More homes with higher energy efficiency are being build in Glasgow to help tackle climate change and reduce fuel poverty.

The Ice Box challenge to demonstrate the benefits of even better energy efficiency is taking place in Glasgow for the next two weeks.

Two boxes small shed like buildings, have been filled with one tonne of ice each and sealed.

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Glasgow Times:

One box has been built to the Scottish Building standard, bronze level, which is the most used and the other to the Passivhaus standard.

Passivhaus is a higher standard with thicker insulation and higher standard windows.

After two weeks they will be opened and the amount of ice weighed to see how much heat has managed to get into the building.

The one with the most ice left will be the more energy efficient.

Passivhaus has five principles that reduce the amount of heat loss.

They are high-quality thermal insulation, windows with triple glazing, avoidance of thermal bridges, an airtight building envelope, and a ventilation system with heat recovery .

It means a Passive House building needs very little energy and they can do without the need for classic building heating systems.

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There are already some Passivhaus developments in Glasgow and more in the pipeline.

Michelle Mundie, Housing Investment Group Manager at Glasgow City Council, said It is an important consideration when developing new housing.

“Housing associations in Glasgow are looking at this very closely and what it means to new build programmes. For tenants it means more comfortable home with lower running costs.”

Plans are underway for another 90 Passivhaus homes at Dundashill by West of Scotland Housing Association and others have either been built or are planned.

 Shettleston Housing Association, has converted an old church into four homes to Passivhaus standard and Southside Housing Association and Sanctuary Housing have plans to build passivhaus developments.

Julio Bros-Williamson a construction energy efficiency expert at Napier University, said Passivhaus is a more energy efficient approach to the standard approach of housebuilding standard in Scotland.

Glasgow Times:

He said: "The main difference is insulation thickness. Passivhaus is double that of the Scottish standard. Very little air escaped from the inside.

Initially it is more expensive to build but over a lifetime they are more economical."

Ruairi Kelly, convenor of Glasgow City Council housing committee, said: "Glasgow has high density housing challenges. Sustainable energy should also be about reducing fuel poverty."