Twelve homes across Bath will be opening their doors for the public to learn about ways of improving energy efficiency in their own home.
The Bath Homes Fit for the Future Open Homes Weekend event will be held 17th – 18th March 2012 and is being organised by Bath & North East Somerset Council, Transition Bath, and Bath Preservation Trust.
Local householders are being strongly encouraged to make a visit to take inspiration and install similar features that will save money on soaring fuel bills as well as reducing carbon emissions. A range of energy efficient measures will be on display including draught proofing, solar PV, air source heat pumps, different types of insulation, triple glazing, rainwater harvesting, and much more.
Councillor Paul Crossley (Lib-Dem, Southdown), Leader of Council, said, “The Open Homes Weekend supports communities to reduce their dependence on expensive, high carbon energy. Bath & North East Somerset Council and our partners are delighted that local people are leading on this initiative by either opening their home or volunteering to help the Open Homes Weekend run smoothly. We hope people will come and see the variety of energy efficient measures available from low cost to high tech, and a range of building types from heritage and traditional to modern and new build.”
Full details and a leaflet about the open homes can be found at https://sslvpn.bathnes.gov.uk/http/www.bathhomesfitforthefuture.co.uk/ or people can call 01225 477528. Standard opening times are 11am – 2pm and 3pm – 6pm on Saturday 17th and Sunday 18th March. Some home visits must be booked in advance – all visits are free.
An extensive programme of events is taking place at locations across Bath in March and April including a talk on installing green roofs (19th March), a hands-on workshop on energy efficient maintenance and improvement – including draught proofing and air tightness (14th April), and culminates in a consultation event on the Council’s Sustainable Construction and Retrofitting Planning Guidance (26th April). More details are on the website.
Nathan Baranowski, Chair of Trustees, Transition Bath, said “We are delighted that so many people have come forward to get involved by opening their homes, volunteering their time to the project, and organising their own complimentary events. We hope that the wider community will support the Open Homes weekend by taking part in visits, and spreading the word.”
Joanna Robinson, Conservation Officer at Bath Preservation Trust, said “Our own Building of Bath Collection on the Paragon, which will be open free to the public as a central exhibition space over the weekend, will be demonstrating its brand new LED energy efficient lighting project. There will be LED light bulbs to give away for the first 25 people through the door each day.“
