustainable Homes.

The research looked at a wide range of aspects such as energy performance including water consumption and acoustic performance. It also took in micro-renewable technology including solar, thermal, micro wind and photovoltaics as well as examining thermal comfort There was, perhaps, no big surprise in discovering these eco homes must also be easy to build and maintain.

But the research also shed light on the fact that tomorrow's homeowners need to make some changes in the way they use their homes in order to make a positive impact on reducing energy consumption.

As a result, the Stewart Milne Group are advancing their research, embarking on an innovative second generation build system, Sigma II - low energy, low carbon homes, robust and practical, easy to build and maintain. Importantly, they are also ensuring future occupiers understand the workings of their home from the outset.

"The company has also recognised the need for simple and very detailed induction processes and demonstrations for homeowners at handover stage to ensure new homeowners have both understanding and confidence in living in the low energy-low carbon environments, " explained a spokesperson for the Stewart Milne Group.

Stewart Dalgarno, director of product development with the Stewart Milne Group, said: "This is the first time a home like this has been the subject of such in-depth research. The results are fascinating and challenge much current thinking and perceived wisdom."

Although research is ongoing, the firm is confident eco living will become increasingly important in the housing market with buyers happily adapting their lifestyles to ensure they can make the most of the benefits.

As John Slater, group managing director homes at Stewart Milne Group, pointed out: "Once we achieve homes that are consumer friendly in terms of operation we know that people will find the step-change towards low carbon easier, and they will naturally adapt their behaviours and the way they use their homes to fit with a low energy society."