18ATJULY- AUGUST2010 PASSIVEHOUSE Left: typical eaves detail

The adverse affect that our buildings have on climate change has been well documented over recent years. Over 40% of the UK's carbon dioxide emissions come from the energy we use to heat, light and run our buildings. While there have been many proposed solutions to the problem, most of which have tended to focus on how we design our homes, as an industry we still seem undecided on which provides the best long term solution to the problem. The imminent changes to the building standards will push the industry towards achieving the recommendations of the Code for Sustainable Homes in England and Wales and the Low Carbon Building Standards Strategy for Scotland (' the Sullivan Report'), with the agreed starting point being increasing thermal insulation and air tightness. Most accept that this is achievable within the realms of developer house building. But the full zero carbon ambition ( or net zero carbon as it more likely will be) may not be readily achievable without expensive renewable add- ons, which are likely to be cost prohibitivefor the mass market housing industry. Here, following on from Steff Bell's articles in the previous two issues of AT, weaim to fuel some further discussion on the low carbon housing strategy and look at how we might learn from Germany, adapting their standards to the Scottish climate. We hope our work on the Passive House project at Scotland's Housing Expo, in Inverness in August, might inform or even inspire the industry towards a workable and realistic solution for future low energy housing. Scotland's Housing Expo Scotland's Housing Expo will be a unique event in the UK, based upon similar models found in mainland Europe, particularly Finland, where historically the housing fair concept has proven very successful in stimulating quality design and innovation in Finnish housing. The Expo aspires to be a catalyst for prompting a similar kind of change within the Highlands and throughout the UK. The Expo itself will showcase over 50 architect- designed houses, featuring innovative construction and cutting edge sustainable systems plus the very latest in product design, landscaping and interiors. A programme of events throughout the month of August will appeal to industry professionals and visitors to the site. The homes, which have a strong focus upon high quality design, innovative technology and the use of sustainable systems and features, will be available for sale on the open market with 40% available for rent through two local housing associations after the event. By creating an exemplar communityin line with a fantastic masterplan by Johnny Caddell at Caddell2, the Expo will act as a model for future housing design and development. The legacy of the Expo will be a living, breathing, contemporary village which hopes to significantly influence the standards of housing in Scotland and the UK in years to come. For more information on the event see: www. ScotlandsHousingExpo. com. ATJULY- AUGUST2010 19 A Scottish Passive House The Passive House concept is explained by Jim Lindsay TCIAT and Ross Barrett, both of HLM Architects. The Expo will act as a model for future housing design and development PASSIVEHOUSE Right: competition sketch - rear garden elevation Far right: competition sketch - front elevation