Low carbon homes​
Sustainability is no longer a 'nice to have', it's a must. Luckily, we've been building low carbon homes since Facit Homes was founded in 2007. Sustainable and energy efficient by design, we deliver homes that are fit for the future. Homes that use as little energy as possible from start to finish.
ECO HOMES
Sustainable by design
Our mission is to build a better future, one home at a time. Exceptional environmental performance is part and parcel of a Facit Home and delivering an eco-friendly construction service is a key part of our strategy. It means that we can build eco homes for every customer - not just those willing to spend more to get one.
SUPERSTRUCTURE
Wood is good​
Did you know that global CO2 emissions could be dramatically reduced if builders used wood instead of steel and concrete?
Our timber superstructure, the Facit Chassis™, is digitally manufactured from high quality plywood, which is sustainably grown and FSC certified. Timber stores carbon so, when used as a construction material, it reduces the carbon footprint of the build and the home itself becomes a carbon sink.
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We get the most out of concrete and steel when we do use them. For example, our super-insulated raft foundation has a slim 100mm reinforced concrete slab which works as the structure and thermal mass, as well as containing the underfloor heating system.
PASSIVE ENERGY EFFICIENCY
High performance envelope​
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Each Facit Home has a building envelope designed to conserve heat, reducing the amount of energy that needs to be generated to keep it warm. It has a high airtightness rating of up to 1.5 air changes per hour (lower is better). Standard builds are more like 5-10 which means losing precious heat.
Our passive approach to energy efficiency also depends on the use of solar gain to naturally heat the home in the winter. And solar shading and stack ventilation help combat overheating in the summer.
RENEWABLE ENERGY
Self sufficient homes
Future-proofing a home is not just about the high performance envelope, it also requires the installation of renewable energy technology where possible. Solar panels and air/ground source heat pumps have enormous environmental benefits with an upfront cost that will pay itself back over the years.
Along with the advent of battery technology for storing energy, the rising price of gas and the lower costs of renewable tech, it's never been a better time to invest in your future. If you can generate your own energy, you can create a self sufficient home with net zero carbon emissions.
CONSTRUCTION
Embodied energy
Embodied energy is the total energy required to make or build something. It is the carbon footprint of a product or project and is often used to describe the carbon cost of construction. We keep our embodied energy low by reducing the large machinery required on site, working with sustainable timber and manufacturing each home on demand (as opposed to operating a factory).
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We conducted some research in 2010, comparing the Facit Homes approach with other construction methods. We found that even if built to Passivhaus standards, it would take other homes an additional 100 years to offset the extra embodied energy required to build them.
REDUCE WASTE
Minimise the impact
Reducing waste in the use or manufacture of products is a key part of low carbon construction. Blown insulation is a great example. Easy to install, it fills our timber components completely without needing to be cut to size, which would create waste in offcuts.
Digital manufacturing also allows us to programme the CNC router to cut as many Facit Chassis components from one sheet of plywood as possible, automating the cutting pattern to reduce waste.