The overriding business opportunity stems from legislation requiring all new UK homes to be
built to Zero Carbon standard from 2016, with non-domestic buildings due to comply from
2019. Currently this target is only met following significant resistance from the construction
industry, due to the perceived complexity and additional expense of Zero Carbon construction
methods. Our proposed project will demonstrate that marrying Zero Carbon construction with
simplicity and economy is indeed possible.
We have identified four areas of specific business opportunities stemming from the above
need:
1. Thermal Memory Structure design and associated consultancy services. This might include
an advisory role on certain aspects of projects run by others, detailed architectural design and
specification services (providing full structural service for designs by others, for example
commercial projects, schools or hospitals where some of the Thermal Memory House
principles may not be applicable).
2. Thermal Memory Housing Construction as a full service. There is a very high demand for
simple, highly efficient dwellings that are economical to build and easy to use reducing the
burden of Zero Carbon Living on both developers and the inhabitants.
3. Thermal Memory Products. There is a significant need for Zero Carbon building
components such as Thermal Memory blocks or pre insulated Thermal Memory building
components that could be as simple and quick to construct as currently available Structural
Insulated Panels (SIPs) but would actively balance the building’s internal environment and
also eradicate the need for additional systems.
4. Thermally Balanced Living as an alternative to high energy demand construction growth in
developing countries. Once the model has been demonstrated there is a high potential for
exporting it to the developing world as the 'new western aspiration' or the new generation of
smart homes. This could be combined with extremely low cost construction methods as well
as development funding in order to promote the low energy alternative for developing world’s
needs as well as demonstrating that real passive living can be available to all and not just a
plaything of rich and powerful (like Masdar City for example).
Overall there are significant business opportunities present both within the UK and abroad. If
these are taken full advantage of we estimate significant growth of Green Jobs as well as
increase in exports and associated improvement of UK’s balance of payments.