Latest news with #MichaelWynne
Daily Mail
27-04-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE Inside the 'greenest' new builds in Britain: These homes in Hardene Barns, Kent start at £1.25m
Too many new homes being built are 'unsustainable' before they've ever been lived in, two brothers and co-founders developing homes across Britain claim. Damien and Michael Wynne, of Q New Homes, say that while some developers claim to be eco-conscious, many still use materials like concrete and steel. The duo claim steel and concrete 'are some of the world's biggest carbon culprits.' The pair added: 'Greener homes are simply better homes'. Labour plans to build 1.5million homes by the end of parliament and Energy Secretary Ed Miliband recently said the Government would 'double down' on its environmental agenda and accused those against the move to net zero of 'making up nonsense and lies'. This week , Miliband confirmed the Government was looking at plans to charge homes in the South more for electricity, after critics warned of a potential 'postcode lottery.' Speaking to This is Money, the Wynne Brothers, said: 'Too many new homes are being fitted with renewable tech—like air-source heat pumps and solar panels—without getting the basics right first. 'This means future residents are left feeling like they've made eco-conscious choices, yet don't see the benefits reflected in their energy bills. 'Most new homes are still built with a "volume over values" mindset—cheap materials, minimal insulation, and no long-term thinking. 'The materials used by many developers—especially concrete and steel—are some of the world's biggest carbon culprits. 'Add in plastics, foams, and other synthetics that are cheap to use but almost impossible to recycle, and you've got homes that are unsustainable before they're even lived in.' The brothers claim their new housing development, Hartdene Barns in Kent, is '15 years ahead of what current building regulations require in terms of energy efficiency, insulation and sustainability.' The duo are both developers and main contractors at the site, using their own team for much of the work. Most of the nine 'net-zero' properties are complete, but works are ongoing on some. The homes are built to meet the targets of the Royal Institute of British Architects Climate Challenge. Q New Homes claims Hardene Barns 'could be considered the greenest set of homes in the country.' Prices for the homes start from £1.25million for a three-bedroom terraced house, moving up to £2.5million for a four-bedroom link detached barn. The homes at Hartdene Barn have been constructed from structural insulated panels with gulam beams rather than steel, and low-carbon concrete. The structurally insulated panels used to form the walls of the houses are hermetically sealed 'for optimism heat retention'. The panels, according to Q New Homes, release 40 per cent less carbon than conventional building materials.' The homes at Hartdene Barns all have underfloor heating by an air source heat pump rather than a gas boiler, and each is fitted with up to 32 solar panels which should generate enough power to heat and light the properties 'for free virtually all year round.' According to Q New Homes, this means residents of Hartdene Barns will have no electricity bills. It said: 'The only utilities the owners need to pay for are water and broadband.' Each property at Hartdene Barns also comes with a 'no-dig' allotment in a communal garden, meaning residents can grow their own fruit and vegetables for free and with zero food miles. Nestled on a former dairy farm, the Hartdene Barns development is situated near Cowden, an historic village close to the point where the counties of Kent, East Sussex and Surrey meet. The Wynne brothers said that their homes were 'built for long-term comfort, low running costs, and lasting environmental benefit.' The pair added: 'What most developers don't realise is that just about every material in a typical home has a carbon-neutral alternative—even concrete. 'Hartdene Barns is net-zero by design—not just in energy use, but in how we source materials, reduce waste, and plan for the future. It's proof that when sustainability is the starting point, not an afterthought, we can build homes that work for families and the planet. 'It's time to stop building homes that become problems the minute people move in—too cold, too costly, too wasteful. Greener homes are simply better homes.' Britain is legally committed to moving to net zero carbon emissions by 2050, which is a a goal set under a previous Conservative government. As part of Angela Raynor and Ed Miliband's green plans, landlords will be forced to secure an energy performance certificate rating of C in all privately rented homes by 2030. They are currently required to have an EPC rating of E. Labour has said that doing so could reduce the average tenant's energy bill by £240 per year, as well as improve the general quality of rented homes. How to find a new mortgage Borrowers who need a mortgage because their current fixed rate deal is ending, or they are buying a home, should explore their options as soon as possible. Quick mortgage finder links with This is Money's partner L&C > Mortgage rates calculator > Find the right mortgage for you What if I need to remortgage? Borrowers should compare rates, speak to a mortgage broker and be prepared to act. Homeowners can lock in to a new deal six to nine months in advance, often with no obligation to take it. Most mortgage deals allow fees to be added to the loan and only be charged when it is taken out. This means borrowers can secure a rate without paying expensive arrangement fees. Keep in mind that by doing this and not clearing the fee on completion, interest will be paid on the fee amount over the entire term of the loan, so this may not be the best option for everyone. What if I am buying a home? Those with home purchases agreed should also aim to secure rates as soon as possible, so they know exactly what their monthly payments will be. Buyers should avoid overstretching and be aware that house prices may fall, as higher mortgage rates limit people's borrowing ability and buying power. How to compare mortgage costs The best way to compare mortgage costs and find the right deal for you is to speak to a broker. This is Money has a long-standing partnership with fee-free broker L&C, to provide you with fee-free expert mortgage advice. Interested in seeing today's best mortgage rates? Use This is Money and L&Cs best mortgage rates calculator to show deals matching your home value, mortgage size, term and fixed rate needs. If you're ready to find your next mortgage, why not use L&C's online Mortgage Finder. It will search 1,000's of deals from more than 90 different lenders to discover the best deal for you. Be aware that rates can change quickly, however, and so if you need a mortgage or want to compare rates, speak to L&C as soon as possible, so they can help you find the right mortgage for you.
Yahoo
21-02-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Secretive X-37B space plane shares first images from orbit; see photos
The US Space Force's secret space plane, the X-37B, shared an image from orbit for the first time. The reusable orbital test vehicle captured the image of Earth last year during its seventh mission. In orbit since 2023, the test shuttle has practiced maneuvers to change orbit. The US Space Force released an image Thursday that was taken by its top-secret space plane for the first time since launching on its seventh mission in late 2023. While conducting experiments in a "highly elliptical orbit," the X-37B orbital test vehicle captured a rare image of Earth from high above the African continent. Since launching on its seventh mission in late 2023, the orbital test vehicle has been experimenting with future space domain technologies and practicing "first-of-its-kind" maneuvers to adjust its position in orbit with minimal fuel, according to the US Space Force. Little is known about the X-37B's missions, which have taken place as concerns grow that the US military's satellite network is under increasing threat. 'Most advanced re-entry spacecraft' In 1999, NASA selected Boeing to design a reusable orbital test vehicle to monitor and repair satellites closely. Over the next four years, the X-37 underwent several design iterations to achieve a more aerodynamic design than the Space Shuttle orbiter. It was initially intended to launch from the cargo bay of a space shuttle. But after the Space Shuttle Columbia crashed and killed all seven astronauts on board in 2003, it was redesigned to launch from a different rocket, making it smaller and more autonomous. The project cost nearly $192 million, and Boeing was awarded another $301 million contract in 2002 through the Space Launch Initiative, a joint research effort led by NASA and the Defense Department. The X-37 project was transferred to the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency in 2004 and became classified because of its military applications. In 2006, the Air Force announced the development of its own variant of the space plane, known as the X-37B, designed to operate with an orbital speed of nearly 17,500 mph for up to 270 days. The uncrewed test vehicle was nearly 30 feet long and had a wingspan of about 15 feet. Its max takeoff weight was 11,000 pounds, and it could accommodate payloads of up to 500 pounds. Dubbed the "most advanced re-entry spacecraft," the X-37B program would focus on "risk reduction, experimentation, and operational concept development for reusable space vehicle technologies, in support of long-term developmental space objectives," then-Air Force Secretary Michael Wynne said in 2006. Experimenting in space The X-37B was tasked with multiple orbital missions, ranging from testing materials under the conditions of space to releasing a small satellite with its own experimental payloads. The first X-37B vehicle was launched into orbit from Cape Canaveral in April 2010. The test vehicle spent 225 days in space and returned in December 2010 after conducting several orbit changes, though the data it collected during its maiden mission was classified. In 2020, the X-37B's sixth mission involved toting a small service module into space for the first time. The FalconSat-8 was a small satellite developed by the US Air Force Academy carrying five experimental payloads. After a record-breaking 908 days in space, the X-37B completed its mission and landed at the Kennedy Space Center in November 2022. Because much of the X-37B program is classified, the secrecy fueled speculation about the purpose of its mission sets, with some speculating that the space plane could be a weapons platform or used for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance from space. Launched from a SpaceX rocket The X-37B embarked on its seventh and current mission in December 2023, launching from the Falcon Heavy rocket, manufactured and launched by Elon Musk's SpaceX. The Falcon Heavy is capable of launching payloads over 22,000 feet above Earth, so the X-37B was launched higher than any other spaceplane and flew in a highly elliptical orbit. The purpose of its seventh mission was to experiment with "future space domain awareness technologies" and analyze the radiation effects on plant seeds during spaceflight, according to the Space Force. Another key objective of the X-37B's current mission is to refine and execute novel maneuvers called aerobraking, using the drag of Earth's atmosphere to quickly shift into low orbit and safely dispose of service module components using minimal fuel. Changing orbit is a crucial capability should the spaceplane be used to upgrade US satellites or disable those of its adversaries. Shrouded in secrecy Though the image taken by its onboard camera shows just a small portion of the X-37B, few photos of the vehicle itself are available to the public. A video montage posted on X in 2023 included a blink-and-you'll-miss-it moment of the X-37B separating from its service module during its sixth mission in 2020. The US military and Boeing also released the first photos from the same mission after it was completed in 2022. The US' X-37B vs. China's Shenlong The X-37B is known for conducting tests and scientific experiments in space, but details about its military applications remain highly classified. Operating space-based technology for decades, including the X-37B, has given the US an edge on the new frontier of orbital warfare. China follows closely behind the US with its own spacecraft known as the Shenlong, named after a dragon god in Chinese mythology. Like the X-37B, much about the aircraft is still shrouded in mystery. The Shenlong was first announced in 2007, but China has publicly disclosed few details about the top-secret space plane program. There are no known images of the Shenlong, and among the few capabilities that are known about the unmanned vehicle is that it can deploy via a rocket, quickly maneuver in space, and deploy payloads into space, much like the X-37B. During its first orbital flight in September 2020, the Shenlong remained in space for two days to release an object into orbit before returning to Earth. Its second launch in August 2022 lasted considerably longer, operating in orbit for nine months. The Chinese spaceplane was reportedly practicing maneuvers to deploy and recover a subsatellite, operations that require similar techniques to capture an enemy satellite. In December 2023, the Shenlong's third mission, which began just seven months after the second, reportedly had a similar objective, releasing an object from its cargo hold to test proximity operations. It completed its mission after nine months in space, returning to China this past September. Read the original article on Business Insider
