The Larch House
With more than half of its south wall taken up by glazing the Larch House is more of a classic Passive House than its next-door neighbour. Not only that, it is the UK's first zero-carbon Passive House, designed specifically for Ebbw Vale.

While the Larch House - named after its Pembrokeshire larch cladding - shares Passivhaus principles with houses designed in Europe, it adapts them for the more temperate, but cloudy and misty Ebbw Vale climate.

Winter sunshine is in limited supply here, but large, south facing, Passivhaus certified windows capture every bit of winter solar warmth, the extra glazing makes for a brighter, lighter living environment. view image gallery.

The closed-panel timber frame has been designed using draught-minimising details developed in Austria, but constructed from mostly Welsh timber. How those timber frame panels fit together and their joints sealed is crucial to draught-proofing a Passive House. In tests, the Larch House proved to be one of the UK's most draught-free detached dwellings. If you don't like draughts - or energy bills - this is the house for you!

In fact, not only is The Larch House is a certified Passivhaus, it is a zero-carbon Passivhaus - a first for the UK. Photovoltaic panels mounted on the roof collect solar energy and their contribution reduces the house's overall carbon footprint to zero.