A low-energy, eco-friendly, home of the future has been unveiled by West Lancashire MP Rosie Cooper at the headquarters of Extreme Low Energy (ELe) in Skelmersdale.
The firm, which recently won the Energy Institute Innovation Award for its ground-breaking low-energy technologies, has installed a replica modular home in the reception area of its new offices, fully equipped and powered by ELe systems, and built by sustainable building company Simply Modular Ltd.
The company’s award-winning technologies use Ethernet cables to power a whole range of domestic and commercial appliances using DC-power, having identified huge energy and carbon savings that can be made by eliminating the AC/DC conversion.
In addition to providing energy savings, users of the system can monitor their consumption data, so a housing association, for example, could monitor whether a dwelling is over occupied or under occupied, along with measuring the humidity and temperature to prevent damp, mould and condensation in their tenants’ homes.
The system can even monitor whether vulnerable tenants are going about their daily routines, thereby giving potential carers early warning if there is something amiss.
Mark Buchanan, founder and technical director of ELe, said: “Our ELe system is designed to be mass produced and easily installed, helping reduce fuel poverty and provide housing associations with data enabling them to monitor the energy performance of their properties and aid in the cost of maintaining them.
“The tenant benefits from reductions in their electricity bills whilst the housing association benefits in reduced maintenance costs.
“We believe that this is a template for the future and are currently discussing the implementation of this technology in planned projects for modular home development across the UK.”
The modular home, which opens onto a combined kitchen and lounge, with a rear double bedroom and en-suite shower room, is powered by solar panels which discharge the electricity to a battery storage system.
All lighting, heating and integrated appliances in the property are powered by ELe’s award-winning systems which can save the user up to 70% in terms of energy use, reducing monthly bills and helping the environment.
West Lancashire MP, Rosie Cooper, said: “I’m proud that such pioneering innovation is being developed here in West Lancashire.
“There’s a real housing problem across the UK and it’s important that ideas, like those being put forward by ELe, are considered as a possible solution to the housing crisis we face.”
