In 2011 Potton embarked on a new challenge – to create a traditional barn style home, but designed and built to ultra modern standards. Located near St Neots, Cambridgeshire this new ultra energy efficient low carbon home, designed as a contemporary barn, would exceed the requirements for Level 4 of the Code for Sustainable Homes (CSH). With a slowed build schedule to 8 months, the project would also allow self-builders and construction professionals to visit and learn the products and materials that would normally be installed in just 12 weeks.
The CSH measures the sustainability of a new home against nine design categories, rating the “whole home” as a complete package. The CSH not only sets minimum standards for energy use, but also water use at each level. In order to meet the level of water effienency, the Potton team selected a Kingspan Water rainwater harvesting system.
Completed in May 2012, visitors could see how sustainable living can be delivered within a stunning and luxurious home.
As an example of this balance, the house boasts three toilets – but each is flushed with rainwater from the Kingspan Water rainwater harvesting system. Completely hidden from view, the system captures, filters and stores water from the roof and guttering in an underground tank. The water is transported via a soundless pump to a header tank in the roof and is used to supply free rainwater to all non-potable appliances.
For detailed information on the Barn project and the Potton range of timber frame homes please visit www.buildapottonbarn.co.uk
Kingspan Water Contact Information:
Tel: 028 38 36 4447
Email: enquiry@kingspanwater.com
www.kingspanwater.com