Northern Ireland's first zero carbon house opens in Armagh
Environment Minister Alex Attwood MLA and Irish Environment Minister Phil Hogan T.D officially opened Northern Ireland’s first zero carbon home. The ‘Green Future House’ built by Armagh based construction firm Green Future Homes Ltd is the first ever in the province to be awarded five years of free council rates under the Low Carbon and Zero Carbon Homes Scheme.
This ground-breaking zero carbon conventional build home just outside Armagh is a mile-stone in the history of eco-homes and energy efficient buildings in Northern Ireland – four years ahead of the government target, which decrees that all new homes should be zero carbon by 2016.
Minister Attwood said it was a massive achievement. He said: “Energy efficient homes have lower running costs and as such also have an important role to play in reducing fuel poverty. I therefore wish to encourage those in the building industry to take on the challenge of improving the energy efficiency of their houses and recognise the wider role they have in improving the lives of the poorest in our society and in shaping a clean and green future for everyone.
“Improving the energy efficiency of housing provides an opportunity to develop new ideas in design and construction and I welcome the innovation which has been shown in the building of these Zero and Low Carbon homes of the future”.
A company spokesperson of Green Future Homes said: “Our main aim is to promote and spread the use of affordable energy saving technologies in self-build sector and social housing sector. We built Northern Ireland’s first zero carbon house accredited by Government to demonstrate our commitment to building sustainable homes. We wanted to create an sustainable home conventional in its design and cost but leading-edge in terms of its green credentials, we are very proud to have achieved this."
Cathal Boyal Sinn Fein MLA who has supported the initiative, also at the event said: “As MLA for the Newry, Armagh constituency and a member of the Assembly’s Environment Committee I have taken a keen interest in this exciting initiative the North’s first ever zero carbon rated house.
“I wish to commend Green FutureHomes, whom I have assisted on this project over the past number of months. I believe that this sets the benchmark for other housing providers and marks the way forward for future house builds across the country.”
A record breaking level of air tightness was achieved in this house which boosts negative C02 emissions. Ulster University is currently researching the thermal performance of the “Green Future House” with findings to be revealed May 2012.