First tenants move into Camden EcoHome

Published by Jane Gething-Lewis for 24dash.com in Housing and also in Local Government

Camden’s EcoHome has started to earn its keep, housing its first council tenants for a month now and proving this is how to cut emissions and costs. The family's 'green' lifestyle is being monitored over the next year.

The award winning EcoHome is a groundbreaking experiment in reducing carbon emissions while preserving the character and heritage of the Victorian property.

It is believed changes made to the house, which was built around 1850, could cut carbon emissions by up to 80 per cent – and this will shape plans to cut emissions in the Council’s 7000 period street properties.

The new residents will be working with Camden Council’s Sustainability Manager for Housing Chit Chong, who will provide them with an understanding of how best to maximise the energy savings in their new home.

University College London along with Camden Council will also carry out ongoing comprehensive monitoring to determine energy consumption; the level of CO2 emissions and ultimately the cost effectiveness of the different technologies employed throughout the property. The residents will also provide direct feedback on matters of general comfort and satisfaction.

Cutting edge improvements to the property include:
* Floor, roof and internal wall insulation substantially better than new buildings
* windows that are 20 percent better at retaining heat than current building regulations for new buildings
* high levels of draught proofing
* solar panels to generate hot water and electricity
* local heat recovery ventilation to warm incoming fresh air
* rainwater harvesting for use in the garden.

Chris Naylor, Executive Member for Homes and Housing Strategy said: “The EcoHome has been refurbished to a very high standard, making it an energy efficient home with much lower running costs.

“I’m delighted we now have a new family here to benefit from this investment - what we learn here will help us cut emissions and fuel poverty in all our homes across the borough.

“The energy requirements of the home have been reduced by improving its thermal performance, to reduce the dependency of the home on non-sustainable energy sources and to minimise the environmental impact of the home as it is upgraded.“

A month after moving into the EcoHome, Mr Ali, speaking on behalf of his family said: “Overall the main idea is to reduce carbon emissions and ultimately reduce our utility bills. So that is something that I am looking forward to in terms of how it reduces our bills.

“In our previous flat the heating used to escape a lot. The fact that the house has got insulated walls and draught proofing means that it stays warm for longer.

“We have to reduce carbon emissions to help the environment. The solar panels are installed so we are creating our own electricity and we are also reusing rain water for the gardening.

“We are very happy and pleased about living in the house. It has been refurbished to a standard of the 21st century and I am happy that it will have a positive impact on our family”.