Open Homes in and around Nottingham, April 2015

Transition West Bridgford's springtime Open Homes event is taking place on the weekend of 25th and 26th April 2015.

We're expecting to have more homes to visit than any time before (eleven so far) so there will be plenty to choose from. Several have only just completed their refurbishments in the last 12 months, and some are still in progress.

All the details will be posted here in the next month. And if you'd like to receive an email when the opening times have been finalised, just email wbecohouses@gmail.com with OPEN HOMES WEEKEND in the header.

This is event is supported by funding from the Green Open Homes network with additional sponsorship from local companies Carbon Legacy Ltd, Westville Ltd and John A Stephens (the local builders merchants). Co-ordination of the event is by local consultancy EcoHouseNet.

If your company would like to sponsor community energy events like this one, please get in touch.

Organised by: and


With funding from:    

And additional sponsorship from....

 

Home energy efficiency grants re-starting soon

The Green Deal Home Improvement Fund (worth up to £7,600) was launched in June and axed just 6 weeks later due to popular demand.

However, it has been announced today that the grant scheme will re-open before the end of November, with an additional £100million in the pot. So if you missed out last time, it's time to check it out again.

Update: Phase 2 of the grant scheme started in December 2014. Phase 3 is expected in March 2015.

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/an-additional-100-million-for-household-energy-efficiency

Whether the grant is as generous as previously (for example, offering up to £6,000 and later up to £4,000 towards the cost of External Wall Insulation), remains to be seen.

If you are considering various options to make your home warmer or to cut the energy bills, it is a very good idea to do your research and think it all through carefully. Maybe get some quotes. Then if the grant scheme does start up again, you are poised and ready to see whether it will help  you, and if so, to make the most of it!

There is a handy report about energy saving options from zero cost to high cost on this site, co-written by me and an architect who specialises in low energy buildings including refurbishments. Just go to the "HOBBS Report" on the second tab - it is free to download.

If you live in or near to West Bridgford, then there's local help at hand. With our Transition West Bridgford thermal imaging camera, we can now show you where heat is escaping from your home!

Tina (tinaholt@ecohousenet.co.uk / 07962 453037) uses the camera as part of a whole house assessment to highlight energy saving options which might be suitable in your home.

Event - Know your energy efficiency options, grants and loans!

When and where: 28^th November from 7-9pm in West Bridgford, Nottingham.

Whether you are just thinking about a few low cost options for saving energy or wanting to find out about current loans and grants for energy efficiency work, this is the event for you.

For example, would you be interested in Solid Wall Insulation if there was a government scheme to reduce the cost?

If your home is not suitable for Cavity Wall Insulation, there is a new scheme to subsidise the cost of External Wall Insulation (EWI) and Internal Wall Insulation (IWI), which extends to a range of other energy saving improvements made at the same time. This subsidy, called ECO, can reduce the cost of the work by several thousand pounds and is not income-dependent – so it is worth knowing more about it!

There will be 10 minute talks on:

• ·        Insulating solid wall homes – what is the ECO subsidy? Could it help me?
• ·        Is the Green Deal a great deal? Or are there better alternatives?
• ·        Energy Efficiency and a Healthy House – how to do both.
• ·        Draught-busting and other low cost / DIY ways to save energy.

Then from 8-9pm there will be mini-surgeries, giving you the chance to put your questions to the speakers in small groups or individually.

If you would like to know more, why not come along to this information evening at Jesse Gray Primary School in West Bridgford, Nottingham on 28^th November from 7-9pm?

For more information, email wbecohouses@gmail.com. To reserve your free place and get full details, go to Event Brite at http://www.eventbrite.co.uk/event/9210154821/eac2. Numbers are limited so please book in advance.

Open Homes events in September 2013

During September, there will be Open Homes events running in many parts of the UK, many of them belonging to the Superhomes network.

Here in the Nottingham area, we'll be joining in the fun with Superhomes and other local low energy homes opening their doors to the general public.

Whether you are mulling over the most cost-effective ways to save energy next winter, or considering more costly ways to save energy and improve comfort in your home, keep an eye on this blog or email wbecohouses@gmail.com to make sure you get all the details. It's also a chance to find out more about the Green Deal and government incentives to help with the cost of external wall insulation, other energy saving measures and renewables.

If you already live in a low energy home and would like to open your home as part of this event, do get in touch - it's always great to have a wider range of examples.

An intro to the Green Deal Loan and the ECO grants

Like me, you have probably been cold called recently by companies offering you "free" stuff under the Green Deal.

Being quite well up on the ins and outs of the Green Deal, I do like to ask a few questions for my own entertainment and suss out whether the company concerned is prepared to be honest and give good info about the Green Deal, or whether they are being deliberately misleading.

Here's a very basic summary that includes some useful info about the Green Deal and the ECO. The key point to note - the Green Deal is a loan (and not a particularly cheap one), and the ECO is a grant.

Or if you have a warped sense of humour and would like an alternative overview (but perhaps not quite as useful), here's a little parody on uTube. (Warning - contains some strong language and may cause offence.)

The Energy Bill Revolution

Ok, so August is not the obvious time to be thinking about fuel poverty and rising fuel bills, but the Energy Bill Revolution alliance is gaining momentum, with the support of concerned individuals and a diverse range of well known organisations and charities.

Whether you are worried about your own fuel bills or the growing numbers of people falling into fuel poverty, you may be interested to read more about this campaign, and perhaps to register your support:
http://www.energybillrevolution.org/whats-the-campaign/

The government's current plans to encourage household energy efficiency (the Green Deal and the ECO) look likely to fall short of the kind of step change needed to reverse the increasing occurrence of fuel poverty in the UK. On top of that, the Department of Energy and Climate Change anticipates energy shortages in the UK by 2015 - although the risk could be reduced if substantial improvements in energy efficiency are achieved.

If you are hoping to reduce your energy bills through home improvements in the next year, keep an eye on this blog, or email wbecohouses@gmail.com to receive local (East Midlands) updates by email.

The HOBBS reports go live

As the Homes Behaving Badly project comes to an end, the suite of reports created as part of this project are now publicly available.

Click here to download the HOBBS Reports

(If you spot any errors, do tell us. We have found one so far.)

Sections 2 to 5 are specifically for householders, providing an introduction to energy efficiency in the home - from the free and low cost options to the medium and high cost options.

With separate sections devoted to houses of cavity wall construction, houses of solid wall construction and  rooms in the roof, there should be something useful here for a wide range of householders.

The case studies in Section 2 demonstrate the big savings that can be made through energy-saving habits and run-of-the-mill improvements to our homes.

For those who are interested, the case studies also illustrate what else can be done to turn an ordinary house into a low-energy home and how much effort and money might be required.

An overview of local housing stock and a summary of the HOBBS project as a whole can be found in Sections 6 and 7 of the HOBBS report.

We hope you find them useful!

Click here for Homes Behaving Badly final press release

Exhibition presentations

During the recent exhibition of low energy homes, experts gave presentations on 5 very different homes.

A sixth presentation was given by Tim Saunders of the Energy Savings Trust, on grants and financial incentives (the FIT, the RHI and an introduction to the Green Deal).

If you missed the presentations or would like to see them again, here they are:

Architect Michael Siebert described a timber frame new build (to Level 5 of the Code for Sustainable Homes)

Dr Tina Holt talked about progress to date on her 1950's solid wall house (which is aiming for EnerPHit or somewhere close.)

(more to follow)

More about the exhibition

There are just days to go to West Bridgford’s free exhibition of low energy homes on 21st January 2012 (see previous post), so here is a bit more information about the displays and presentations.

Seven low energy homes will be represented in detail, each with their own display of photos, information and in some cases, samples of energy saving products. 


(Two homes will be open to visitors during the afternoon - the timber frame new build and the 1950's refurbishment. Just sign up at the stand for either house or email info@wbecohouses.co.uk to visit at 2pm or 3pm.)

Energy efficiency advice will be available from Sheila Hood, Rushcliffe Borough Council’s Energy Officer. 

Independent information about renewable technologies will be displayed on the Energy Saving Trust stand where Tim Saunders will be able to answer your questions.

In a separate room, between 10am and 1pm there will be a series of short 20 minute presentations in the following order:

10.15   Creating a zero carbon barn conversion

      David Hill, Managing Director of Carbon Legacy

10.40   Latest news on the Feed in Tariff, Renewable Heat Incentive and Green Deal

            Tim Saunders, Energy Saving Trust

11.10   Ultra low energy refurbishment – externally insulated 1950’s brick house

            Gil Schalom, Architect and Tina Holt, organiser of the exhibition

11.30   Ultra low energy refurbishment – internally insulated stone Coach House

            Gil Schalom, Architect

12.00   Building low energy homes in the Meadows and Sneinton

            John Long, project leader for Igloo and Blueprint Regeneration

12.30   Timber frame new build – a very low energy home in West Bridgford

            Mike Siebert, Architect

If you would like any further information about the exhibition, email info@wbecohouses.co.uk

Exhibition of local low energy homes

As part of the Eco Houses under Construction series, we have organised a FREE Exhibition on Saturday 21st January 2012 (10am-1pm) at St Paul's Church Hall on Boundary Road in West Bridgford. To see to poster, click here.

The exhibition will showcase all the houses that have already featured in the Eco Houses under Construction series, with a few additional examples as well. From a solid wall home insulated with minimal disruption to the occupants, to full scale ultra low energy refurbishments and new builds, this is a sneak preview of the homes of the future.

It is a great chance to see the displays and talk to the home owners, architects and those who provided the products and services to create these low energy homes. And it is a one-off opportunity to compare the different projects while they are all represented under one roof.

• If your New Year's resolutions include cutting your energy bills, come and have a chat with Rushcliffe Borough Council's Energy Officer. She will be offering independent advice about improvements that should save you money in the short to medium term. And we'll have the latest news on the Green Deal - a scheme designed to help people finance energy efficiency savings with no up front cost.

• If you live in a solid wall house and find it increasingly expensive to heat, come and talk to the home-owners who have already improved their homes, and the experts who helped them.

• If installing renewable energy generation technologies might be for you, independent renewables expert, Tim Saunders from the Energy Saving Trust will be able to answer your questions.

• If you have ambitious plans to live in an ultra low energy or zero carbon home, or to be completely self-sufficient by producing all your own energy, this exhibition is a must-see.

We hope to make the event enjoyable as well as informative, so Taste Cafe will be there selling their delicious cakes and light lunchtime snacks.

The Eco Houses Under Construction project is funded by Climate East Midlands, East Midlands Improvement and Efficiency Partnership and Communities and Local Government with a Growing Climate Friendly Communities grant. It is overseen by the charity Groundwork East Midlands. 

Green Deal Consultation - we want your views!

A few of us attended the "Greening the Green Deal" event in Radcliffe on Trent on Saturday 10th December. It was run by Terena Plowright, the founder of the Greening Campaign, and champion of putting communities in the driving seat.

After a very useful review of the Green Deal's key features, Terena invited us to read the consultation document and to respond to it.

Questions you may wish to consider:

• Do you think communities have a role in the present outline policy?
• Where do you think the blocks to the household uptake will be?
• Can you see an opportunity for communities to make money? How?
• Can you seen an opportunity for setting up community energy schemes? How?
• How can community energy develop within the framework of the Green Deal?
• What needs to be added or altered to the Green Deal framework to make this easier?
• What blocks stop community energy schemes taking place?

The online consultation response document is rather heavy going so Terena invited us to email our comments to her for her to discuss with DECC directly. If you would like to take part in this process, please read the consultation document and email your thoughts to info@wbecohouses.co.uk and I will send on the combined "wbecohouses" response. 

The consultation ends on 18th January 2012, but Terena may need our responses before that. If I can get an exact date I will add it here. I hope to hear from you -  the sooner the better!

10 Dec 2011: If you are thinking of going to the Green Deal Seminar, in Radcliffe [Dec 10th 1-4pm], it is still possible to book, read the link below of the report of the London seminar held earlier in the week, and check a couple of stories below this for the details for booking the Radcliffe event.

http://blog.emap.com/footprint/2011/12/09/eco-refurbishment-and-the-green-deal/

List of events, and how to book, see:
http://www.greening-campaign.co.uk/green-deal-event-list.html 

Green Deal Consultation Events

The Greening Campaign invites us to get involved in "Greening the Green Deal". Your chance to make your voice heard.

For events across the country, go to: http://www.greening-campaign.co.uk/green-deal-event-list.html. The Nottingham event will be in Radcliffe on Trent on the 10th December - follow the link above to book your place.

If you would like an easy to read summary of the consultation, email info@wbecohouses.co.uk and one will be emailed to you.

Here is more information from Terena, founder of the Greening Campaign:


The Green Deal Consultation document has been released and can be found at 
 
http://www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/consultations/green_deal/green_deal.aspx
 
We are discussing this document and the issues surrounding it at events across the country and will be presenting a formal report to DECC early January.
Please see attached information.To book FREE seats at any of the events (and more information) please go to:
http://www.greening-campaign.co.uk/green-deal-event-list.html
 
This is our biggest chance to reduce CO2 effectively and it would also create jobs and could bring communities together.  Lets make sure we get this right.  If you attend any meeting this month please attend one of these.  We need your brains to think this through.  The Green Deal team are attending many of the conferences and want to hear your thoughts.
 
With the Green Deal we can get massive energy efficiency moderations made to peoples homes without them paying for the work up front (in some tests energy use has dropped by 80%).  The electric bill will go down and a little more is added to pay back for the work – Brilliant!!  However, as always the small print can make a difference so lets at least read it!!  And then lets comment constructively to make this happen.
 
Please pass this to your contacts!!!
See you there – it is all FREE
Terena

Hockerton note about Green Deal

I have had this newsletter from the Hockerton Housing Project, with some important advice about the Green Deal:

Some of you may have read about the Green Deal, the Coalition Government's proposal to remove the upfront cost barrier to making homes more energy efficient. This is due to be introduced in late 2012, but details are starting to emerge.
   Property-owners (both domestic and commercial) will be able to pay the costs of measures against savings on their energy bill, and when they sell up, the charge will stay with the property so you only have to pay for what you benefit from. It is also hoped that this mechanism will result in uptake of energy efficiency measures in the rental sector, where there is the highest proportion of dangerously cold homes. If not, we could see the introduction of minimum standards in that sector.
   This will mean the end of grants for loft and cavity wall insulation, although support will continue for fuel poor households and there will also be some form of subsidy for solid wall insulation.


What if you want to act now? Here are our recommendations:


- If you have uninsulated cavity walls or lofts, seek out deals from energy suppliers or potentially your local authority. These offers may not be around in future.
- If you are considering solid wall insulation, there will be some form of subsidy from late 2012 but the application process is as yet unknown. There may be an annual limit on applications so if you see an opportunity to register your interest through an energy company, local authority or other potential Green Deal provider, do so.
- The Government will shortly announce its plans for the Renewable Heat Incentive that will be introduced in June 2011to support low carbon heating systems such as heat pumps and biomass boilers. Payment of the incentive may be dependent on the installation of energy efficiency measures - so you may want to wait for the details of the Green Deal to help manage the upfront costs of these.

-If you are thinking of starting a project from scratch you may find it helpful to look at Hockerton Housing Project Fact Sheets. click here
See more about the Green Deal from the DECC website 

Low-energy retrofit websites

There is a growing selection of websites where you can read about different Retrofit projects. Here are a few that I have found so far:

Retrofit for the Future

This database shows the performance of different building in both figures and graphs, so that design intention can be compared with built reality, and projects can be compared with each other. There is also a document you can download for each house which gives its retrofit details.

Old Home Super Home Project

Another website showing details of existing homes which have been refurbished to cut their energy requirements by at least 60%. You can visit some of these homes too.

There's also the Great British Refurb Campaign

You can sign their petition (calling on the UK government to provide cash rewards to people who refurbish their homes to reduce energy use) and find useful info and links on the site.

There is an interesting article on Retrofit in Mark Brinkley's blogsite: sometimes, retrofit can be so expensive that to achieve a full Passivhaus standard, you might have to spend as much as building a better designed house on the same site.

The Green Deal

1 Dec '10: All the energy pundits agree on one thing - that for all the small number of new ecohouses there are, there are thousands or even millions of homes in the UK that are poorly insulated or have inefficient boilers - the cumulative effect from them is more harmful than the good we might get by focusing only on New build.
The Green Deal is addressing the issue of existing homes and business premises. There is financial support for energy saving measures, including insulation, and energy generating schemes such as PV.

See the page on the DECC website that explains more.

See also the leaflet from the Energy Saving Trust.