Today I went to visit a new Eco Home in Redlands. The property (pictured) on Addington Road is owned and managed by Catalyst Housing association which have a number of social homes to rent in Reading and across the South East.
This is the first major scheme in the development of Catalyst Housing's sustainability strategy for existing housing stock - we are very chuffed that they chose a property in Redlands to pilot this work!
The project comprises the eco-refurbishment of two, three-bedroom, semi-detached Victorian properties in Reading (12 Palmer Park Avenue and 47 Addington Road). Both homes were void and dilapidated and had been identified as suitable for sale on the open market because o the high costs of bringing them up to scratch.
The house I visited on Addington Road is a 'performance house' where budgetary constraints have been secondary to the overal building performance. It is being seen by Catalyst as a model for what can be achieved when additional funding becomes available.
As well as studying how effective retrofitting an existing property can be, the project will also monitor the way in which new tenants interact with their homes and this should provide valuable information about how individuals can improve their environmental performance by changing their behaviour.
I had a tour of the property - main features are as follows:
- Insulation - all external walls were insulated either internally or externally.
- Micro generation - electricity-generating photovoltaic tiles were installed to the front section of the roof. Solar thermal panels were also installed together with a range of efficient mechanical and electrical installation.
- A green roof was installed to the new rear extention - these retain 70-90% of precipitation.
- Rain watering harvesting systems mean that no surface rainwater will be sent to the local drainage system.
- SUDSCAPE sustainable urban drainage system was used to reduce risk of flooding.
The property itself has undergone extensive internal and external renovation. The house was transformed inside and outisde. It is great to see a national organisation investing in a property in our area. It will now make a very welcoming, warm affordable home for a Reading family and make a great addition to the Redlands neighbourhood.
These improvements mean that 47 Addington Road actually exceeds the energy efficiency requirements of new housing - this is some achievement although clearly it is very costly not only for housing associations but individuals to achieve this.
The SAP Rating on 47 Addington Road is now 87 (up from 17 before retrofitting) and there will be an estimated 91% reduction in CO2 emissions.
The Government's Green Deal is designed to help people cut emissions and cut their fuel bills. It will be rolled out later this year.
Aside from the work that has been done turning the property into an 'eco' home, I was pleased to see that Catalyst have worked hard to reduce the impact on the local environment. Where possible, all deliveries to site were combined
- Cycle stores have been fitted in the gardens will encourage the use of bikes
- Transport to and from site meetings were shared
- Information on local transport will be given to the new residents
- Local labour was used throughout the project
Wouldn't it be great if all local developments could be like this!
Carbon emissions from existing homes account for the majority of carbon emissions in the UK. Well done to Catalyst Housing Association a landlord of 20,000 for showing leadership on this issue.
Currently there is no funding available for housing associations to retrofit their stock in this way. I will be raising the issue with Andrew Stunell MP to see if there is more the Government can do to encourage and incentivise housing associations to improve the energy performance of their stock.
Apparently officers from Reading Borough Council's housing and sustainability teams visited the house - hopefully we will see more exciting innovations like this across our Council housing stock and in privately owned and rented homes soon.
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