The first Canadian Super E affordable houses in Scotland will be opened today in the Kincorth area of Aberdeen by Sushma Gera, Trade Commissioner at the High Commission of Canada to the United Kingdom.

Designed to withstand the extremes of a Canadian winter, it is expected that these new houses will show dramatic energy savings compared to current housing stock.

Built for Tenants First Housing Co-operative, with finance from Aberdeen City Council, the first two Super E homes will be officially opened later on the site of a former school lodge in the Kincorth area of Aberdeen. Two further Super E homes are being built in the Mastrick area of Aberdeen.

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The Super E system is the result of 30 years of research and development and is endorsed by the Government of Canada. The design focuses on air tightness, insulation and incorporates a whole-house ventilation system that makes best use of heat recovery.

Sandy Murray, Chief Executive of Tenants First, commented: “This latest project continues our international research into house construction systems. Our aim is to provide the highest standards of quality, energy efficiency and affordability for our members.

“Designed to withstand much more extreme weather than we experience, even in this past winter, we believe we can learn a lot from the Super E. It will demonstrates what we can achieve from advanced design, in terms of energy efficiency, with innovative design.

“Our aim is to learn from our experience with this system and use that knowledge to advance the programme we are currently running, along with the Mackintosh School of Architecture, to develop a zero carbon affordable home for the future.”

Tenants First Housing Co-operative is Britain’s largest housing co-operative. It has more than 1,348 properties in Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire, Angus and Glasgow. Tenants First is a non-profit making organisation owned and run by its members for the benefit of members.

(GK/BMcC)