Manchester’s Eco House ProjectDiana Clayton & Maggie Bennett

Manchester City Council’s Energy Group

The Task

• To create an Eco ‘show house’• To be an educational resource for climate

change, energy efficiency and alternative energy• To motivate and inform councillors and

community champions• To inspire housing companies, developers and

residents to go green

Making it happen

• House selection• Budget available• Incorporating BRE Ecohomes Criteria• Working with the designer• Working with the contractor• Working with the BRE assessor• Incorporating DDA / Planning/Building regs

Condition of property

• The properties had been vandalised, empty and boarded for the past 2-3 years

• Total refurbishment needed

Work to be done

• Structural remedial work

• DDA Compliant

• Interior changes

• External improvements

Additional features

• Materials required for EcoHomes

• Insulating the property

• Energy efficiency

• Innovation

Displays

• Cavity wall / loft / pipe insulation

• Display of energy efficient light fittings

• Boiler controls/ tank insulation

• Sun Pipe / low water radiators

• Recycling / wormery

• Fossil fuel / solar PV & thermal

Information

• Audio Visual Room

• Information Boards/ Fact Sheets

• Visual Cut-away Displays

• Demonstration Products

• Internet Access

Costs

• Bringing the house up to standard

• Making the house DDA compliant

• Range of works (freebies)

Things that could have gone better• Ensured that the design team were on board• Ensured adequate support from the BRE

assessors• Ensured tight control of evidence paperwork

required for the BRE Ecohomes criteria • Having sufficient funding available, less reliance

on donations for refurbishment items• VAT implications for MCC on implied publicity for

companies supplying freebies – Donations only no sponsors

Things that were successful

• The contractors / design teams were enthusiastic about the project

• The generosity and willingness of companies to provided freebies

• The project has uplifted two 1900’s terraced properties, that had been mothballed

• It has motivated and inspired politicians, schools community groups and other Local Authorities

Interactive Display

• The price of interactive displays!!