Date published: 2023-06-19 | Category: Delivering for local residents, Tackling the climate and ecological emergency
Residents who have added energy efficient features such as solar panels, heat pumps and water recycling to their home are being invited to showcase their property as part of the Green Open Homes B&NES weekend in November.
The open homes event, which is being led by Bath & West Community Energy (BWCE) in partnership with Bath & North East Somerset Council, Buro Happold, Bath Preservation Trust and Transition Bath, will take place on Saturday 4 and Sunday 5 November.
The event aims to showcase a variety of housing types, including listed buildings that have introduced a range of solutions from low-cost DIY methods such as draught proofing and smart power controls to more extensive options, such as wall insulation and triple glazing.
Visitors will be able to see examine the technology and ask questions of the homeowners to learn about different solutions, the installation process and the prospective energy savings to gain an understanding of how they could improve the energy performance and sustainability of their own homes.
Councillor Sarah Warren, deputy leader and cabinet member for Climate Emergency and Sustainable Travel, said: “Too many people will again face hard choices this winter with the cost-of-living crisis and seeing how other people are saving money is vital to our work to help tackle fuel poverty. We were a partner in the previous Open Homes events and are pleased to be involved in re-starting this event because we saw how it empowered residents to save energy, which in turn helps us meet our climate emergency commitments.”
The council was previously involved in Bath Green Homes, open weekends that ran in 2011, 2012 and 2014, with each event involving 15-20 open homes and more than 700 visitors.
Homeowners interested in opening their home for Green Open Homes B&NES can find more information and complete a form on the BWCE website giving details about the age of their property and what measures have been introduced. Properties will be selected from those offered to showcase different types of retrofits.
Business owners interested in sponsoring the event or anyone interesting in volunteering either to help with planning of the event or on the day to support the homeowners and ensure the event runs smoothly can complete a form on the BWCE website
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