Zero Carbon

In December 2006 the Government announced its proposals for all new homes to be zero carbon by 2016.

Barratt is committed to boosting the amount of new housing which is sustainable and has higher environmental standards. This will only be achieved by steps forward in house design and materials technology, a major stream of work for us in which we are collaborating with Arup.

In early 2008 Barratt will unveil its first ever zero carbon home – defined as meeting the criteria for Level Six of the Government’s Code for Sustainable Homes. Known as ‘The Green House’, this ground breaking project is currently under construction at the BRE centre in Watford.

The Green House builds on some of the green technologies which were pioneered at our Eco-Village in Chorley, Lancashire. This experimental development of seven homes has utilised a combination of wind, solar and geothermal power. The findings from the two-year project are being independently assessed by the University of Manchester and will provide vital information both to Government and the industry which will help meet zero carbon emissions standards for new build.

Barratt already has 40 developments which use renewable technologies and many more will follow in the coming years.