Hockerton Housing Project is the UK's first earth sheltered, self-sufficient ecological housing development.

The residents of the five houses generate their own clean energy, harvest their own water and recycle waste materials causing minimal pollution & carbon dioxide emissions. The homes were built 12 years ago and continual monitoring of energy production and consumption since then has proved them to be far more energy efficient than predicted,and very close to the Government’s target of zero carbon homes by 2016, meeting around 85% of energy needs on site. 

The tour encompasses all aspects of sustainability, looking at food production, water harvesting, waste water treatment,and renewable energy production, and includes a tour of one of the earth-sheltered houses.

Subject to sufficient numbers this tour will commence at 10am allowing sufficient time to reach the Creative Energy Park visit at Nottingham University at 2pm the same day. 

To reserve a place, please contact HHP direct using the details below.

The Creative Energy Homes Project is a showcase of six innovative, state-of-the-art low-energy homes built at Nottingham University in partnership with a number of companies from the house-building sector. Our tour will visit several of the dwellings, and include talks from Tarmac on the Code 4 and Code 6 house, plus input from the Nottingham team. 

In partnership with the JRHT, we are pleased to offer this site visit to Elm Tree Mews, Temple Avenue and Dormary Court. Elm Tree is a development of EcoHomes Excellent standard which has benefitted from a partnership with Leeds Metropolitan by receiving forensic monitoring. Temple Avenue is built to CSH 5 and comprises two recently completed new builds – featuring Kingspan Tek and Celcon thin joint masonry - and a 1930s refurb. Dormary court is under construction and is timber frame with Hemcrete. Come and find out more.

BSRIA is a test, instruments, research and consultancy organisation providing testing, certification and performance verification of a wide range of building services products including radiators, fans, flues, coils and boilers.  The visit will include a tour of the UKAS accredited laboratory complex, and an overview of how the performance of products such as heat pumps are measured. BSRIA are currently involved in the monitoring of homes across the UK for the Energy Saving Trust on their solid wall insulation project and the Technology Strategy Boards 'Retrofit for the Future' competition; the visit will also encompass a tour of the Instrument Solutions laboratory. BSRIA are working with the GHA, Oxford Brookes and ECOS Homes, to provide ongoing monitoring services. Their monitoring kit will be on display for us all to see. 

BSRIA's nearest train station is Bracknell, a 10 minute walk away for their offices. We'll meet at Paddington at 13.20 for the train to Bracknell. Refreshments served from 14.30 with the tour to start at 15.00 and finish at 17.00.

A half day seminar for developers and housing providers in partnership with the Zero Carbon Hub, HCA, NHF and Energy Saving Trust.

 Delivering low energy, high performance housing, without compromising air quality or comfort

This half-day conference in partnership with ZCH, HCA, NHF, EST and GHA will focus on the challenge of maintaining good air quality in low energy housing, whilst avoiding issues such as poor ventilation, condensation and poor internal air quality.