Good Energy powers the UK’s first Net Zero Carbon home

A London home is the first residential building in the UK to be verified as ‘net zero carbon’, marking a watershed moment in the country’s drive to achieve a cleaner and greener future.

Max Fordham House, in Camden, achieved net zero carbon verification from the UK Green Buildings Council (UKGBC) for both its construction and operation. 

Renewable energy company Good Energy, which supplies electricity to the property, has praised the building as a ‘prime example’ of how sustainable housing can help to tackle the climate emergency. 

The house, which also features rooftop solar panels to generate its own electricity, was verified in accordance with the UKGBC’s Net Zero Carbon Buildings Framework. The scheme is the most widely recognised by the built environment industry, and its guidance requires “high quality” renewable procurement with “credible additionality”, meaning investment in renewables as opposed to matching wholesale power with renewable certificates. UKGBC’s guidance states that only three UK suppliers have been recognised by Ofgem to provide this additionality, and Good Energy is one of them.  

The house was designed for – and lived in by – Max Fordham; the British designer, engineer and pioneer of sustainable design who founded the building services engineering firm of the same name, and sadly passed away earlier this year.

Good Energy chief executive Nigel Pocklington said: “Our ambition is to support a million homes and businesses to cut carbon from their energy and transport use by 2025, helping people to play an active role in the transition to a more sustainable future.

“The UK currently has some of the oldest and least energy efficient homes in Europe, resulting in high heating costs which are only likely to worsen in the short term, so it’s essential that all new buildings are designed and constructed to net zero carbon standards if the UK is to meet its climate targets and support consumers.

“Max Fordham House is a prime example of how such homes can tackle the climate emergency. We hope that others follow suit and truly sustainable buildings become the norm.”

Energy efficiency measures include triple-glazed windows that are carefully designed and positioned so that electric lighting is not needed during the day, with innovative internal insulating shutters which close when heat would be lost at night.

The heating load is so low that on completion in 2019, Max held a literal ‘housewarming’ to raise the home’s internal temperature and avoid the need for heating for many months. 

The all-electric home features a roof mounted PV array that meets 25% of the home’s energy demand, with the remaining electricity provided by Good Energy, meaning no offsetting is required for the home to achieve net zero carbon in operation.

In terms of the construction emissions, strategies included concrete with low carbon cement replacement, and natural materials such as timber for the roof structure, window frames and façade, internal insulation made of woodfibre, and flooring made from cork. 

To achieve net zero carbon, an investment in offsetting was made at the voluntary cost of £70 per tonne, far higher than the market rate.

Ali Shaw, Partner and Principal Engineer at Max Fordham LLP, said: “The house becoming the first to achieve Net Zero Carbon status is a great way to honour Max and his huge contribution to the delivery of sustainable buildings. 

“Max’s house is a built example of his legacy: it shows how a beautiful home can also meet the highest sustainability standards. 

“Our partnership wants to tackle the climate and biodiversity emergency the world is facing, so we are committed to sharing what we learn with the rest of the industry to help us get there as quickly as possible.”