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Carbon positive homes
Our homes are carbon positive because they lock away more CO2 than is emitted during their manufacture, transportation and construction. We can achieve this because:
We use timber as our primary building material – timber is able to store vast amounts of carbon dioxide, which is absorbed from the atmosphere during photosynthesis while the tree is still alive. This CO2 would normally be released into the atmosphere when the tree dies and rots or if it is burnt.
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By manufacturing our houses off-site in a modern factory we are able to ensure that our production methods are highly efficient and that we use natural building components as far as possible.
The carbon balance in an average Baufritz house is approximately 50 tonnes positive. This means that if the house is run efficiently using, for example, a combination of gas and solar power, the house will take around 78 years to reach the carbon neutral stage.
But how does a Baufritz carbon positive house compare to a net zero carbon house as set out by the new Code for Sustainable Homes? The definition of net zero carbon in this instance focuses largely on the running costs of the house once built and places minimal emphasis on the amount of embodied energy already in the building which has the most significant impact on the environment. At Baufritz our carbon positive homes take into account the additional carbon emissions generated during its manufacture, construction and transport – a more realistic and holistic view. Equally a carbon positive house is not necessarily a carbon zero house unless the customer invests in the necessary systems required to achieve this.
To achieve zero net carbon status, there is a need to rely on emerging technology such as photovoltaic power, wind power and microgeneration. Not only will the cost of these technologies push up the price for the consumer but as yet their efficiency and durability in the long term has not been adequately tested. This over reliance on technology means that should any failure occur in a net carbon zero compliant building then it would immediately become carbon negative, hence the need to create a positive carbon balance in the first place to allow for the odd inevitable breakdown. This makes it all the more important to focus on the ecological performance of the building envelope (walls and roof) itself rather than placing the emphasis solely on add-on technology in achieving an ecological home.