The homes are being independently tested. Our showhouse achieved the highest possible energy rating, with a score of 0, well within the top A category. The townhouses are also performing very strongly, and we are improving them further. For context, many typical homes in Spain have significantly lower ratings. Each villa will have around 15kW of solar panels, producing two to three times its daily energy needs in summer. With battery storage, homes can run day and night with minimal reliance on the grid. By law, we must be connected, but in practice, we expect to be net contributors, sending clean energy back into the grid. All homes will use heat pumps, which are 3-4 times more efficient than traditional electric heating, along with airtight construction and heat recovery ventilation to minimize energy loss. A solar park is now included in the infrastructure project delivered to the city hall.

We are in the process of partnering with air to water generators who can generate water from condensation in the air and can produce enough water to run the whole household. Water from sinks and showers will be treated and reused for irrigation. Rainwater will be collected from roofs and stored in tanks across the site. Wastewater from toilets will be treated in our own plant, producing water that can be reused and also useful by-products like fertilizer. We are also planning additional storage systems, including large tanks and potentially a small reservoir, to capture and reuse rainwater. Overall, water use per person is expected to be significantly lower than the regional average, about 80L instead of 120L. This can be achieved through the water saving measure of the house, like the toilet and showers and also the water collection mentioned above. The Aerix system 120L per day and a tank of 240L. Pure drinking water, with all minerals still intact and treated with UV and ozone, so we are no strain on the economy. There are no plans for individual swimming pools for each house. Instead, there will be a small number of shared pools, supplied in part by collected rainwater.

The village is designed around car-free living. The majority of The MEV is free of petrol vehicles, with getting around by using small electric buggies and scooters, many with their own solar roofs. A small designated area accommodates cars for those who need them.

This is not a new concept. Similar eco villages have operated this way for decades, and their residents consistently report the same thing: life without cars is simply better. Kids play outside more. Neighbours actually stop and talk with one another. The area is much quieter. The air is cleaner.  That is what we are going for at The MEV.

The homes currently use a steel frame design, but we are currently also exploring 100% timber frame construction and timber-based insulation. Our current walls use non-toxic, high-performance materials like rockwool for insulation and Fermacell panels, made from natural gypsum and recycled paper. They are fire-resistant, waterproof, durable, and designed to last. The wall system is over 25 cm thick, breathable, and built to keep homes cool in summer and warm in winter, reducing energy use. We also try to source our materials as locally as possible with suppliers from the Alcoy and surrounding areas to support local businesses and reduce shipping routes.

The MEV is designed to be economically self-sustaining as well as environmentally. An internal economy with a local voucher system, on-site food and energy production, and multi-generational design all support a self-sustaining way of life where residents can choose how connected or off-grid they wish to be. The village is also projected to create over 150 jobs, with priority given to residents. Members have the opportunity to open their own business within the village, whether a restaurant, education program, regenerative farm, or other venture, with a built-in community of customers and neighbours rooting for their success.

Community fees are designed to be minimal, funded largely through village business profits rather than residents. As the project grows, the community will share its learning through workshops and educational programs centered on sustainable living.

We are working with nature, not against it. We have a team of gardeners, biologists and environmental engineers creating green areas based on permaculture principles that support biodiversity, soil regeneration, water conservation, and long-term ecological balance. In our “Proyecto de Urbanizacion” submission to the city council we also included environmental evaluations etc. like the “Plan de Evaluación Ambiental” which is a preventative procedure designed to identify, predict, and mitigate the negative impacts that a project may have on the environment.

One of the commitments we also made to the land was that for every tree removed, we will plant two new ones. We are investing to improve soil quality, biodiversity, and long-term land use through regenerative and permaculture-based systems designed to work in harmony with the local ecosystem. As part of this approach, we will grow food on-site using organic methods and without any pesticides, including the development of food forests inspired by natural ecosystems. We will also have our own farm with animals that are cared for ethically and helping to naturally improve soil quality, fertility, and ecological balance. Our goal is to create a self-sustaining environment where food production, biodiversity, and responsible land stewardship support one another for generations to come.