'Zero Carbon' homes for Hebden Bridge

Thursday, 9 July 2009

Calderdale will be at the forefront of developing affordable ‘Zero Carbon’ homes if the scheme is given the go-ahead from Calderdale Council's Cabinet on Monday.

The Government ’s ambition announced in 2006 is for all houses to be built to a ‘Zero Carbon’ standard by 2016.

A ‘Zero Carbon’ home uses less energy than it generates over time. A carbon footprint is calculated for the full life of the home, including the carbon dioxide emissions created during the build process and daily energy needs. This figure is offset by the property’s ability to produce energy it needs itself through renewable sources of energy.

Following an open tender, the scheme aims to build 12 new affordable homes to level 5 and 6. These are the highest possible levels of energy efficiency and means that the house is ‘zero carbon’ - not emitting any additional carbon to the atmosphere. Additionally level 6 homes generate electricity.

So far, throughout the country only two homes have been certified at level five. Only four homes have been certified at level four, two of these are in Calderdale.

Councillor Cooper, Portfolio Holder for Community Services; “The houses should prove very popular to live in as running costs will be far less than other houses. This is cutting edge technology. Developers will be able to learn from this project for future house building in Calderdale and beyond.”

Cabinet have already agreed that there will be an investment of £300,000 to stimulate and add value to the development of affordable homes, built to zero carbon standards.

Major developments over the last few years, where affordable homes were not appropriate, have contributed to this sum of money for use elsewhere in the borough.

Pennine Housing will manage the project along with their partner developer, Bramhall Construction. It is proposed that they will be built in Cornholme, Hebden Bridge and Luddendenfoot with the first houses ready for occupation in Spring.