Super Insulation

Heat loss from the buildings is drastically reduced by an 'overcoat' of super-insulation to the roofs, walls and floors, so that heat from sunshine, lights, appliances, hot water, and everyday activities such as cooking, keep the houses cosy and warm. (The thick walls of the building prevent overheating in summer and store warmth in the winter to be released slowly during cooler periods such as night and on overcast days.)

The model illustrates the typical depth of wall construction in a ZED home. The total depth of 54cm is made up of an external face of locally sourced brick, 30cm of mineral wool insulation in a sealed cavity, and an inner skin of thermally massive concrete blocks.

These walls act as a buffer to outside temperature changes by evening out the extremes and providing a constant comfortable ambient temperature.

The roofs and floors use expanded polystyrene slabs for their compressive strength and sound insulation qualities. Green sedum roofs further improve the thermal performance of buildings.