Case study

The University of Nottingham and Saint-Gobain designed and built a zero carbon solar house. The Nottingham H.O.U.S.E was the UK entry into the first Solar Decathlon Europe, an international competition that encourages university students from around the world to build a fully functioning energy-efficient house powered entirely by the sun. It also secured top prize in the 2010 Timber Trade Federations award for best use of timber.

 

Saint-Gobain returned to Ecobuild in 2010 to demonstrate the capacity of our companies and brands in providing a wide range of innovative solutions that can help improve the energy-efficiency and sustainability of buildings. The solutions featured products from eight of our manufacturing companies: British Gypsum, Saint-Gobain Glass UK, Saint-Gobain Isover, Weber, Saint- Gobain PAM, Saint-Gobain Abrasives, Solaglas and Ecophon. Jewson had its own stand nearby, which also showcased a number of its sister brands such as Minster, Pasquill, International Timber and Graham.

 

Peter Hindle MBE, General Delegate for Saint-Gobain UK, Ireland & South Africa, said: “We were able to demonstrate how all of our companies are at the forefront of providing innovative energy efficient solutions. By presenting ourselves as a unified whole, visitors to Ecobuild learnt how these can work together to offer total product solutions.”

 

With a constant stream of visitors, the Nottingham H.O.U.S.E (Home Optimising the Use of Solar Energy) was one of the lead attractions at EcoBuild 2010. A joint venture between Saint-Gobain and students at Nottingham University, the building aims to meet the highest UK standard for sustainable homes. It has a zero carbon footprint and follows Passive House principles, ensuring a 90% energy saving over typical housing.

The Nottingham H.O.U.S.E. was constructed almost entirely from materials supplied or approved by Saint-Gobain’s businesses in the UK and Ireland, and provides an excellent example of how our products and systems can provide an integrated solution. Among the products and companies involved are: timber frames, cladding and decking from International Timber and Pasquill; internal linings by British Gypsum; insulation and Vario air tightness membranes from Isover; windows, doors and a glass wall from Solaglas; photovoltaics from Avancis; lighting from Ecophon; solar shading canopies from Saint- Gobain Performance Plastics; flooring from IDS; and plumbing from Graham.

 

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