The information gleaned will help SSE understand how householders respond and adapt to zero carbon living. It will also provide the company and its subsidiaries with information to share with stakeholders such as construction partners, technology manufacturers and industry bodies.
The zero carbon properties, a mixture of two and three bedroom family houses, and one bedroom flats, are being built on land previously occupied by an SSE office building.
The development, to be called Greenwatt Way, has been designed by architects PRP to achieve specification for sustainable building – known as Code Level 6 in the Code for Sustainable Homes. All new homes built in England from 2016 onwards must be zero carbon and it is likely this requirement could be introduced at an earlier date for publicly funded housing.
A zero carbon home is one that generates as much renewable power as it uses over the course of a year and so has net zero carbon dioxide emissions. While this project will generate all energy on site, it is likely that the new regulations will become more flexible in future, SSE said.
Greenwatt Way will feature grey water recycling, triple glazed windows, insulation, and its renewable energy heat hub, housing five different types of micro-generation including air and ground source heat pumps, a biomass boiler and solar thermal panels. PV tiles will be integrated into the roofs.
The homes will be kitted out with the energy efficient appliances and SSE will use smart meters to monitor the energy and water usage of the homes for 24 months. Residents will also share use of an all-electric Ford Focus.
The company said that construction work has begun on site and the properties should be ready for occupation later this summer. Upon completion the properties will be rented out to SSE employees and their families, and to local key workers and staff through a partnership with Slough Borough Council.
Ian Marchant, CEO of SSE, said: ”Our core purpose is to provide the energy people need in a reliable and sustainable way and the move to zero carbon is completely consistent with that. It could provide a real opportunity for a business such as ours, because we have extensive interests in renewable energy, new energy technologies and energy efficiency. The zero carbon agenda therefore represents a commercial and an environmental opportunity.”
The design and construction of the properties has been sub contracted and where possible, local contractors are being used to support employment in the area. The installation of renewable energy features will be carried out by SSE’s subsidiaries, Southern Electric Contracting and SSE Utility Solutions.
