Low-E glass chosen for UK’s first ‘smart house’
4th August 2015

PILKINGTON energiKare glass played a major part in the UK’s first purpose-built, low-cost energy ‘smart house’ capable of exporting more energy to the national electricity grid than it uses.

The house uses an energy-efficient design, which includes low-emissivity double-glazed aluminium-clad timber frame windows and doors, incorporating Pilkington energiKare glass, which is said to be twice as energy-efficient as standard double glazing as its coatings reduce heat loss through windows and allows more solar gain.

Designed by Professor Phil Jones and his team based at the Welsh School of Architecture, the house, has been built as a prototype to deliver zero carbon housing and its unique design combines – for the first time – reduced energy demand, renewable energy supply and energy storage to create an energy positive house.

Constructed as part of the Wales Low Carbon Research Institute’s (LCRI) Solcer project, the design follows the ‘buildings as power stations’ concept developed by Specific. It is unique in that it uses a number of technologies and design approaches, such as the low carbon systems, developed by the LCRI’s Low Carbon Buildings Research Programme.

As a strategic partner of specific, one of only seven innovation and knowledge centres across the UK, Pilkington United Kingdom Limited has worked closely with academics and other industry partners, such as Tata Steel and BASF, in addressing the challenge of delivering low-carbon electricity and heat in UK buildings effectively and efficiently.
Phil Ramsey, chief technology officer at Pilkington United Kingdom Limited, said: “It’s vital that as an industry we contribute to the advancements in generating, storing and using energy in buildings, and are able to develop and deliver the latest in market-leading glazing technology to support this.

“We recognise the importance of forging strong links with academia and our work with partners, such as Specific, enables us to come together to develop innovative new ways to build the houses of the future. This particular project has used the latest design and technology to build a smart energy-positive house and we’re looking forward to continuing our relationship with Specific in order to deliver further developments in the area of energy efficient homes.”
Kevin Bygate, chief executive at Specific, added: “Buildings that can generate, store and release their own renewable energy could be a game-changer. The Solcer House is intentionally built with the very best off-the-shelf, affordable technologies, so it proves what’s possible even now – and there’s plenty more technology in the pipeline.”

www.pilkington.co.uk