Green builders create eco-friendly home
Builders - 18/09/2006 11:22:43
Builders in St Albans are transforming a traditional 1950s council house into an example of energy efficient living, it has been reported.
The St Albans Observer said that Borras Construction firm is turning a vacant three-bedroom semi-detached home into an eco-friendly environment complete with solar roof panel, 1,000-watt wind turbine and 4,700-litre underground rainwater-recycling tank.
It will also contain low-flow taps and half-flush toilets to ease the pressure on water supplies in the area, while daylight will be utilised to the maximum with glazed roofing panes.
A new ground floor extension, framed in cedar from Canada which needs less energy to produce than conventional brickwork, will be covered by a roof made of sedum, a natural, absorbent fibre providing insulation and reducing rainwater run-off.
Inside the house, argon-filled double glazing, a solar-powered bathroom extractor fan, roof insulation made from recycled newspaper and extra-efficient central heating is expected to make the home self-sufficient in power consumption.
The building work is part of a pilot project which will help the local authority test which eco-features would be most effective when building council houses.
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