Zero Carbon House, Birmingham UK

Quick notes on the ways the design avoids the use of fossil-fuel energy

Thermal insulation: the new roof and walls will be 20 times better insulated than the existing ones.
Airtightness: sealed to a level 28 times better than existing, but retaining vapour permeability to stop condensation. This includes using a special membrane in the walls. Research shows that limiting warm air leakage, even through concrete walls, is an essential element of radically reducing heating needs.
Windows: triple glazing, 12 times more insulating than the current windows.
Heavy construction: stores heat and cool to keep the house warm in winter and cool in the summer.
Passive solar: glazing to provide winter solar gains. Summer shading with the existing ash tree.
Low-energy lighting and A++ fittings to minimise electricity use, including an electric cooker with induction hob.
Solar roof: photovoltaic (PV) panels will convert the sun’s energy into electricity and any surplus can be exported to the national grid. This offsets the electricity that will imported (for example at night).Solar hot water: roof panels use the sun to heat hot water, stored in a large cylinder.
Ventilation system: supplies fresh air warmed by recovering 95% of the heat from extracted stale air. Another essential element in preventing heat loss.
Wood-burning stove: top-up space and water heating fuelled by wood from the garden. The heating needs are so low that prunings from 2 large ash trees will be sufficient. The regrowth of the trees captures the carbon dioxide emitted by the stove.