Fig. 11.6 Close-up of the south roof of the Upton Fig. 11.

. 11.7 Detail of the PV module attachment system Fig. 11.8 View from southeast of development
ZED terrace showing a ventilation cowl (in the north showing how the support rail interfaces with the showing the terrace of 6 houses in the foreground.
roof), solar thermal panels near the roof ridge and standing seam. Rendering courtesy: Franklin Ellis Architects
the PV array lower downt. The horizontal support Photo: www.ruralzed.com
rails for the PV modules are visible between two Courtesy: ZEDfactory Ltd.
parts of the PV array.
Photo: www.ruralzed.com
Courtesy: ZEDfactory Ltd.

→ 11.5.1
Within the Upton development, a terrace of six houses by the architects ZEDfactory
had been conceived to very high thermal performance (Fig. 11.5 and Fig. 11.8). They
are referred to as solar “ZED” (standing for zero [fossil] energy development)
because they maximise solar gain on the south side and use thermal mass within
that operates as a heat sink to store solar heat gains. The ZED terrace was selected
for further development to meet the full level 6 carbon-neutral specification to
achieve a “true zero-carbon” dwelling.

11.5.2 Energy provision

The ZED terrace is south-facing. South-facing homes have lower winter fuel con-
sumption than east west-facing units. High-performance windows ensure that large
areas of glazing can be used to give excellent daylight and good solar gain (Fig. 11.5).
There is extendable shading on south-facing windows to prevent summer overheat-
ing. There are high standards for measures of airtight, super-insulated building fab-
ric, with heat recovery ventilation. To ensure adequate ventilation without parasitic
energy penalty of electric fans, the terrace features wind-driven ventilation cowls
with heat recovery (Fig. 11.6 and Fig. 11.9).
Biomass and solar thermal panels provide 100% of the domestic hot water require-
ment whilst passive solar gain through controllable south-facing sunspaces pro-
vides nearly all the space heating with biomass fuelled heating as a backup only.
Together with 32 other dwellings, the six properties within the Code 6 ZED Terrace
are served by the wood pellet district heating system in the development from a
central boiler house. Solar thermal panels use the efficient evacuated tube type
collector. The capacity was limited to two panels per dwelling to free up the south-
facing roof space for electricity generating PV modules.
To achieve code level 6, low and zero carbon (LZC) technologies must be used to
offset the cooking, lighting and appliances electricity consumption.
PV was chosen as the principle electricity generator. PV is referred to as offset since
electricity is drawn from the grid when needed, while these renewables export to
the grid according to conditions for generation (sun shining). An energy balance
between import and export is achieved over a twelve-month period.
The ZED terrace is also intended to showcase renewable technologies. Therefore,
whilst a PV only installation would be the cost-effective solution, some of the
houses in ZED terrace also utilise a micro-wind turbine.

158 11. RESIDENTIAL