House inspiring a new generation into a career in construction

29 Oct 2014

Sustainable homes that use, reuse, recycle

Nottingham HOUSE

H.O.U.S.E stands for Home Optimising the Use of Solar Energy.

Nottingham H.O.U.S.E embraces a cradle-to-cradle practical approach to use, reuse, recycle ideals. Designed as a starter home for a family of two adults and one child, it explores the concept of the family home as a sustainable model for future urban developments.

The architectural footprint includes a private external courtyard which provides the family with a shaded external space for summer, as well as giving them a green space in which to develop a food producing garden. A comfortable interior is provided by the design throughout the different seasons of the year.

Nottingham H.O.U.S.E has many novel features to reduce energy, including a new low energy cooling system developed by the University and partners.

The homes modular volumetric design means it can be transported and assembled rapidly.

In 2010 the HOUSE was shipped from Nottingham and assembled in London to become the star of Ecobuild, the worlds largest event for sustainable design, construction and the build environment.

In June 2010 it travelled again to the Villa Solar in Madrid, where the student team assembled it and landscaped the garden in a week. It formed part of Solar Decathlon 2010 which is an ongoing international competition aiming to advance the knowledge of sustainable homes.

Creative Energy Homes project

The Saint Gobain Nottingham H.O.U.S.E is now a key part of the andpound;1.9m Creative Energy Homes project at the University of Nottingham.

Creative Energy Homes is a seven-house development on the University campus that provides a living test-site for leading firms including; E.ON, David Wilson Homes, BASF, Roger Bullivant, the Mark Group, Tarmac and Saint Gobain, work with the University to investigate the integration of energy efficient technologies into houses. For example, micro-smart grids, energy storage, demand-side management and how occupants acceptance of innovative technologies affects outcomes.

The project has attracted thousand of visitors including the Chancellor of the Exchequer and other Government Ministers, plus academics and students from a wide range of schools and colleges. The research findings have fed into the UK governments Green Deal strategy and the Nottingham Community Climate Change Strategy.

Inspiring a generation

Many students have been involved in the creation and ongoing research work centred on the Saint Gobain Nottingham H.O.U.S.E. It has proved to be an inspiration to a whole generation of young people who know that the construction industry offers fantastic career opportunities and the chance to help build a sustainable future.