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Having recently celebrated 80 years of house building, German company Hanse Haus, have a wealth of experience under their belts and unlike many self build experiences, those who have built with Hanse Haus can testify that it takes a lot to get hot under the collar with this top quality, efficient and dedicated company as a build partner. Not only this, but Hanse Haus are at the top of their game when it comes to energy efficient and sustainable homes. For example, when the new UK building standards upgrades come in to place next year, Hanse Haus customers can be assured that their company of choice already complies with regulation. One of the new regulations for example, stipulates a serious re-vamp of thermal standards, ensuring that all new dwellings are far better insulated and draught proofed and additionally have high efficiency boilers from renewable sources where-ever possible. Furthermore, the use of both solar power and heat-pumps for water heating will be a prime requirement.
“To this extent the existing Hanse-Haus construction far exceeds the present regulations and will still exceed the new requirements. In addition Hanse Haus buildings are extremely well produced and built, and, are consequently air- tight. And, with ‘whole house ventilation’, ‘heat-recovery’ and heat-pumps including solar panels – all of which are available as standard to Hanse Haus buildings – their whole product requires minimal heating to provide a comfortable living environment”, says Hanse Haus’s UK designer, Ian Stanley.
To these ends, in the Hanse Haus product, homeowners have a building that will well exceed the standard requirement of UK regulations now and in the future. Indeed, “Hanse Haus homes are a truly ‘engineered’ building rather than just a ‘built’ building that we are, unfortunately, so frequently familiar with in the UK”, adds Ian Stanley.
Certified Passive House
Cementing it’s position as a leader in energy effficient innovation, Hanse Haus launched the ultimate low-energy Passive house, in May this year. The Passive House is first and foremost a house which achieves outstanding thermal insulation and an extremely low space heating requirement of only 15 kWh per square metre of floor area per annum. With detailed technical construction, particular attention is paid to the building envelope – the shell – to make sure it’s completely airtight, ensuring that no heat can leak out through joints or gaps.
Natural solar radiation is used efficiently to heat the Passive house. But inside the house itself, heat is also produced by the occupants, from electrical appliances, cooking and lighting and utilised through a central ventilation system with heat recovery constantly changing the air in the living areas and recycling warmth contained in the exhaust air via a heat exchanger into the incoming fresh air.
“Where conventional heating methods are no longer required, the Passive House gives freedom from rising energy prices ”, explains Giles Hirst. On the few very cold days in winter when there’s no sunshine (and the temperature drops to –5 degrees for a period of time), heating would be provided by a micro heat pump. In addition, high performance solar collectors on the roof would heat domestic hot water. “Not only does the Passive house make long-term economic sense but due to reduced CO2 emissions, it offers pro-active care for the environment”, adds Giles.
Please join Hanse Haus at one of the six exhibitions and numerous site open days in the UK and convince yourself about the quality of the Hanse Haus product. For more information, go to: www.hanse-haus.co.uk or call, Giles Hirst on 07968 117160. |