Green showhome goes on display at Twerton
An energy-efficiency show home has been opened in Bath.
Bath and North East Somerset Council has teamed up with social housing landlord Curo to lay on the home at Twerton for a month so people can learn more about saving energy in their homes and reducing their fuel bills.
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The green home
Energy saving experts will be on hand to provide tips on setting central heating controls efficiently, measures to address condensation and damp, low energy lighting options, taking accurate meter readings, and picking the right insulation.
Anybody can drop in to 56, The Hollow, on Tuesdays from 3pm – 7pm, and Wednesdays to Saturdays, 10am – 2pm, until April 14.
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The open house will also be open on both Saturday and Sunday April 13 and 14 for the Green Homes weekend, when people show off the energy efficient work already carried out in their homes.
Councillor Simon Allen (Lib Dem, Radstock), the council’s cabinet member for wellbeing, said: “The open house is available to anyone wanting to take practical steps to stay warm, cut their bills, and reduce their carbon footprint.”
The project is part of the council's Winter Warmth Club managed by the Centre for Sustainable Energy in partnership with West of England Care and Repair, British Red Cross, Age UK and Curo.
Donna Baddeley, executive director for transformation and business improvement at Curo, said: "We hope that lots of people will drop in to see first-hand some of the simple, practical steps that they can take to save energy and save money in a typical home. The house will remain open for April's Bath Green Homes Open Weekend, before being re-let as a warm and affordable family home for Bath."
Full details about the club are available on the website www.bathnes.gov.uk/wwc or by calling the Home Energy Team free on 0800 0822234.
Bath Green Homes 2013 also involves Transition Bath and the Bath Preservation Trust, with more than 20 events taking place across the area throughout March and April.
The programme aims to show local residents how they can make their homes warmer, greener and cheaper to run. Events include the Green Living Fair on Sunday March 24 at Green Park Station and the annual Open Homes Weekend in April, which will showcase inspiring examples of local, energy efficient homes.
A number of workshops and talks are also being run, including:
• ‘Draught Proof Your Windows’ on Thursday March 21, 1.30pm, Bath Preservation Trust, Building of Bath collection, The Paragon, Free;
• ‘Home Energy Efficiency Workshop’ on Wednesday March 27, 7.30pm, Transition Bath, BRLSI, Queen Square, Transition Bath, Free, Booking is essential;
• ‘Introduction to Domestic Renewable Energy’ on Wednesday April 10, 7.30pm BRLSI, Queen Square, Transition Bath, Free, Booking is essential.
One of the home owners taking part in the weekend, John Toplis, added: “We have taken a DIY approach to making our home more efficient, and we were the first home in the area to get listed building consent for solar PV panels on our roof. We are proud to open our home so that others can see how we have saved energy and reduced our carbon footprint."
To find out more, visit the website www.bathgreenhomes.co.uk, follow @BathGreenHomes on Twitter, call 01225 477528 or email admin@bathgreenhomes.co.uk.
6 Comments
by MadAsHeck
Friday, March 15 2013, 11:37AM
“Is CURO having a laugh? Who pays for all this subsidised "free" PV energy? Taxpayers do. My home was rated as being as energy efficient as you can get this post-war build to be. Yet my house is so draughty you can hear the wind blow through the gaps in the so-called double glazing. I stuffed as much newspaper and plaster I could into the gaps. During the cold spell I couldn't stand it any longer and put the heat on. After two days I got it to 17C. The heat loss through the non-cavity walls of the post-war build house is fantastic. I leave the heat off and it is usually 5C to 10C this week. The reverse is true in summer when the house becomes unbearably hot (+30C) and the walls feel like a furnace.
As for energy efficient bulbs? Mine lasted 2 months when I tried some 5 years ago. I could not afford new ones so I bought the normal bulbs on the internet. They are still working after 5 years.”
by rogerh3
Thursday, March 14 2013, 11:00AM
“There's really nothing wrong with Georgian stock, including for social housing. It just needs appropriate treatment. Some of the poorest quality and least energy-efficient buildings are post-war stock.”
by mhelenmary
Thursday, March 14 2013, 10:30AM
“I feel that there needs to be more done on the production of energy, and solar panels are one way, there is heat pumps, and various other forms of energy.
I do not support fracking, I feel to be looking for more energy in this way, almost encourages the idea that there is always going to be energy to waste.
Georgian stock, and I live in a property that is cold, very cold, so I agree with Curo on the subject of, they are better to be used out of social housing.
Well done on the positive attitude, we need to face up to the serious situation of energy savings.”
by rogerh3
Thursday, March 14 2013, 10:00AM
“You can insulate solid walls on both the outside and inside. Double glazing will unlikely to be viable, at least financially but draught-proofing can be one of the cheapest and most effective measures.
Lots of useful advice here:
http://tinyurl.com/84f7vhg (PDF)
.”
by mhelenmary
Wednesday, March 13 2013, 9:47AM
“There is still going to be problems with the older stock, without cavity walls. This is where a vast amount of heat is lost. also, double glazed or secondary windows does help.
Again, more housing is needed.”
by mhelenmary
Wednesday, March 13 2013, 9:47AM
“There is still going to be problems with the older stock, without cavity walls. This is where a vast amount of heat is lost. also, double glazed or secondary windows does help.
Again, more housing is needed.”