Opening day for a home of the future( The first of six properties designed...)

The first of six properties designed to show case state-of-the-art energy efficient housing will be officially opened on Wednesday January 30 2008 at The University of Nottingham.

The house built by BASF, a major supplier of raw materials to the construction industry, is part of the Creative Energy Homes Project on University Park. The project was set up by the School of Built Environment to stimulate sustainable design ideas and promote new ways of providing affordable, environmentally sustainable housing.

Several companies including Stoneguard, Roger Bullivant Ltd, E-on, BASF and Tarmac agreed to fund the project and come up with their own innovative ideas.

There are 6 houses in the Creative Energy Homes project. Two additional houses will be built by Tarmac.

Four of the new Creative Energy Homes have already been designed. The BASF house is now finished and the Stoneguard house, being constructed by students, is nearing completion.

Brian Ford, Professor of Bioclimatic Architecture and Head of the School of Built Environment, said: The Creative Energy Homes project, initiated by Professor Saffa Riffat, provides a platform for the School's partnership with industry to explore different approaches to low carbon house design. The BASF House is a very significant step towards the Government's goal of all new housing being zero-carbon by 2016, underlining the importance of cross-sector collaboration and the School's leading role in this process.

As well as initiating the project Saffa Riffat, Professor of Sustainable Energy Systems, secured funding for the project which is now starting to take shape. Professor Riffat said: My colleagues and I are delighted to work with BASF on the passive solar/sustainable research house. This visionary and exciting project shows the commitment of the University and BASF to achieving a sustainable urban environment. I would like to thank BASF for funding the project and my co
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