Eco-homes win green energy award
Published: 1 Dec 2008
A development of five eco-homes in Stawell, Somerset, has won an award. The houses won the award for the best housing scheme at the RegenSW South West Green Energy Awards, held on Tuesday 25th in Bristol. The houses will be some of the best low carbon homes in the country.
Green Party parish councillor Charlie Graham owns the land the houses were built on. As a concerned environmentalist, he wanted to ensure the homes were built to the highest sustainable standards. He chose Ecos Homes to manage the development because of their outstanding reputation and is delighted with both the homes and the award.
"We believe it is the first Sustainable Housing Level 5 development in the region and probably the country", said Charlie.
"We wanted the houses to be as eco-friendly as possible, as well as blending in with their beautiful surroundings, and we are extremely pleased with the results. Good eco-design is not only good for the environment, but saves homeowners money on heating and electricity bills, something that’s on people’s minds very much right now."
Green Euro candidate Ricky Knight congratulated Charlie on his award. "It’s always fantastic to see people putting their beliefs into practice and I’m delighted that Charlie’s dedication to a green vision and a sustainable future has been recognised officially with this award.
"As we move towards a world where energy supplies become scarcer, it is important that we are able to make the best of what we’ve got. The Government have a huge part to play in ensuring that saving energy is made as easy as possible for homeowners and I hope that developments such as this at Stawell will act as both a beacon and a spur to policy-makers and politicians."
The new homes will blend both traditional and contemporary design to offer homes that utilise sustainable technologies such as solar panels and wood pellet stoves. This will help to ensure a healthy internal environment with low heating and electricity bills. Specially landscaped gardens will support wildlife and provide residents with space to grow their own produce.
The terraced properties incorporate internal sunspaces and natural light is an important part of the design of all the homes. The internal courtyard allows for parking and car ports, with potential for all residents to enjoy a shared electric pool car.
For further information about the scheme visit the website.
