Architect’s Low-Energy Homes Generate Surplus Electricity for National Grid

An architect, whose personal residence operates on power comparable to that of a lightbulb, has developed low-energy properties that are now contributing electricity to the National Grid. Properties designed by Colin Usher, located in West Kirby, Wirral, have been finished and are currently inhabited by tenants. These include a four-bedroom house, priced at £350,000, and two two-bedroom apartments, each costing £250,000. All these units achieved energy performance certificate scores of 105%. Mr. Usher constructed and designed his own residence in the vicinity 12 years prior, which initially incurred annual running costs of £15. Mr. Usher, who operates under the name MicroArchiTecture, commented, “Obviously everybody lives in a different way,” adding, “But the great thing is that they’re all using much less energy than they would otherwise expect to.” Robin, one of the tenants, currently incurs approximately £10 per month in energy expenses during the winter. He stated: “Last winter, we were living in a conventionally heated house and of course the heating charges went through the roof.” He further added, “When we got our first electricity bill here it was quite a shock, but a very nice shock.” The homes maintain heat through features such as airtight construction, triple glazing, 200mm of insulation in the floors and walls, and 400mm of insulation in the roof. A ventilation and heat recovery system extracts moisture from kitchens and bathrooms, then channels it through a heat exchanger to pre-warm cooler air entering the property. Electricity can be stored in batteries for subsequent consumption, with approximately 75% of it being sold back to the National Grid on days with more sunshine. When questioned about the feasibility of constructing similar homes using conventional builders instead of insulation and eco-technology specialists, Mr. Usher responded: “I think, increasingly, it will be. “There’s some really good schemes that are actually beginning to happen, even now, being sponsored by energy companies and things like that.”” Prior to his retirement from John McCall Architects, a Liverpool-based firm, in 2018, Mr. Usher spent 30 years developing eco-friendly residences. At his personal residence, he currently generates an annual profit of nearly £500 by selling surplus electricity back to the grid during peak periods. He commented, “Although the design of the homes is informed by the need to optimise net zero performance, they do not sacrifice anything in order to achieve this,” adding, “The technology is now so advanced that you need next to no human intervention or behavioural changes to have zero fuel bills – you can heat, light, cook and live like normal.”