Award for Best House of the Future
ENERGY EFFICIENCY
Described earlier in this report as a house for outdoor living, it is also the case that this house has an exceptional standard of construction giving it energy efficiency and economy that left the judges in no doubt that this was the year's outstanding entry for Best House of the Future. Indeed, it is a sad reflection on standards of housebuilding generally that the judges felt that no other entry (other than slightly different house types on the same development) merited commendation this year.
Sadly, most homebuilders think that a house of the future either means a wacky design (which estate agents generally call "stunning" if it is attractive or "unusual" if it is not) or simply the same old house types fill with computerised gadgetry. The difference with the Hazeltine is that the technology is almost taken for granted. The specification includes underfloor heating, double glazing and intelligent wiring for lighting, TV, audio, telephones, IT and security.
That is no longer futuristic - or ought not to be. What the judges look for in this category, as the entry conditions state, is "innovative design and sustainability in terms of construction and materials; conservation of energy and water; adaptability, accessibility and the use of technology."
What sets the Hazeltine above its competitors is its Super E ® system of construction. Endorsed and controlled by the Canadian government to ensure its quality, this brings a technologically robust method of scientific assessment to the manufacture of walls and windows for timber-framed homes designed to withstand Canada's - and now Britain's - extremes of weather.
With only one-and-a-half air changes per hour, the homes are virtually draught-free, with any fluctuating temperatures being naturally balanced to avoid cold or hot spots. The fresh-air ventilation system incorporates heat recovery, providing clean filtered air and reducing household dust, thereby proving a boon for asthma and allergy sufferers. The Super E ® standard includes the most energy-efficient A-rated appliances and condensing gas-fired boilers to power the underfloor heating. Warm in winter and cool in summer is the gist of it.
Homebuilder: ENVIRON SUNLEY - a joint venture between
ENVIRON COUNTRY HOMES LIMITEDPatrixbourne House, The Street, Patrixbourne, Canterbury, Kent CT4 5DQ
Tel 01227 831040
Fax 01277 831030
Website: www.environcountryhomes.com
Contact: Anthony Dowse, Managing Director.
Email: anthonydowse@environcountryhomes.com
SUNLEY ESTATES PLC
1 Horsham Gates, North Street, Horsham, West Sussex RH13 5PJ
Tel 01403 230033
Fax 01403 214 900
Website: www.sunley.co.uk
Contact: Pamela Reardon, Sales & Marketing Director.
Email: preardon@sunley.co.uk
Architects: CLAGUE
62 Burgate, Canterbury, Kent CT1 2BH
Tel 01227 762060
Fax 01227 762149
Website: www.clague.co.uk
Contact: Paul Edwards, Architect.
Email: paul.edwards@clague.co.uk