SUSTAINABLE HOMES REDUCE TENANTS FUEL BILLS
March 09 2005
Future tenants of new homes that are being built as part of a £6.3 million social housing project in South Birmingham, will be living in eco friendly homes, powered by solar technology, which will cut their fuel bills. The regeneration project will include homes built into the hillside in Shenley Green, and will incorporate many sustainable features, such as solar panels, to reduce energy needs which will lessen CO2 emissions and benefit the environment!
The development is the second phase of a major regeneration programme by developers, Bournville Village Trust. The 42 flats, houses and bungalows have all been carefully designed by Bournville Architects and point towards the South to maximise the non polluting and free warmth from the sun. The earth sheltered homes will have high insulation levels, minimising bills for the occupiers. The earlier phase which cost £4 million and was completed in 2003, has already picked up environmental awards.
Sustainability does not stop there. With the help of a Government grant, several properties will have solar panels in the roof that pre-heat the cold water before it goes into the hot tank, non polluting and free of cost. The Solartwin technology, which will be installed by CHN, is a UK invented solar water heater. Its unique "zero carbon design" has won two awards from the DTI and enables it to keep operating even during power cuts. Many of the properties will have spectacular sun spaces, like two storey conservatories that will insulate and provide warmth to the buildings, and will provide an additional room. The rents will be kept to affordable levels of no more than £80 per week, even for the largest house.
Families who are already living in the area in flats that are suggested for demolition are likely to take up the tenancies of these eco friendly homes, for which there is already a long waiting list.
Building work undertaken by Bullock Construction has already commenced and is expected to be completed by December this year. Unemployed local people are being trained and taken on by Bullock Construction, as apprentices, throughout the project.
Hitesh Champaneri, of Bournville Village Trust said: "Bournville Village Trust brings the George Cadbury philosophy of quality and social responsibility to all its regeneration projects and sustainability is part of that legacy. Solar panels were used for the first time by the Trust in the early 1980’s in our development at Rowheath and we are continuing our interest in this innovative technology as a means of helping to arrest global warming."
