Bath’s first ultra-energy efficient homes are on course to be opened next month by city-based housing association and housebuilder Curo.
Curo is building the four Passivhaus-certified houses, pictured, at its 700-home Mulberry Park development on the former Foxhill MoD site on the outskirts of Bath.
The three-bedroom homes, which form part of a pilot scheme, will be let at social rent to local families on Bath & North East Somerset (B&NES) Council’s waiting list.
Passivhaus homes use elements such as mechanical ventilation and heat recovery (MVHR) systems, high levels of insulation and triple-glazed windows to make them comfortable all year while consuming very little energy compared to standard housing.
As a result, and with minimal changes to day-to-day life, occupiers can significantly reduce their carbon footprint and lower energy costs by up to 90%.
Over the next couple of years Curo will build eight more Passivhaus-certified homes at Mulberry Park to be sold on the open market.
Curo chief executive Victor da Cunha, pictured, said: “We’re excited to be nearing completion of our first-ever Passivhaus homes – the first of their kind in the area.
“These homes will deliver huge benefits for our residents who will enjoy much lower heating bills, better year-round comfort and indoor air quality.
“We’re keen to learn from our customers about the day-to-day operation and real-life performance of the homes so we can further improve and finesse our future Passivhaus buildings.
“As we look to a more sustainable future, we want to play our role in building ‘greener’, high-quality homes that can help to achieve climate targets, as well as put an end to issues such as fuel poverty.
“This small pilot scheme underlines our commitment to sustainable development. Largescale change doesn’t happen overnight and I am proud that, as a housing association, Curo is the first in B&NES to achieve Passivhaus certification for energy efficient homes.”
Curo manages more than 13,000 homes across the region and builds hundreds of new homes a year.
