The UK Energy and Climate Change Minister, Greg Barker, has launched a new network led by two Bristol organisations, The Centre for Sustainable Energy and Bristol Green Doors, which is aimed at promoting the low-carbon retrofitting of UK homes. The launch took place at the Grand Design Live exhibition and conference in London.
The National Open Homes Network, funded by the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC), will provide practical support, resources and funding for new and existing low-carbon Open Home programmes throughout the country. By providing a showcase for homes that have already made low-carbon improvements, the new network is hoping to boost the take up of the Government’s Green Deal national energy efficiency scheme which was established in order to encourage people to make energy efficiency improvements in their homes thereby cutting carbon emissions and reducing energy bills.
Several Open Homes events have been held throughout the UK in recent years with householders opening their homes to the public in order to share their experience of various energy-saving technologies such as cavity wall insulation, draft-proofing and solar energy. These events have proved to be very popular and are a good way for people to see technologies in situ and to find out what they can do in their own homes.
“Open Homes initiatives – in all their shapes and forms – can generate a great local buzz” said Bridget Newbery, project manager for the new National Open Homes Network. “They are also a signal that others in the community are making low-carbon improvements to their homes to make them warmer, more comfortable and cheaper to run. Initiatives like these can inspire householders to go ahead with energy saving improvements, particularly when they see the results in a real home nearby, and can hear about the experience ‘from people like me’.”
Bristol Open Doors, a community-interest company, organised their first low-carbon Open Homes event in 2010 and have since gone on to support other such projects around the UK.
“The Green Deal will drive a transformation of properties in Great Britain to make them more energy efficient and easier to keep warm and comfortable” said Energy Minister Greg Barker. “For people considering making energy saving home improvements, there is nothing like seeing the benefits of real life examples – in your area and in homes like yours. I am really pleased to be able to support the development of a National Open Homes Network, building on the achievements of some excellent local networks across the country. This will make it far easier for householders to visit a wide range of properties and open home events, and will help really inspire and motivate people to improve their homes.”
The new network will commission research into sustainable funding strategies for event organisers and will also provide tools and guidance to help set up and run events. A competition for community groups wanting to set up a new open homes programme will be announced later this year.
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