The homes are designed to use less energy, cost less to run and stay comfortable throughout the year.
At Millers’ Field, the design of the homes means they need very little energy to stay warm and comfortable. This is achieved through high levels of insulation, triple glazing, careful airtightness and attention to the places where heat can escape. The current design is targeting a very low space-heating demand of 20kWh/m2 a year or less.
Each home is designed with an Air Source Heat Pump, Mechanical Ventilation with Heat Recovery and its own solar panels. These measures create homes that are comfortable throughout the year, economical to run and use less energy than a conventional home.
Rather than using a gas boiler, the current design brings heating, hot water and ventilation through a combined system incorporating an Air Source Heat Pump and Mechanical Ventilation with Heat Recovery. The Heat Pump provides efficient heating, with warm air distributed through the ventilation system. It also heats the home’s hot water, with the hot-water cylinder incorporated into the same unit. The system can also provide cooling during warmer weather.
Mechanical Ventilation with Heat Recovery supplies fresh air continuously to living spaces and bedrooms and stale air is extracted. The system recovers heat from outgoing air and uses it to warm incoming fresh air. The current design targets at least 75% heat-recovery efficiency. It means you can have a supply of fresh, filtered air without having to choose between ventilation and keeping the house warm.
Each home will have its own solar panels. This electricity can contribute towards the everyday energy used within the home, including the systems providing heating and hot water.
The design of the homes at Millers’ Field have been assessed for overheating. Window sizes and glazing performance, shading and ventilation have all been carefully considered alongside the cooling available through the Heat Pump system. Airtightness, triple-glazing and insulation will keep homes warm in the winter.
The homes are being designed to reduce everyday water use through the selection of efficient fixtures and fittings. The current design sets an ambitious provisional target of around 80 litres of water per person per day. Hot-water pipe runs are being kept short and insulated to reduce unnecessary heat loss.
Beyond building a small neighbourhood of fourteen efficient houses, the aim is that Millers’ Field is a place where people can spend time outdoors, walk and use sustainable transport options where possible, share more and generally tread more lightly on the planet.
The existing allotments are being retained as a long-term part of the site, alongside new planting, shared green space and a publicly accessible nature area by Lyveden Brook. The neighbourhood is also within walking distance of Oundle town centre, making it possible for everyday journeys to be made on foot. For journeys further afield, every home will have its own allocated parking space with an electric vehicle charging point.
