JV North member One Manchester has completed the UK’s first true net zero carbon social homes – increasing sustainability and reducing tenants’ fuel bills.
Six, two-bed bungalows in Windermere are carbon ready and two homes in its Blackrock Street development in Beswick, east Manchester meet net zero standards.
The net zero properties feature a wide range of energy efficient technologies including mechanical ventilation heat recovery (MVHR) systems, solar panels and air source heat pumps that work with hot water.
Solar power generation allows the homes to be off-gas enabling electric cookers and electric panel heaters to be used cheaply and environmentally.
Timber frame panelised systems create a high level of air tightness and the homes are heavily insulated with 500mm of roof insulation.
Triple glazed windows are strategically placed and sized allowing them to make solar gains in winter time when the sun is lower and this is complemented by the overall orientation of the properties to make best use of sunlight all year round.
Cleverly designed ducting from the MVHR also ensures homes meet strict Passivhaus low level noise standards of no more than 25 decibels in each habitable room.
One Manchester also reduced the amount of embodied carbon in the build process and instead used greener techniques including Modern Methods of Construction featuring insulated panels that were erected in days to reduce the build time and make better use of sustainable materials.
The homes are part of One Manchester’s drive to reduce carbon in its development programme and to support Manchester City Council in its bid to achieve net zero carbon status by 2038.
