Colonsay Zero Carbon
Zero Carbon Houses – Colonsay, Inner Hebrides
7 new dwellings on Colonsay, Inner Hebrides, are the first carbon neutral proposal for this island, and are therefore an important step towards sustainable development in this remote community.
Building in a remote location poses many logistical challenges, so the new houses are fabricated off-site, helping to achieve greater economy and higher standards of detailed specification, air tightness and therefore reduced carbon footprint.
The proposed houses are very highly insulated and air-tight. Window and door openings are primarily to the south to make use of solar gains, and there are very few openings to the north. A heat recovery system allows fresh air exchange with little energy loss. Solar thermal panels provide domestic hot water and photovoltaic panels provide electricity. A very small heat pump provides back-up for space heating and hot water in extreme conditions.