Minister views 'home of future'

4:20pm Thursday 15th May 2008

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Solar powered heaters, toilets flushed by rainwater, and an energy efficient clothes line are among the pioneering features of an award winning house unveiled in Watford today.

The Barratt Green House, designed by architects Gaunt Francis, is the first mainstream house built to meet the strict "zero stamp" environmental guidelines.

It has three flexible bedrooms, a heat pump and automatic window shutters that control the heat of the house and sonar panels providing electricity.

Built by Barratt Developments on the BRE Innovation Park, Bucknalls Lane, the house will be tested by scientists before its most successful features are adopted in future developments.

At the launch event, the Government's Housing Minister, Caroline Flint, said: "Our goal is to build not just more homes, but better homes. That's why all new homes must be zero carbon from 2016, with progressively tough standards being introduced over the coming years. This is the most ambitious programme anywhere in the world."

"I am delighted to see what Barratt have achieved with this project. Not only does this house showcase what is already technologically possible, it shows that greener living doesn't have to mean expensive design. I hope other builders follow their example."

The house's design has already received awards at the British Homes Awards after 22,000 readers of a national newspaper voted for it.

Mark Clare, Chief Executive of Barratt Developments, said: "Building this home has provided us with invaluable insights into how zero carbon homes can be constructed and is giving us the opportunity to evaluate specific materials and technologies."