Passivhaus plotline in 'The Archers' on Radio 4

The UK's longest-running radio soap opera is helping to put Passivhaus on the UK's cultural map, with a Passivhaus selfbuild plotline developing for characters Tony and Pat Archer of Bridge Farm. 

The Archers is a contemporary daily radio drama set in a rural setting that has been going since 1951 and has 5 million listeners. The programme often grapples with important social issues of the day. The Passivhaus Trust is delighted that the programme is currently featuring a Passivhaus selfbuild plotline for two of its key characters.

Have you ever heard of the Passivhaus concept? It's a house that's designed to be incredibly energy efficient. Basically these houses make use of the sun, internal heat sources, and heat recovery. It can be a building that already exists, which is retrofitted accordingly, or a brand new building altogether....I've been daydreaming about building one on Bridge Farm land...I'd love it, I really would.

Tony Archer, Bridge Farm, The Archers

Rural Passivhaus projects

As inspiration for Pat and Tony, we have created a 'moodboard' of Passivhaus and EnerPHit (Passivhaus retrofit) projects in agricultural and rural settings and have curated a Pinterest board!

Please join in by sharing your case studies and sketches for Tony's dream Passivhaus on social media, using the hashtag #TheArchersPassivhaus. 

 

 Episodes including the Passivhaus plotline

• 11 November 2024: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0024vtz
• 13 November 2024: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m0024wbg
• 14 November 2024: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m0024x1j

 

We are delighted that Pat and Tony are considering building a Passivhaus. For Passivhaus to be mentioned on The Archers is a sign that the international low energy and comfort building standard has well and truly arrived in the UK! It demonstrates that Passivhaus is becoming a mainstream option. We look forward to following The Archer's Passivhaus plotline closely and hope very much that Tony follows his dream to build one. We know that Pat and Tony will be very warm and comfortable in it.

Jon Bootland, Chief Executive, UK Passivhaus Trust

 

Further information

Passivhaus Benefits Guide & costs research 

Passivhaus goes Personal

21st November 2024

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