A big 'Thank you' to all the house owners for taking part!
And thanks to all the visitors and helpers for coming along - it's been a majorly successful event, with about 50 up to about 200 visitors per house!

To see images of the event click HERE...
Read the Open Day REPORT by ClimateXChange...


Climate XChange and COIN (Climate Outreach Information Network)
have organized an Ecovation Open Days event in Oxfordshire.
For more details, see summary below or contact
toni (at) coinet.org.uk


Green House (by Stig - www.shtig.net)

 
Oxfordshire Ecovation Open Days

18 houses have open their doors to share the techniques and opportunities of eco-renovation. This was a fantastic opportunity to learn from the real experiences of the home owners and see exciting ideas for the future in action.

The houses cover a remarkable range of challenging types-including a garden office, a former council house, a terraced Victorian house, a 17th century cottage in a conservation area, a listed Regency villa, and a 1980’s developer house.

Some of the houses use standard materials that could be bought at any builders merchant. Others use experimental technologies including straw bale and sheep wool insulation, solar panels, wood burners and a heat pump that draws water from the Thames.

This was the largest eco-house open day yet organized in Britain and we hope it can be the model for other regional or national schemes next year.

The event was hosted by COIN, the ClimateXchange and the Sustainable Energy Academy with the support of Mid Counties Co-Op, Thames Valley Energy, Thames Valley Energy Advice Centre and Oxford City Council.

Opening times needed to be checked with the individual houses for slight variations, but were generally:

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Beehive - Strawbale house MANZIL WAY, COWLEY RD, OX4 1YH Strawbale walled, grey water system, and a natural 'dam' floor SAT 10-12NOON, 1-4PM 1890 Oxford Semi 41 MADGDALEN RD, OX4 1RB Solar Panels, advanced heating controls, windmill and ambitious plans for a full house eco-fit SUN 1-4pm See case studies - 1890 Oxford Semi 1980 terrace house 34 EAST STREET, OSNEY ISLAND, OXFORD,OX2 OAU A major refurbishment in a conservation area, with heat pump from the Thames,solar collectors, sun-space, solid wall insulation Pvs etc... SAT 1-4PM See case studies - End-terrace house 1890s terrace house 36 HARPES ROAD, SUNNYMEAD, OX27QL, SUMMERTOWN Evacuated tube solar panel, condensing boiler, thermal sempatap on walls and ridged radiator foil for insulation SAT 10-12NOON Victorian (1882) terrassed house 28 HARPES ROAD, SUNNYMEAD, OX2 7QL, SUMMERTOWN 2 bedroom, Victorian terraced house, with 6 photovoltaic solar panels installed on the roof of an extension. Other eco-features: insulated loft and doubleglazing throughout. Please note, that this house will now not open up to puplic. Please visit the other two houses in that same road instead... Thanks! Apologies for any inconvenience. Strawbale house 55 HENLEY AVENUE, OX4 4DJ Garden office and spare room built from strawbales and recycled materials with wood burner and compost toilet SAT 10-12NOON, 1-4PM A terraced Edwardian house 15 HOLYOAKE ROAD, HEADINGTON, OX3 8AF A terraced Edwardian house with multiple renovation strategies for warmth, comfort and a 50% reduction in CO2 emissions. SAT 11-4PM Windmill Barn WINDMILL BARN, CASSINGTON ROAD, YARNTON, OX5 1QD (from A44 to Turn Pike Pub – turn into Yarnton 0.7 miles through village past Red Lion pub – before village ends turn left up a track, at the top) Rainwater irrigation system (1200 litre) to enable rain water storage above ground in a medium sized garden and save costs, water pump for water usage in house and garden SAT 10-12NOON Church cottage WOODSTOCK, (see details on flyer) Renovation with advanced eco materials including leica-lime (floor insulation), sheep's wool insulation, reed board insulation and an energy efficient wall heating system SAT 12-4PM Lower Watts House LOWER WATTS HOUSE, PARK ST, CHARLBURY, OX7 3PS Many features and super insulation help this 1993 new build house use one quarter of the energy of a standard home of this size. SAT 10-12NOON, 1-4PM 1980 terrace house 45 TRINITY STREET, OXFORD, OX11TY ...with solar panels, sheep wool insulation, solar conservatory, triple glazing, water/energy saving features, condensing boiler SUN 1-4PM See case study - 1980 developer home Two houses... 39 RADCLIFFE RD, OX4 4BX Renovation of house and two story eco-extension in progress. External wall insulation, recycled triple glazed windows, superinsulated loft, south face solar windows, heat recovery ventilation, solar panels SUN 10-12NOON 1-4PM !Building site! Semi-deatched House 11 HARPES ROAD, SUNNYMEAD, OX2 Remarkable original 31 years old 'Sun harvester' Solar panels still working SAT 10-12NOON 18th century listed villa 44 IFFLEY TURN, OXFORD, OX4 4DU Renovation in progress in an 18th century listed villa with wood pellet heating, rainwater harvesting, insulation and heat exchange ventilation unit SUN 1-4PM ! Please note, that this is a building site and not terribly accessible, welly boots recommended in wet weather...! Yellow House THE YELLOW HOUSE, 377 MEADOW LANE, OX4 4BL Solar panels, grey water recycling, external insulation, turf roof, recycled and eco materials. Award winning project cut energy consumption by 60% SUN 10-12NOON, 1-4PM See case study - ex-council house Countryside Cottage PICCADILLY BACK WAY, GREAT HASELEY, OX44 7JP (M40 J8A) 17th century cottage in conservation area with wood boiler; breathable eco-insulation systems; underfloor heating; thermal mass to store heat; solar panels; and advanced eco materials. SAT+SUN 10-12NOON, 1-4PM; See case study - 17th century cottage Brick-built family house 16 JACK STRAW’S LANE, HEADINGTON, OX3 0DL with solar hot water system and solar photovoltaic panels, low energy lighting, improved insulation, and advanced heating controls  SAT 1-4PM, SUN 1-4PM 2-room flat 9 DUDLEY COURT, ROGERS ST, OX2 7LX Many practical tips in this eco-renovated 1960s flat - insulation, wood frame double glazing, energy efficient appliances, natural materials (cork,bamboo). SAT 10-12 NOON, 1-4PM See case study - 1970 Flat Renovated 1958 Semi house 70 SAINT LEONARD RD, OX3 8AB OXFORD, HEADINGTON This house has been renovated with the intention to make it as green as possible... It includes a water tank (for rainwater harvesting), solar panels, under floor heating in the new timber extension, wall- and loft insulation, double glazing, a heat recovery unit and many other interesting features. This house is not printed on the flyer - but it is worth visiting! SAT 11-4PM See case study 1958 Semi house

For more information and a 'How-to-get-there-map' please check FLYER (pdf-format)! (or pick one up in your local library)...

Articles and publications:

• Oxford Mail
• Oxford Times

For photographs of the event, click HERE...

 Organized and brought to you by:

Jo, Malcolm, Gavin (ClimateXChange)
Kezia, George, Antonia
(COIN - Climate Outreach Information Network)
Deborah Strickland (Designer)


With additional thanks to:
All eco-house participants!
The Co-operative
Thames Valley Energy
Oxford City Council
SEA (Sustainable Energy Academy)