Award for zero-carbon home

9:19am Tuesday 20th May 2008

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A two-bedroom house, recognised by the government as the first zero-carbon home, has won a sustainability prize.

The Kingspan Lighthouse, built at the BRE Innovation Park in Bucknalls Lane, Garston, scooped the RICS East of England Sustainability Award 2008, at a ceremony held at Hatfield House.

The lighthouse design has achieved Level Six of the Code for Sustainable Homes and the government has recognised it as the first official carbon neutral home.

The two-bedroom, three floor house is insulated to lose 60 per cent less heat than a normal home. It also features solar panels to provide hot water and electricity, a biomass boiler, and water saving devices. It will cost just £30 per year to run.

Alan Shingler, partner of Sheppard Robson, which designed the building, said: "We are delighted that the RICS have recognised our Lighthouse project. A key objective in designing the Lighthouse was to demonstrate to the industry that the Code for Sustainable Homes, Level Six, can be achieved without compromising on design or lifestyle."

The RICS (Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors) Awards celebrate and recognise exemplary projects across four award categories - building conservation, regeneration, sustainability, and community benefit.