This is what the British Government is aiming towards in the next decade, and by 2016 it wants to see all developers creating zero carbon homes.
Such a property would have zero net emissions of carbon dioxide from all energy use in the home. This includes energy consumed by appliances such as televisions and cookers, together with heating, hot water and ventilation.
Currently the energy used to heat, light and run our homes accounts for 27 per cent of all the UK's carbon emissions at around 40 million tonnes.
In Northamptonshire thousands of homes are to be build over the next 15 years including a controversial proposal for 3,500 at Dallington Grange.
Under the Government's new code for sustainable development, these houses will have to become increasingly environmental.
Mike Hayes, chief executive of West Northamptonshire Development Corporation, which is overseeing expansion in the county, said they were keen to push developers to make houses as energy efficient as possible.
He added: "This world is changing very rapidly, it is difficult to know what is enforceable and what is aspirational. The Government are racheting up the standards of quality of developments.
"The WNDC is committed to encouraging the highest levels of sustainability. Particularly combined heat and power systems, access to transport and walkability.
"Part of the challenge is getting everyone up to speed.
"We are producing a west Northamptonshire planning statement which is going to be guidance for developers.
"It is about pushing people and trying to raise the bar.
"A lot of the community are ahead of the politicians on this, although it does not apply if it is about using your car. People are up for recycling and low carbon emissions. We are increasingly using recycled building materials, but not enough."
The code for sustainable development set out by the Government will complement the system of Energy Performance Certificates which is being introduced in June 2007. These will require that all new homes (and in due course other homes, when they are sold or leased) have an Energy Performance Certificate providing key information about the energy efficiency and carbon performance of the home.
In the short-term, the sustainable development code is voluntary but the Government is encouraging home builders to follow its principles. The code has several levels which developers should aspire to over the next 10 years. Current homes must have a 10 per cent energy improvement over the 2006 building standards and this rises to 100 per cent by 2016.
Northamptonshire County Council energy manager Philip Gray said the code, together with a rise in energy prices could make homeowners and developers focus on energy alternatives.
He added: "The code for sustainable homes is only voluntary at the moment. But the Government has set a new set of regulations and wants to raise the minimum levels that homes have to reach, each year. They are aiming by 2016 to have zero carbon homes. That is incredibly ambitious, but it good at the moment to push developers."
One of the ways to reduce energy consumption could be through district heating schemes which serve a whole community rather than the current system of each house having an individual boiler. This is already common practice in countries like Sweden where the climate is much colder.
The sustainable development code has been launched off the back off a international challenge for housebuilders to design and build flagship zero-carbon and low carbon communities.
The Carbon Challenge, which will be run by English Partnerships, calls on developers to raise standards of design, construction, energy and water use and waste disposal so that these techniques can be used in the future as a benchmark for mainstream development. It also seeks to meet rising expectations from the public for more sustainable communities.
It builds on the Chancellor's announcement in the pre-budget report that in future most new zero carbon homes will be exempt from stamp duty.
The Upton development in Northampton is a prime example of good environmental practice with 1,000 homes fitted with solar panels, rain water harvesters, and wool insulation.
Mr Hayes commented: "Upton works because English Partnership were able to be clear about the specification they were looking for when they sold the land. It was factored into the land price.
"We need to be getting enough of this stuff into mandatory policy as we can. It has got to come off the price of the land as houses cost too much already, and that will take time. It is also about getting people buying houses to know what is on offer. No one tells you how to buy a house and yet it is a really important purchase.
"There is a gap without doubt (between Upton and standard developments)."
Tighter building regulations are also having an impact on the design and structure of public premises.
Northampton General Hospital is currently building a £30million cardiology, renal and nuclear medicine unit which has been scrutinised by planners.
Kevin Hackett, hospital head of estates, explained: "The building has to go through a modelling process looking at every energy output and input. It has to have a 25 per cent improvement on carbon emissions than the 2002 Government standards.
"If a building is over 100 square metres it has to be pressure tested to make sure it doesn't leak. Building regulations now are extremely strict."