As professional property buyers, we are now used to viewing properties with solar panels and efficient ground and air source Heat Pumps that collects thermal energy from the ground or air to produce hot water for heating and domestic hot water. A positive change to save costs and become ‘green’ but this is only the start of what must change in the coming years.

The residential construction industry is starting to introduce and build sustainable Passive Houses. This measure is an entirely voluntary building performance standard; this concept is designed to drastically increase the energy efficiency, comfort, and longevity of a newly built property, rather than relying on renewables.

There are a growing number of developers and building companies who are designing products for homes owned by people who believe in lowering emissions and building to low-energy standards. They are designed and built with sustainability in mind and are the natural choice for your Passive House project.

Builders and developers everywhere increasingly target Passive standards to reduce energy consumption and future-proof residential dwellings. The benefits of building with Passive principles in mind - both for the environment and for homeowners - are remarkable.

Buyers are making greener choices

As property consultants we are already experiencing a change of emphasis from buyers who are interested in searching for houses that already have sustainable energy efficient, ‘green’, products and designs when viewing houses to buy.

We acquired Hunton Down Barn – Stoke Charity nr Winchester six years ago for clients. When originally constructed in 2014, this scheme was an extremely challenging project for many reasons but with a proposal developed, planning permission was achieved, and the ‘Sustainable Barn House’ was finished.

The original concept was to erect a standard Agricultural Steel Dutch barn as a working shelter and then build within its protection, with a very low energy and sustainable intent. The demands of super insulation and significant performance have evolved a crisper expression, but the energy reclamation and systems employed mitigate against what was a very exposed site.

Following the purchase of Hunton Down Barn our clients made some radical, revolutionary changes and additions to the property which met with Passive standards and technology creating an energy efficient, low cost, ‘green’ dwelling that relies on renewables.

Understanding and having empathy to meet individuals needs on specifications of size, performance, finish, aesthetic design, and budget are of paramount importance.

Equally, the changes to the various construction methods, designs and products used as we head towards more Passive housing is quite evident when advising and providing professional knowledge in property search and acquisition. We too have had to adapt and change with the times.

For further advice and information call Nigel Sellers 01962 793 100 or email enquiries@premier-propertysearch.co.uk