Touted as the UK first net-zero carbon house to meet the highest code for sustainable building, the Lighthouse by Potton was designed with thoughts toward a sustainable future. Almost a decade before zero-net carbon homes are code, this innovative eco-friendly design is meant to “encourage a way of living that is inherently ‘light’ on the world’s resources whilst combining the practicalities of today’s average homeowner,” according to Potton. From the ground up, all building methods and materials have been thoughtfully chosen to maximize the eco-friendly factor. The house itself sits on screw piled foundations, raising it off the ground to minimize impact. The house is clad in a rapid-growth chestnut wood cladding, with a sloping 40-degree roof that’s topped by a glass device designed to “catch” wind for passive cooling and ventilation and off-the-grid lighting. The large windows are triple glazed to reduce heat loss and gain, and the home features biomass boiler, photovoltaics and rainwater recycling. That said, the Lighthouse looks very cool too. Potton.
