A couple are taking action to help protect their newborn daughter’s future by becoming one of the first families to commit to purchasing a sustainable home on a pioneering development currently under construction.
Interest has been extremely high in Genesis Homes’ first carbon net-zero emitting 16-home development in the Cumbrian village of Calthwaite since the company launched its EcoGen project in February, with all homes to be fully powered by renewable energy sources.
Mark Underwood and Rachel Walker were among the first people to reserve a plot at the development as they look to adopt a more sustainable lifestyle.
Rachel said: “Doing our bit to help the environment is very important to us and that is going to be key in providing a brighter future for the next generation, including of course Sienna.
“We are aware that the Government is edging towards providing more sustainable housing and by purchasing an EcoGen house now we feel that we are ahead of the game in reducing carbon emissions around the home. As a family, we are really happy to be one of the first people to take the leap into moving into a home which emits no carbon at all because we all need to act now to help protect the planet for our children.”
The homes on the EcoGen development will be connected to the electricity grid and will have a small, powerful battery unit installed which will be charged using 100% green tariff energy during off-peak hours, significantly reducing energy costs. Solar photovoltaic panels, which will obtain energy from daylight to power the home, will be installed on the properties, and these will work in tandem with solar assisted heat pumps, powered by thermodynamic panels, to provide hot water storage to the homes.
Other smart technology in the properties includes electric vehicle charging points and infrared heating panels with accompanying thermostats in each room. These will be managed through the integrated SmartLife app which allows the management of all house technology.
Rachel said: “We liked how the EcoGen houses are modern and include state-of-the-art, renewable technology which can be accessed all on one app - we are all for making our lives easier when we have a baby in tow.” Having both grown up locally, Mark and Rachel were keen to find a property in the Calthwaite area to start their family.
The EcoGen development ticked all the boxes, and it was a no-brainer to reserve a plot when the homes became available, said Rachel. She said: “I grew up just outside Calthwaite and attended the school there, so we wanted Sienna to do the same as it is a lovely area with good facilities, and has good local walks for our dog Ruby.”
The EcoGen development is the first carbon net-zero emitting development from Genesis Homes and complements the company’s commitment to building energy efficient homes which are built to strong building standards for thermal efficiency and air tightness.
