This week I’d like to congratulate Gary Neville for again trying to do his bit for the environment by introducing some radical designs for a state-of-the-art zero-carbon house.
Known as an eco-warrior in the footballing world, the former England defender already drives a Toyota Prius hybrid car to training, probably to the amusement of his Manchester United colleagues. And now, after three years’ hard work, he and architect firm Make have submitted their designs for the 8,000 sq ft super eco-home on his Harwood estate.
According to the Telegraph, the new building is so advanced that the Government wants to use the scheme as a benchmark for all future zero-carbon developments. The home will boast the latest in green technology, including sourcing energy from solar panels, wind turbine and a ground-source heat pump. Plus, renewable energy produced by the wind turbine will also power Neville’s neighbourhood property and all excess energy will be supplied back to the national grid.
Although long-term we’re sure this is a positive move, it is worth questioning how much damage will be done just making this revolutionary house. How much carbon will need to be emitted just to transport and operate the diggers, cranes and powerful other machinery, not to mention all the travel to and from the site by the workers?
I guess we’ll never find out the exact figures, but I wonder how many years of zero-carbon living will Gary Neville and his family have to do to make up for all the carbon emissions that it’s taken to build the house in the first place. Let’s hope they like it!
All I think we do know is that it’s highly unlikely that Carlos Tevez will be the first name on the house-warming invitation list.
