A NEW property in Denby Dale is set to become one of Britain’s most energy efficient homes with heating bills of just £70 a year.

While most people dread their winter fuel bills, Geoff and Kate Tunstall could be forgiven for feeling smug after discovering the house they’ve commissioned will save them so much money.

Their new home, which combines British construction techniques with German technology, is set to be finished in February.

And will be the first Anglicised version of the famous German Passivhaus.

The term means passive house and refers to the energy efficiency in buildings. It results in ultra-low energy buildings that creates a simple “tea cosy’’ effect and requires little energy for heating or cooling.

It relies on simple design, orientation towards the sun, careful construction and insulation 15 times greater than required by Government building regulations. This ensures almost complete air and wind tightness.

No draughts can get in the building and no heat can leak out, but the air is never stale, thanks to a mechanical heat recovery ventilation system that brings in fresh air from outside, which is warmed using 99% of the heat from the outgoing air.

Geoff, a retired art and design teacher, was amazed when he saw the energy-saving houses on a trip to Germany.

He said: “We were so impressed. They are ordinary, modest homes, nothing flash.

“It was minus two degrees outside but the house was warm and comfortable to live in.

“They’re also very cost-effective to run, which is important to us because this is a house we are retiring into.”

Geoff, 62, said he and Kate, 58, his wife of 38 years – parents of Huddersfield motorcycle ace Tom Tunstall – had researched the idea of building a green home that they could retire into at a reasonable cost.

“We were very passionate about living in a house like this for our retirement but we also want to educate people that they can afford to do something like this.

“Programmes like Grand Designs build fabulous houses that are not affordable but our budget is £140,000 pounds, which people can identify with.

“Lots of people talk the green talk but don’t walk the walk.

“The Government should be doing things like this but at least people themselves may now realise that they can do it themselves.”

The Green Building Store in Bolster Moor, near Golcar, suggested the design and is managing the build that uses a German computer software package to measure air tightness and energy efficiency.

Project manager Bill Butcher said: “You can buy a Passivhaus flat pack from Germany, but the materials are completely different. They use a solid wall and stick polystyrene insulation on the outside of the house.

“They don’t fit into the local streetscape here; builders aren’t familiar with them and planning can be an issue.

“This Passivhaus is the first to be built using British construction methods with blockwork, a cavity wall and stone cladding.

“Everything has to be monitored from beginning to end to make sure there are no gaps.”