Low carbon eco-community planned for Milton Keynes

Each of the 145 eco-homes planned for a community in Milton Keynes will feature a new low carbon ventilation system, it has emerged.

The project, which is being developed in partnership with architectural firm Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners, will feature the EcoHat ventilation system, which combines solar energy with an air handling unit to pre-heat incoming fresh air before it is diffused throughout the house.

In addition, edie.net reports that further upgrades can be made to the system to provide passive solar hot water.

According to the architectural firm, each of the homes in the Oxley Woods development - which is expected to cover three hectares of land - are around 27 per cent more efficient at cutting carbon emissions than ordinary new build homes.

When the EcoHat solution is incorporated, this figure rises to around 40 per cent and when it is used in conjunction with geothermal energy sources, the new homes will be around 70 per cent more energy-efficient than conventional homes.