         
Details of Eco-homes Open Days 2008. Get visiting!
Oxfordshire's second Eco-homes Open Days returns in September.
19 homes across Oxfordshire will invite the public to see, experience, and share the techniques and vision of their eco-renovations.
Download the Oxfordshire Eco-Homes Open Days 2008 leafletDownload the Oxfordshire Eco-Homes Open Days posterSee full details (location, date and opening times) of the Eco-Homes Open DaysSee the promotional videoSee the Eco-Homes Press ReleaseThe eco-homes look like ordinary houses on the outside. But looks can be deceptive: from simple and affordable to sophisticated, the houses use the latest ideas and technology of green design to slash their energy and water use and lower their carbon footprints. They recycle their water, generate power with solar panels or windmills, are super insulated (sometimes with a turf roof, sheep's wool or straw bales) and one is even heated by a heat pump that draws energy from the River Thames.
The houses cover a wide range of types - including a flat, a terraced Victorian house, a 17th century cottage in a conservation area, a listed Regency villa and a 1980's developer house. The house owners themselves will show visitors around and share the excitement, challenges and sometimes frustrations they encountered in creating their green home. The weekend will give you first hand experience of eco-renovation, and demonstrate what is possible for the existing housing stock. The Eco-homes Open Days aim to empower and inspire members of the public to make environmental changes to their own homes through seeing what practical steps other people have taken in their homes. It is about people learning from the experience of others and making positive changes to reduce their environmental footprint. The event follows the success of our first event in November 2007, which saw over 1,200 visits to 18 homes over a weekend. See the report of the 2007 event.We hope to reach people from many different backgrounds and experiences and welcome especially first time visitors. The event is jointly organised by Oxford-based education charity, the Climate Outreach Information Network (COIN), and Oxfordshire ClimateXChange, with the generous support of Oxford City Council, Oxfordshire County, Pink and Black Property Consultants, Simply Green and the Fund for Environment and Urban Life. It runs as part of the Heritage Open Days, and more locally Oxford Open Doors which celebrates England's fantastic architecture and culture by offering free access to properties that are usually closed to the public. In the climate change century, eco-renovated and eco-built houses are playing an increasingly important part of this event - more eco-homes and buildings across the country are open as part of the Sustainable Energy Academy's Old Home Super Home project.
The homes will demonstrate:· environmental renovation
· insulation methods · renewable energy · reduced energy bills · water savings · waste water recycling · rainwater harvesting · green roofs • natural and recycled materials There will be a suggested voluntary donation of £2 on the door.
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Article by
jo_hamilton
in Eco-renovation
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