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The Larch House is the UK’s first zero carbon, low cost, Certified Passivhaus, built as prototype social housing.

Designed by bere:architects, for the United Welsh Housing Association and the Building Research Establishment, the three bedroom house has been built 1000ft above sea level in an exposed and misty hilltop location in Ebbw Vale, Wales. In spite of this, most energy needs are met by heat from the sun, occupants and appliances. Indeed the Larch House generates as much energy from the sun in the summer months as it uses for the whole year making it Zero Carbon by UK definition and showing how we can live comfortably with minimal impact on the natural world.  The Larch House has an estimated income from the feed-in tariff over expenditure, of £1300 a year.