The installation of a FuturEnergy high-power wind turbine has helped a unique two-storey house made from straw to win the title of Britain's Best Eco-Home. The accolade was presented as part of Channel Four television's Grand Design Awards.
Built on top of a remote hill overlooking the Teifi estuary and the west Wales coastline, 'Penwhilwr' is the UK's first two-storey loadbearing straw house, with walls made solely from stacked straw bales without a framework. Only natural materials and techniques were used during the construction process, which was carried out by amateur volunteers from around the world.
Five-years in the building, Penwhilwr was designed and conceived by its owner Rachel Shiamh as both a home and base for her natural essences and jewellery business and for the Quiet Earth Centre for Alternative Living, which provides a range of courses, retreats and conferences in the ways of authentic living.
A total commitment to non-impact self-sustainable living is reflected throughout the design of the building with all electrical power generated cleanly on-site by the one-kilowatt FuturEnergy wind turbine supplemented by five 125-watt Kyocera solar PV (photovoltaic) panels. The hybrid mix of wind and solar power provides sufficient all-year round electricity to cover all the building's current and future needs including the running of low-energy lights, laptop computers, sound system, pumps for the solar thermal system and underfloor heating and appliances including washing machine.
Further reducing Penwhilwr's impact on the environment, all heating is provided by a bio-mass heating system fueled by wood coppiced from the surrounding woodland, with hot water produced by a solar thermal heater. Natural spring water is supplemented by a rainwater harvesting system, whilst all waste including human waste is composted naturally on site.
“We chose the FuturEnergy wind turbine due to its UK manufacture and because it and the company's representatives were highly recommended to us,” comments Rachel Shiamh. “The turbine also needed to be aesthetically pleasing to soothe a neighbour's concerns.”
“It's beautiful being powered by the sun and the wind, as it gives one the chance to truly live with rather than against nature.”
www.gwaliaessences.co.uk
www.quietearth.org.uk
www.futurenergy.co.uk
Source: RightanglePR
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