Improving the Use of Energy in Buildings

Reducing Carbon Footprints by Transforming Older Houses

We all know that to combat climate change, we need to reduce our global carbon footprint by at least 60% across the board. For older housing the choice is simple: either we transform our houses or demolish them with all the consequent cost, disruption and loss of amenity. For parts of London, such as Camden and Kensington and Chelsea the consequences would be disastrous, up to 80% of these homes were built before 1919 and have solid brick walls.

The scheme is building and promoting a network of exemplar, energy-efficient old dwellings, which will be local and publicly accessible, within 15 minutes of nearly everyone in the country.  Already there is a SuperHome within an hour of over 76% of the population.

These homes have been renovated to display huge carbon savings usually by a combination of highly efficient insulation, energy reductions and often the installation of renewable technologies.  The properties have all achieved a minimum carbon saving of 60% and most have gone even further.  A few of the properties are now carbon neutral!

By making these exemplars accessible to the public we aim to help homeowners and local authorities to get hands-on knowledge and be inspired to transform their own housing.  These are real homes, lived in by real people, though there are a couple of 'EcoHouse' demonstration properties too. 

Contact:-

For more information about the project or to get involved please see www.superhomes.org.uk