The main building materials in the Ty Gwyrdd are wood, wool, clay and slate, all local to Wales, some from the site. This reduced the fuel used in transport. The house is nearly self-sufficent and produces no CO2 emissions.
Building Materials
Locally grown oak wood.
Earth removed from the foundations used for bricks in the spinal wall.
Insulation
[Reduces need for heating] earth bricks providing the building with thermal mass.
Wall lining of sedum [sheep's wool].
Faces south.
Renewable energy
There is lots of glass in the S facing wall for solar energy. This is controlled by a 'skin' of shutters, which are automatically adjusted.
Central heating and hot water is provided by means of an electric ground-source heat pump - a kind of fridge in reverse - which pumps cold water down to a depth of 35 meters, taking natural heat from the ground and releasing it as warmth.
Try this!
Play the following games to see if you can work out ways to save energy at home.
