Sunderland based people and property business, Gentoo, are utilising a highly efficient German housebuilding standard to ease the strain on the UK’s energy bills and help reduce fuel poverty for the people of Sunderland. This project will see the homes being constructed to the world leading PassivHaus standard. Marking a step change for the UK building industry, the development will set a precedent for the design and construction of sustainable low, carbon homes throughout the UK.

Allan Thompson, Director of Operations of Gentoo Homes, said: “At Gentoo we remain passionate about pushing the boundaries of housing design in the UK and believe this exciting project will benefit our business and our customers. In particular this gives us the opportunity to assist our customers with their increasing fuel bills, something high on our agenda, especially in this difficult financial climate. This innovative development fits well with our new vision, mission and values as well as our ambitious environmental sustainability agenda and we’re eager to get started with something we hope could set a standard for other UK house builders in the future.”

The PassivHaus standard was first developed in Germany in 1996 and the benefit of PassivHaus is its simplicity. The homes rely on passive solar gain and air tightness, super high standards of insulation as well as triple glazed, openable windows that are well sealed using a fabric that greatly reduces energy consumption. To comply with PassivHaus guidelines, buildings must have a mechanical ventilation system installed that provides excellent air quality and highly efficient heat recovery. As a result, the homes technically do not require radiators or any of the associated plumbing, and instead rely on a heater that is integrated into the ventilation system.

The PassivHaus standard also requires a quality of build not normally utilised within the UK House Building Industry with stringent controls in place during every stage of construction to maximise thermal performance. With this in mind Gentoo Construction the independent in-house contracting company of the Gentoo Group have been chosen to build the new homes and have been working in partnership with the specialist consultants during every stage of the design process. The 28 unit bungalow scheme is to be built at the Racecourse Estate in Houghton-le-Spring, Tyne and Wear and is believed to be the first certified Passive House scheme of this scale in the UK.

Built with elderly residents in mind, the PassivHaus bungalows will also include solar panels. It is estimated that using the PassivHaus method to construct a house results in an 80% reduction of carbon emissions compared to that of an average home. Energy consumption within buildings that meet the PassivHaus standard is also significantly reduced, with savings estimated to be up to 85%.

Mark Siddall, Senior Designer at Architects, Dewjo’c is advising Gentoo on the scheme, he said: “This is indeed very encouraging and exciting news. Dewjo’c is delighted to be working in conjunction with Gentoo to deliver this project in Sunderland and we are looking forward to putting our plans for the area into action. With the cost of energy set to rise again, it is only a matter of time before home owners look to alternative means for heating and lighting their homes. PassivHaus provides the perfect solution, offering a low risk, highly efficient model that does not rely on complicated, renewable technologies.”

Planning Officers from Sunderland City Council are also keen to embrace such a forward thinking approach to housing design. Case Officer, Jamie Reed said: “with the ever-increasing emphasis upon sustainability, we welcome such an innovative housing scheme in the city, which will set a fine example for future developments to aspire to.” By adopting the PassivHaus model, the project will ensure that many of the requirements specified in the Governments Code for Sustainable Homes (CSH) will be met and in this regard it is expected the scheme will achieve a score placing it between level 4 and 5 under the energy section of the code".

The scheme is currently in for planning with a target start on site in early 2009.