Students build ecohouse for study

Students and staff will live in the house to monitor energy levels

Students at the University of Nottingham are building an eco-friendly house on campus to try to find a way to cut carbon emissions.

The C60 property, so-called because the project aims to reduce carbon emissions by 60% compared with an average home, is part of a 20-year plan.

Students will design and build the four-bedroom house which will include solar heating and sun pipes for light.

Staff and students will then live in the house to monitor energy use.

Dr Mark Gillott, a lecturer in sustainable energy technology at the University of Nottingham, said: "The house will provide us with a research and education project which will help us address urgent issues associated with sustainable construction.

"Housing in the UK is responsible for about one third of carbon emissions so here we are putting a test bed on the campus to see how much energy we could save."

The house will also include a rainwater harvesting system to supply water for the washing machine, shower and gardens.