Durham's Esh Group scoops eco prize

From left, Neil Jefferson, business development director at NHBC; Phil Brown, managing director of Trivselhus by Esh; Colin Willetts, sales director of Trivselhus by Esh, and host William Hague.

The firm has scooped a coveted national award for its future-proof, low energy family homes.

Esh beat national competition to claim the Sustainable Developer of the Year category at this year’s WhatHouse? Awards for its Trivselhus by Esh development, at Garth House in Cumbria.

Esh’s team of sustainability experts brought the innovative Scandinavian timber-framed designs to the UK via a joint venture 2015.

Judges of the WhatHouse? Awards visited the Garth House development, set in the grounds of a beautiful Grade II listed Georgian home, which is just one of four Trivselhus by Esh developments across the North.

Esh has incorporated electricity-generating solar panels, heat saving ventilation systems and energy efficient appliances to give the home an impressive Energy Performance Certificate ‘A’ rating.

The national average rating is ‘E’ but thanks to Trivselhus’ completely airtight design, which even includes outward opening doors, the Holderen is incredibly energy efficient.

Esh chief executive Brian Manning said: “Our team is proud to bring Trivselhus developments to the UK, and receiving the Sustainable Developer of the Year award is a great confirmation of why these homes are special.

“Sustainable design and construction is at the core of what Esh Group does. We know it’s the right thing to do for the communities in which we work, for our clients and for our staff.

“We’ve been fortunate enough to marry our own expertise in residential development with the innovative Trivselhus designs to provide high quality homes that work with the environment, not against it.”

Esh Group harnessed Trivselhus’ energy saving features and embedded them in carefully considered developments with high quality infrastructure.

The off-site manufacturing approach not only produces highly sustainable homes but also creates cost efficiencies, for builders and homeowners alike.

Along with the energy saving technology, recyclable materials were incorporated into the building designs which produce refined, family living spaces. Trivselhus also features the Climate Shield system – made up of triple glazed windows and timber with climatic resilience.