The Welsh Future Homes project at The Works:Ebbw Vale has been shortlisted for the Welsh Housing Awards 2010 awards under the Increasing Environmental Sustainability category.
This project is the development of four showcase experimental low energy homes. It is a partnership between Blaenau Gwent Council, The Works, Bre, United Welsh Housing Association and the Welsh Assembly Government.
The houses are one-offs and are establishing Ebbw Vale as the centre of a new sustainable construction industry in Wales and inspire a generation of housing that sets new standards in energy efficiency while being affordable and very cheap to run.
The project will act as an education resource for the construction industry in developing future houses as well as offering welsh supply chains an opportunity to become involved in producing products that are currently unavailable within the UK.
Councillor Des Hillman, Leader of Blaenau Gwent Council said:
“Energy efficiency is high up on our agenda here in Blaenau Gwent – and we are already well underway with a major partnership project to improve the existing homes of local people to save energy and try and reduce their household bills.
“At The Works:Ebbw Vale we have really siezed the opportunity to be at the forefront of low energy housing and zero carbon ideas in Wales.
“I welcomed Jane Davidson (Environment Minister for the Welsh Assembly) to the homes during the week of the Eisteddfod and I know she shares our vision to work in partnership to develop these energy efficient homes of the future.
“This is a key project which demonstrates our exciting vision for the futures of our young people and our communities in Blaenau Gwent. I would like to thank our officers here in Blaenau Gwent and all our partners for their work on this excellent project and I wish them every success in the forthcoming awards.”
Nick Tune, Director of Bre Wales said: “’This project is an excellent example that you can build low energy, highly sustainable homes using local materials and a local workforce
Unique in their own way, these pilot houses demonstrate green living in different ways:
- The Larch House: This is the first Welsh Passivhaus social housing prototype. It is officially certified by the Passivhaus Institute and has also been designed to achieve Zero Carbon code 6 of the code for sustainable homes. With this three bedroom house, there is no need for a conventional gas fired heating system.
- The Ty Unnos House: This two bedroom house which acts as the visitor centre for the Welsh Future Homes has been designed to achieve code for sustainable homes level 5 and is Welsh to the core. Its construction, shape and spirit are all rooted in this part of the world. Yet its Passive House design approach makes it a house of the future. The house is built almost entirely from sustainable components and products developed in Wales. The Ty Unnos building system, based on creating strong, stable box beams from standard lengths of low-cost local Sitka spruce, allows a modern house to be erected much faster than traditional housing.
- The Dragon House:This three bedroom house is made from a single material for the internal and external building that is energy efficient, inexpensive, durable, quick to erect and is virtually fireproof, weatherproof and flood resistant. It is designed to achieve a minimum code for sustainable homes level 5.
- The Lime house: A two bedroom that will be certified as Passivhaus and is currently under construction.
The Award
The project has been and been recognised and shortlisted for the Increasing Environmental Sustainable category and recognises how the partners in this project are tackling environmental impact and taking action on reducing fuel poverty.
Visits to the Welsh Future Homes
The homes are open for viewing for a short period of time by appointment only. Please contact The Works project team on 01495 357811 to book an appointment.
