More than bricks and mortar
Building a passive house retrofit can be a daunting task. During this project, we have sampled and tested a range of building materials and worked with numerous industry professionals.
The Zetland Passive House (Ingleside and Woodleigh) is the result of this extensive research which we'd like to share with you.
Our suppliers and professionals
Explore the gallery below to find out more about the wonderful professionals, suppliers, and artisans who are making a difference when it comes to environmentally friendly building design and decor.
Agapanthus Interiors are at the forefront of sustainability in lighting design. They restore vintage chandeliers and convert them to meet the latest energy standards.
Mandie Beuzeval is a furniture designer and maker based in East London. Her preference for traditional craft style sees her making pieces which showcase attention to detail and precision finishes. Her furniture is made from a selection of locally FSC hardwoods, including waste wood from London plane trees sourced in her neighbourhood.
Blue Patch is an online sustainable marketplace for UK design, ethical fashion, eco-furniture, green gifts, organic & fair trade food
Millbrook Cast Iron Bath
Eric Fewster is a Certified Passive House Consultant. He runs Cold Proof which provides energy analysis, costing & project planning for low energy refurbishment. He acted as a retrofit consultant on the Zetland Passive House project in the area of air tightness.
Award-winning organic skincare line handmade in Wales.
The Coving Warehouse make bespoke plaster moulding, cornicing, and ceiling roses. Based in Sheffield, this company is advanced City & Guilds qualified.
Environmental Building Services supplied Solar Photovoltaics for the Zetland Passive Homes. The company has more than 20 years experience supplying renewable technologies in the construction industry.
The master upholsterers at Ecosofa create beautiful, handcrafted sofas, natural fibre sofas, organic sofas, chairs and footstools. Ecosofa uses carefully sourced natural, sustainable and recycled materials to create eco friendly furniture you can really feel good about, because it’s kinder to the environment, and kinder to you. These sofas are made from FSC certified wood and do not contain flame/fire retardant chemicals.
Ecospheric Windows & Doors supplied the first set of triple glazed stained glass windows to be used in a passive house. The company offers a huge range of specifications from 7 metre sliding doors to traditional units with stained glass. Ecospheric Windows' expertise in sustainability ensures an optimised glazing design, calculations for passive house installations and assistance with technical detailing.
Established in 2003 by Georgina Cardew and Phillip Austin, Fleetwood Fox design and manufacture 100% wool stair-runners and rugs in Somerset. These ready-made rugs are fabricated from remnants to reduce waste and make as much use of the resources as possible. The yarn left after warping is collected by volunteers who wind it into balls for knitting which are sold in charity shops. The volunteers also knit blankets for refugees.
Ecosphere Premium paint has been used throughout the house. It is an ecological lime based paint with graphene technology.
Guy Taylor Associates provided architectural design services. This award-winning design studio is committed to creating buildings which are optimised for energy efficiency. They have experience in Passivhaus design and EnerPHit for retrofit projects.
Warwickshire based furniture maker, John Eadon, creates delicate geometric designs which defy today's throwaway culture. His timeless creations demonstrate his eye for design and commitment to quality.
John George and his team hand built the fully bespoke fitted kitchen using locally sourced timber, Welsh slate, and hand brushed brass. Based in Hathersage in the Peak District, John George and his team make and install bespoke handmade fine furniture and luxury interiors, working locally and nationwide. His services include architectural furniture and fittings, fitted and freestanding furniture and solid timber fitted kitchens, all of which is designed and made in-house.
100% Yorkshire wool knitted blanket designed by Lisa Watson. Lisa started the business stitching Harris Tweed patchwork quilts and a passion for celebrating British textile heritage. Her latest collections of quality textile home decor include one of a kind handmade Harris Tweed patchwork cushions to blankets inspired by Fair Isle knitted from British wool. All are perfect for adding extra warmth to the bedroom or draped on a sofa to bring eye catching interest all year round.
The Eco-bed by Longbeds.com has been made specifically for display in the Zetland Passive House. This bed is made in Greater Manchester using organic flax from a carbon neutral factory, coconut fibre filling, and an FSC certified timber frame. Unlike most other beds, The Eco-bed is completely free of chemical fire retardants and VOC emitting petroleum products. It's also cruelty-free without any animal by-products.
Martin Mosaic produces unglazed Victorian tiles meticulously assembled by hand.
We used Mike Wye's Heritage Lime Plaster. This traditional lime plaster has a number of advantages over gypsum and cement plaster. Lime plaster allows a building to breathe and prevents damp, it reduces cracking, and absorbs CO2 during the curing process. It also requires less energy in production, so is better for the environment.
The Mixergy Tank is an intelligent app-enabled hot water tank. It only heats the amount of water you need and can be controlled by a smart phone or mobile device. Working like a battery, excess energy from the solar PV unit is stored in the tank saving you money and reducing carbon consumption.
Nivito Brushed Brass Kitchen Tap
One Nine Eight Five is a British homeware brand that specialises in print and interior textiles. Recognised for its innovative prints, colour combinations and dedication to creating British manufactured goods, One Nine Eight Five uses ethically sourced materials wherever possible.
Organowood has undergone a process mimicking fossilisation making it maintenance free with a 10-year rot resistance guarantee.
Our Kid is an award-winning shop and cafe specialising in organic and British made decor and and clothing for babies and children.
Pete Hill makes contemporary British furniture with an uncompromising commitment to local suppliers and sustainability. His workshop in Berkshire is powered by renewable energy and this commitment to the environment comes through in his work.
Phillips Building Services provided construction and joinery services to the Zetland Passive House project. The company has a proven track record of delivering building work requiring complex and exacting standards. They specialise in modern new builds, renovations, and extensions.
The Caroma Profile™ 5 Integrated Toilet suite and hand basin can reduce water usage by up to 70% in your bathroom. The system works by providing a measured flow of clean water through the tap when flushing the toilet, which is then stored in the cistern for use the next time the toilet is used.
the Siga Majrex vapour control membrane not only provides an airtight barrier but adopts biomimicry in using cactus inspired technology to keep the fabric dry
Spire Leather is one of the UK's last remaining leather tanneries. The company is committed to reducing waste in the production process, producing decorative pieces for the home with offcuts. They strive to continue this heritage industry with an eye to sustainability.
We used Steico's FSC certified timber i-joists and ecological insulation made from recycled paper. STEICO's mix of structural and insulating materials is a unique offering and ensures that end users benefit from the inherent strengths of timber as a highly efficient and cost-effective structural material as well as its multi-functional insulating abilities.
Greater Manchester's Tree Station is a social enterprise in arboriculture, woodland management, wood fuels and timber. Timber for the kitchen cabinetry and bathroom vanities at the Zetland Passive House were sourced from the Tree Station, utilizing locally sourced wood felled as part of essential tree work and woodland management.
We have used Varilight brushed copper switches and sockets to promote healthy living. Copper is naturally anti-microbial preventing the spread of bacteria and viruses.
Dr. Jesus Menendez is Director of Zero Energy. Jesus is a structural engineer expert on Passivhaus Timber Buildings, an accredited Passivhaus Designer, Trainer and Building Certifier. He has over ten years of international experience on the design and analysis of timber structures, CLT and timber frame. Jesus provides services in the UK and Spain. For the Zetland Passive House, Jesus is acting as a retrofit consultant running post-occupancy analysis on the project.