The tight building envelope requires a HRV to provide fresh air, and the home supplements passive heating strategies with a biomass boiler. A combination solar-electric and solar hot water array provides the home with ample supplies of renewable energy. The home even incorporates Phase Change Materials (PCM) to effectively store heat in the winter and regulate heat in the summer. The rest of the walls are insulated with cellulose, or shredded newspaper. The home harvests roof water for use indoors as well.
The interior finishes include a recycled glass bath floor and recycled tire matting on the main level as well as a tile ceiling that spans the internal boxes. Even the staircase gets into the act with bricks mounted on a parabola span.
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Just seen this house on television. its awesome…
This home was featured on the UK TV show “Grand Designs” on February 18, 2009. Episode 4 of series 9.
Buffalohead – This house was featured on a TV show here in the UK called “Grand Designs” and you can find more detail here on Channel 4′s website: http://www.channel4.com/4homes/on-tv/grand-designs/episode-guides/weald-of-kent-eco-arch-the-story-09-02-18_p_1.html
I doubt you will be able to stream the episode from outside the UK (assuming you are), but you might be able to find it online.
Where is more information on the roof structure, the heating degree days of this location and the mechanical systems? Looks pretty but the roof thickness seems thin for insulation values. This looks like hollow tiles laid on a parabolic mold. Surely not.