Rexel UK has launched phase two of its sustainable home at the BRE Innovation Park. Originally built in June 2007, the Sigma Home has been showcasing best practice in efficient retrofitting to help show visitors what they could achieve with current technologies.
Brian Smithers, business development director at Rexel UK, commented: “The UK carbon reduction targets are ambitious but in terms of technology we have everything we need to radically improve the energy efficiency of new and existing buildings. It’s a lack of understanding that is really hampering greater energy management as people in the industry don’t always have access to the information they need. By allowing building professionals to see these energy efficiency measures in action, we hope to inspire them about what they could implement themselves. The BRE Innovation Park is world-leading and we’re incredibly proud to be showcasing our expertise in energy efficiency here.”
Peter Bonfield, Chief Executive of the BRE, added: “Our mission with the BRE Innovation Park has been to push the boundaries of current knowledge and practice, to educate stakeholders and ultimately drive positive change across the built environment. To achieve this we work with partners from across the supply chain. It's fantastic to have Rexel on board injecting their creative energy and their new technologies into the Sigma home and the park.”
The new technologies now being showcased in the second phase of the Sigma Home include a new Siemens home automation system, Honeywell’s Dianemo home control system, Enistic’s advanced smart meter Energy Guardian and a range of efficient lighting solutions from Kingfisher.
The Sigma Home also features LED lighting, an air-source heat pump, solar PV, solar inverters, voltage optimisation and electric vehicle chargers.
The BRE Innovation Park is a ground breaking demonstration development designed to give a glimpse of how the future delivery of sustainable buildings and communities can be achieved. It features eight of the world's most sustainable houses, a health centre of the future and a refurbished Victorian Terrace. Collectively these projects demonstrate diverse and innovative approaches to sustainable design and construction. They each share the common goal of having a low impact on the environment, but a high impact on the quality of life of building and community occupants and CO2 emissions reduction.
