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4 months ago
Make your house guests green with envy...
Solar-powered swimming pools? Air-source heat pumps? Wildflowers on the roof? You name it, these homes have got it. If you’re searching for a luxurious contemporary property with an eco-friendly twist, look no further: these are best eco homes on the market.
This Victorian townhouse may not look like your average eco home, but we promise all the bells and whistles are there. With 24 solar panels, a Tesla Powerwall and an EV charging point, plus planning permission for a solar-powered annexe and aircon throughout, for such a large and historic home its EPC rating of B is certainly something to be applauded.
£3.5m, chestertons.co.uk
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A Forest Row home brought to life by its owners, architect Jeff and project manager Nela, this biophilic property was expertly engineered to be low-to-no carbon, think: high insulation, airtight construction, strong thermal performance, eight air changes per hour and abundant natural light. Shaped by the surrounding landscape, the cantilevered library was lifted above the ground to protect a large tree and the abundant bamboo has been retained for gardening. As well as outlawing plasterboard and decoration for decoration’s sake, this property features locally sourced sandstone, timber cladding, stonework, slot windows and a nature feature wall.
£2.55m, hamptons.co.uk
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Featured on Channel 4’s Flat Pack Mansions, this is a prime example of an eco-engineered, contemporary family home. As its name, The Lookout, suggests, the property enjoys far-reaching views towards Lyme Bay – while enjoying total privacy secluded within its 58 acres of mature woodland. Designed by Baufritz, and completed in 2016, this seven-bedroom property offers up 5,000 sqft of internal living space arranged across three floors. Alongside its wide nature-framing windows, this eco home is designed in the Passivhaus style using natural, non-toxic materials, precision-engineered timber framing, high insulation, glazing, zoned underfloor heating (powered by an air-source heat pump), low-energy lighting and solar-assisted hot water. And if its environmental credentials don’t convince you, the property also boasts a cinema room, infinity pool and hot tub.
£3.5m, knightfrank.co.uk
This Scandi-influenced property is the perfect place for those with ponies – boasting a stable block with a manege, plus four fields with far-reaching views across the Vale of Aylesbury and the Quainton Hill. Converted to its current high eco-specification in 2021, key features include the triple-glazed glass, ground source heating, Vent-Acia air extraction system, and solar panels which heat the hot water cylinder in the plant room. Alongside the five/six bedrooms within the main house, there’s an additional one-bedroom annexe in the grounds.
£2.65m, michaelgraham.co.uk
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Boasting an EPC rating of A, this eco home is set in an elevated position within the High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Designed by award-winning RIBA architects pH+, with landscaping by Chelsea Flower Show gold medallist Joe Perkins, this property offers up over 5,000 sqft of internal living space, plus a central courtyard, roof terraces and 2.5 acre plot. With eco-friendly sedum roofs, EV charging points and a wildflower meadow outside, as well as an air-source heat pump, mechanical ventilation with heat recovery and three-phase electricity within, this five-bedroom home is a beautifully sustainable retreat.
£3.25m, knightfrank.com
Also boasting an EPC rating of A, this low-energy new build achieved its status through a range of innovative features, including air-source heat pumps, a Loxone smart home system with energy monitoring, solar panels and triple glazing. Outside, the gardens have been divided in two, providing a lawn area bordered by mature trees, and a more natural and biodiverse meadow-style garden. Adjacent to the main four-bedroom house is a cedar-clad outbuilding, offering secondary accommodation or a home office.
£2.25m, knightfrank.co.uk
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This eco-friendly bio house is set on a 10-acre plot with wraparound gardens, private woodlands and two ponds. Designed by the current owners in 2021 alongside architects Hinton Cook and Potton, this modernist construction recalls the work of French-Swiss architect Le Corbusier. With over 500 sqft of glazing in the form of skylights, windows and doors, this extensive use of glass not only ensures plenty of natural light but optimises the views of the gardens and grounds. Meanwhile, innovative technology is used to control the lighting and heating/cooling of the house to maximise energy efficiency.
£1.95m, michaelgraham.co.uk
Nestled within the South Downs National Park, this eco-residence was designed by award-winning architects Re-Format. With environmental performance at the centre of this design, everything from air source heat pumps and solar panels with battery storage, to clean air ventilation and a heat recovery system have been incorporated. Inside this timber-clad home, the property offers up five bedrooms, a bespoke kitchen and smart home integration, with lawns, terraces and paddocks found outside among the 2.2-acre grounds.
£2.25m, knightfrank.com
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