He Huffed and He Puffed… but the Nottinghamshire & Derbyshire Eco Homes Stayed Warm!

A straw bale extension being constructed in Derbyshire

Looking for a different sort of day out this summer? Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire residents who have followed in the footsteps of the three little piggies and live in homes built from straw, wood, brick…. and also stone, are inviting you to visit them. Fortunately none of the houses will fall down if you huff and puff, but they do all have fantastic eco features that have saved their owners money and kept them warm and cosy.

All of the homes are involved in the brand new Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Eco Open Homes (NDEOH) ‘View By Appointment’ initiative. An Edwardian brick house with solid wall insulation, a straw bale extension on a Victorian terrace, a modern timber framed bungalow, and a 1760’s stone-built house with many eco features are all available to visit by appointment with the householder. From solar panels and wind turbines to simple draught proofing measures, the people who live in these houses have all found ways to save on their energy bills and reduce their environmental impact.

Caroline Harmon, of charity Marches Energy Agency, said: ‘Whatever material your house is built of, rising energy bills are affecting us all and there’s a pressing environmental need to reduce our energy use and get energy from renewable sources. This is an opportunity to see real solutions in real homes, done on a range of budgets, and have a chat with the people who live there about their experiences of having this work done.’

More than 600 people have visited a home or other building in the area between 2013 and 2015 as part of the Nottinghamshire & Derbyshire Eco Open Home Week events. The ‘View By Appointment’ initiative will give visitors more time to see homes and chat with the owners one-to-one. To find out more and book an appointment to visit any of the homes visit: http://www.everybodys-talking.org/ecohomes/visit-appointment