Residents satisfied and comfortable one year on at Sampson Close
Residents are enjoying high levels of comfort and affordable heating costs one year after moving into their homes at Founder Members' Orbit Heart of England’s (OHE) £2.8 million Passivhaus development, Sampson Close, Coventry.
According to OHE’s survey data, 83% of residents reported feeling comfortable throughout the winter months. Internal wireless sensors installed in all the homes at Sampson Close revealed that the lowest average internal temperature during winter was 21.3°C. Seasonal fluctuations in temperature were kept to a minimum thanks to the excellent thermal properties of the highly insulated homes.
95% of residents are satisfied with the affordability of their homes. OHE has calculated that the space heating requirement of these homes is around 10 kWh/m2/year. This is compared to the energy demand of a typical new home meeting Code for Sustainable Homes Level 4 standards at 55 kWh/m2/year. In some cases residents are spending as little as £2 per week on heating bills. Photovoltaic panels contribute more than 80% of the electricity used in the communal areas at Sampson Close, further helping to reduce home running costs for residents.
This scheme was completed in conjunction with Orbit Homes and part funded by the Homes and Communities Agency. Ongoing monitoring of the internal environment is taking place as part of a research project run in partnership with Coventry University.
John Barnham, Head of Sustainable Investment at Orbit Heart of England, explains: “At Orbit Heart of England we’re committed to embedding sustainable living into the heart of our business and communities. The lessons we’re learning at Sampson Close are helping us to understand how to approach future low energy developments to ensure we’re reducing our carbon footprint and slashing our customers’ household running costs.”
30th April 2012
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