Attic power

Forget your extra bedroom with en suite in the attic - there are folk in Woking with power stations up there! The council’s planning requirement, for new houses to generate at least 10% of their energy needs through onsite renewables, spurred Linden Homes to try a novel approach. In its ‘Fusion’ development, the relative warmth of the attics is being harnessed to heat water and living space. Warm air, pushed down through the ceiling, circulates round the house and thereby reduces demand on the boiler. The Drimaster system is the brainchild of Caerphilly-based company Nuaire, whose more conventional rooftop solar water heating panels and ‘Ecosmart’ ventilation are also being used in a number of the houses at Fusion. Linden chief executive Philip Davies admits this is an experiment, but it’s one he is confident about. “Early results indicate we will easily exceed the required 10% onsite renewable energy,” he says. Linden and Woking plan to monitor the progress of the systems for the next 12 months. - Charlie Jacoby

7 July 2006