A groundbreaking eco-living project kicks off today which will take one family on an incredible journey. The family, revealed to us today as the Lindell family from Hässelby, Sweden, will spend the next six months living in a stylish new climate conscious house to discover whether through the use of current eco-technology, it is possible to reduce their carbon emissions from an average of eight tonnes per person per year to just one tonne.
The unique project run by eco-house builder A-Hus, Volvo Cars and energy firm Vattenfall will see the family live in a house which has triple-layer walls for exceptional insulation and minimal air leakage. Other important eco features of the house include a ‘wind-catcher’ in the entry hall prevents large airflows between the inside and the outside. Protruding frames around the windows shade the interior when the sun is high in the summer sky, yet let in the winter sun’s energy when it is low on the horizon.Through its solar photovoltaic system the house is a net producer of energy. All electricity not consumed by the family is fed into the national grid or used to recharge the family’s electric car-which, of course, is supplied by Volvo. The family’s Volvo C30 electric will truly realise its potential as a zero emission car as it is recharged using renewable electricity.
Solar heating panels together with a heat recovery and storage system ensure the air in the house is always fresh, without wasting warmed air and that hot water is always available.
Over 50 families applied to take part in the six month eco-project, which would see the collaboration of firms monitor their every energy demand. For comparative purposes, a review of the chosen family’s current accommodation and lifestyle is being carried out. Their energy consumption, eating habits, car trips and more are being indexed and documented, all in order to allow comparison with their consumption in six months time.
Through the project the firms hope to demonstrate what it means in practice for a family to adopt a climate-smart lifestyle and just how far we can reduce CO2 emissions using current technology. Can the family manage to reduce carbon dioxide emissions enough to truly live the ‘One Tonne Life’? We’ll soon find out! Track the family’s progress here at http://onetonnelife.com.
