Forest View, Belton

The target was for a home that was entirely self-sustaining and carbon neutral, using an energy earth bank created below the building’s footprint to a depth of two metres.

The bank stores thermal energy gathered from solar roof panels during the summer and autumn. It is then retrieved via a ground-sourced heat pump to warm the underfloor heating during the winter and to provide hot water.

Construction of the timber frame building took 34 weeks and the thermal efficiency, measured over the home’s first year, has significantly outperformed its projections.

To enable senior residents to make full use of the house, a lift has been built in and access to the balcony is wheelchair friendly. Four rooms can form a self-contained unit with bedroom, bathroom, living room and kitchenette.