For architects Abi Torr and Mark Pellant of Koru architects, their family home is the realisation of a five-year dream. Fitted with features such as a wood-pellet boiler, under-floor heating and a rainwater-harvesting tank, it uses very little energy. Their home is one of the Eco Houses in the city.

“As architects, we specialise in low energy and sustainable design for clients, so we wanted to build a family home that embodies our philosophy. We know not everyone can design their house from scratch, but there are lots of practical steps people could take in their own home”.

Fitted with all sorts of wonderful features from a wood-pellet boiler to underfloor heating, as well as phovoltaic panels, a solid timber frame construction and a rainwater harvesting tank for flushing the loo, this zero carbon house is the result of a five year long journey for Mark and Abi. After the initial search for a suitable site in Brighton & Hove, they then began negotiating, designing and building their family house.

Now completed, the house will be a part of the award winning annual event, Eco Open Houses, which has been run in Brighton and Hove since 2008 by Brighton & Hove City Council, Brighton Permaculture Trust and the Low Carbon Trust.

The aim of this event is to inspire the uptake of energy efficiency by opening up houses that demonstrate best practice in the area. The public are either given tours around local energy efficient houses by the householder or they ‘drop-in’ for an informal look around.

“The people were very friendly and happy to share their experiences. I was pleasantly surprised by how friendly and helpful an atmosphere it was. It was like going round the house of a friend.”

At the end of the visit, visitors are encouraged to pledge to reduce their energy consumption by adopting energy saving behaviours or installing energy efficiency measures in their houses. From the 2010 event, the total energy that would be saved if all of the pledges were fulfilled would be 6 MWh. That works out to be a saving in carbon dioxide emissions of 1,404 tonnes of CO₂.

One visitor said of the event; “I saw some practical measures that could be taken in a home like my own. I was pleased that I could actually see these measures and how they're implemented.”

Eco Open Houses has helped inspire other groups to set up similar events in other parts of the UK. More information, and details of exhibiton house locations can be found on the new 2011 eco houses website, www.ecoopenhouses.org.

Some of the houses don't need booking but some do - there are details on each house page as to which these are. They can get booked up quickly so anyone interested should book early!

Click here for more detailed information on Abi and Marks house and here for more information on Koru architects.

Find out more about creating greener homes and gardens at

Tank for heat distribution to under-floor heating system and hot water system. Supplied with heat from the solar thermal panels. Photo: Abbie Trayler-Smith

Invertor which converts the electric current generated by the photovoltaic panels from DC to AC so it can be used in the house Photo: Abbie Trayler-Smith

System releasing heat from the solar thermal panels Photo: Abbie Trayler-Smith

Profile of the solid timber panel product which forms the structure and frame of the house Photo: Abbie Trayler-Smith

Green roof (sedum) with the flue for the wood burning stove penetrating through Photo: Abbie Trayler-Smith

Solar panels on the roof and rainwater-harvesting tank under the decking Photo: Abbie Trayler-Smith

Solar panels on the roof and rainwater-harvesting tank under the decking Photo: Abbie Trayler-Smith

Abi, Mark and Alexander in the kitchen Photo: Abbie Trayler-Smith

The house compost bin Photo: Abbie Trayler-Smith

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