Oct 21 - Sunday Mirror; London

By the year 2016 all new homes in Britain will have to be carbon neutral. But that doesn't mean compromising on style, says energy expert David Thorogood.

To show it can be done East Herts Council is behind a four- bedroom planet-friendly eco designer home in countryside near Albury.

"We want to show how you can have a luxurious home and help save the planet," he says.

Forget turf roofs and woollen mittens. This house has a serious wow factor - and costs nothing to heat.

That's because it uses the latest solar technology on the roof and is upside down so the cooler bedrooms are below and insulated by the earth. Upper floors are kept warm in winter and cool in summer by Warm Cell, a highly effective insulation some eight inches thick.

Windows are on the sunny south side. The only obvious form of heating is a wood fire stove and electric underfloor heating in the two main bathrooms.

A rainwater harvesting system catches water to flush loos, wash clothes and is solar heated for for baths and showers. But all this does come at a price. It's expected to sell for pounds 600,000.

'Forget about turf roofs and wearing woollen mittens to keep warm, this house has got a serious wow factor'

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