Lovell and Net Zero Industry Innovation Centre collaborate on Tomorrow Home sustainable housing project

Teesside University’s Net Zero Industry Innovation Centre (NZIIC) has embarked on an innovative partnership with property developer Lovell to lead the charge in decarbonising domestic housing.

Construction of two houses has been completed on Lovell's Cornish Park, Spennymoor development, ‘Tomorrow Home’. Both houses feature a high investment into a diverse range of energy technologies.

This research project, in collaboration with the NZIIC, aims to investigate and optimise energy systems within domestic housing to align with the UK's net zero emissions target.

The UK's pioneering move to legislate net zero emissions by 2050 necessitates significant changes in the heating and powering of buildings, which currently accounts for 40 percent of the nation's energy usage. As part of their commitment to sustainable development, Lovell Homes will create two demonstration homes to explore construction methodologies and cutting-edge technologies required for decarbonising homes in the country.

The research project at Cornish Park will incorporate various sustainability-focused elements into the build, providing valuable insights into the feasibility and effectiveness of different energy systems. Among technologies being utilised in the homes are air source heat pumps, infrared heating systems, mechanical ventilation heat recovery, photo-voltaic panels and waste-water heat recovery systems.

The NZIIC will play a pivotal role in the project by monitoring and evaluating the performance of these energy systems within Lovell's Tomorrow Home project. Parameters such as energy consumption, heat efficiency, and air quality will be closely monitored to generate crucial data. The data will provide valuable insights into the effectiveness of these technologies, shaping the future of sustainable housebuilding in the UK. The research findings will also contribute to the doctoral research of Teesside University's PhD student, Elena Imani.

This groundbreaking collaboration between Lovell and the NZIIC works towards achieving the new Future Homes Standard for sustainable housing in the UK. By pushing the boundaries of energy-efficient technologies and methodologies, the project strives to accelerate the transition to net-zero homes and support the UK's commitment to combating climate change.

"Collaborating with Lovell on this pioneering sustainable housing project is a significant step towards achieving our net-zero goals. Through cutting-edge technologies and rigorous research, we strive to shape a greener and more resilient future for the UK's housing sector,” said Professor Nashwan Dawood, Research Director, Net Zero Industry Innovation Centre.

“The construction industry has been tasked by government to progress toward zero carbon and Lovell is delighted to be trailing products and technologies that will help us get there. We are excited to be working with Teesside University and the NZIIC for the energy monitoring project to use their expertise to give validation to the trials. The results of this will not only shape our response, but also that of the whole housebuilding industry by sharing this information to develop a more sustainable future for everyone,” said Iain Gillies, Divisional Design & Innovation Manager, Lovell.

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