It is simple, really. The 5 year gas boiler thing is a red herring, its a goal, a wish, one that will shift.
So cut out all the hype, all the maybe's, all the future technology*, you go with today. Today is highly insulated property, maybe some minor hot air recovery, high efficiency gas boiler for central heating, highly insulated hot water store. Maybe plan property elevation/roof for solar panels. LED lighting systems are a given. That way you get to concentrate on the important liveability factors.
And of course its architecture - Its going to be around for a hundred years, it needs to age gracefully and not jar on the eye.
*It costs, its expensive now, and with lowish efficiency, poor installation practices now (both bound to improve) Capex will need to be recovered over a longer period of time. Applies to air source and ground source heat recovery.
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