RuralZed is a zero-carbon housing kit for affordable low to medium-density developments that, its makers say, will meet the Code for Sustainable Homes from level three up to six and beyond. Here’s how it’s done.

The basic design of the RuralZed home meets level three of the Code for Sustainable Homes. This includes the requirements for thermal mass, airtightness and the building frame in the diagram on the right. The typical cost for an 88m² three-bedroom kit is £89,000.

To meet code level four requires the addition of passive heat recovery ventilation, a solar hot water system and wood pellet heating. The next step, to level five requires the addition of a pitched roof to take seven 180W photovoltaic panels, a rainwater harvesting system, and a green roof on the north side. Finally to get to level six, the sunspace and 21 more photovoltaic panels should be added, to meet all the electricity needs of the lighting and appliances. This would raise the cost to around £150,000 for a three-bedroom, 100m² home.

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Postscript

This article is headlined What to Specify in Building magazine on 28/03/08

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