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Canadian Eco Houses Lead The Way
Posted: 25/10/2005
The Energy Saving Trust has been in consultation with the
Government of Canada's Super EŽ programme, to examine key issues related to energy consumption, and has revealed its findings in a new report. The Super EŽ housing programme is run by the Government of Canada and teams up UK building companies with Canadian housing exporters to produce, healthy, energy efficient homes. The Super EŽ standard ensures that houses exceed the UK's requirements for energy efficiency and provide buyers with a means of measuring how their homes will perform from an ecological perspective.
The report entitled '2020 Futures: Energy and Waste in an Age of Excess' examines numerous issues relating to energy, including an examination of the current UK's government's polices, international approaches and attitudes and possible solutions to energy waste. The report coincides with Energy Savings Week and will be used to support the Energy Saving Trust campaign to help households reduce their energy consumption levels by 20%.
The Energy Saving Trust approached Super EŽ to help it compile the report after preparing a shortlist of the UK's leading energy efficiency experts. Super EŽ homes are proven to be one of the most energy efficient types of housing in the UK. A study in Kent earlier this year, compared the energy consumption of a Super EŽ home to a computer model of exactly the same house, but built traditionally to Part L, with air leakage equivalent to Super E ventilation rates.
Taking into the account the UK's gas and electric ratio, the researchers discovered that the Super EŽ home used 41.2% less energy. Jeff Culp from Super EŽ, comments "In 2002, Super EŽ was virtually unknown in the UK, so for us to be considered as a leading energy efficiency expert, by the Energy Saving Trust, is a sign of how far we've come. Since 2002, the Government of Canada has helped accelerate the uptake of energy efficiency housing in the UK and our techniques have been recognised by numerous key opinion formers.
"The British government's report, 'There Today, Here Tomorrow' endorsed Canada's energy-efficiency 'know-how' and recommended many of its 'tried and tested' best practises - some of which have been adapted in the UK's new building regulations which come into force in 2006. Earlier this year, The Government of Canada was the only organisation to be asked to speak on three different issues at Ecobuild, the UK's premier eco building exhibition. Last year, Canada's credentials in helping UK builders create energy
efficient houses was highlighted when a Super EŽ house was awarded
'House of the Future' at this year's prestigious National Homebuilder Design Awards for its innovative design, sustainability, energy efficiency and improved indoor air quality.
"Looking forwards, the growth and interest in environmentally friendly
housing in the UK continues to grow. Independent research has demonstrated that 84% of consumers are willing to pay more for an eco home; consequently, more and more UK builders are joining the Super EŽ programme to help meet this demand."
A summary of '2020 Futures: Energy and Waste in an Age of Excess' can be found at:
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