Victorian house given £330,000 eco makeover

The first tenants have moved into one of the greenest homes in London.

The Victorian council house in Camden has been fitted with £330,000 of green gadgets and measures to save energy and cut emissions.

If the occupiers manage to cut their bills, the council will extend the initiative across the borough. The five-bedroom house has solar panels on the roof to provide power and an advanced air-conditioning system to lower heating costs.

It has high levels of draught proofing and windows that are designed to be 20per cent better at retaining heat than current building regulations.

The property also boasts heat recovery ventilation to warm incoming fresh air and rainwater harvesting for use in the garden.

Council bosses say emissions from the house are now 80 per cent lower and it will save residents hundreds of pounds in bills.

Mr Habib Ali, who has moved into the house with his family, said they had already noticed major improvements.

He said: "In our previous flat the heating used to escape a lot. The fact that the house has insulated walls and draught proofing means that it stays warm for longer.

"Overall the main idea is to reduce carbon emissions and ultimately reduce our utility bills. So that is something that I am looking forward to."

The Ali family volunteered to spend a year in the house, built in 1850, with their energy usage being monitored.

A researcher from University College London will help with the monitoring.

The house was initially built to show residents what technologies they can add to their homes. It proved hugely popular, with more than 1,800 people visiting the Camden Eco House in the three months it was open last year.

However, council chiefs decided that to track the savings made by the house, they needed a family to move in.

If the trial is successful Camden plans to roll out features to all its 7,000 terrace council homes.

Chris Naylor, executive member for homes and housing strategy, said: "The home has been refurbished to a very high standard.

"I'm delighted we now have a family here to benefit from this investment - what we learn here will help us cut emissions and fuel poverty in all our homes across the borough."

The refurbishment was funded by grants and sponsorship from government, the council and firms specialising in eco-friendly construction. The overall cost of the refurbishment was about £330,000, including costs for major repairs and structural works.

A spokesman for London Councils said it was monitoring the trial with a view to rolling out similar schemes across the capital.

"Boroughs are working very closely with the GLA and a range of other partners to look at ways of reducing carbon emissions and helping residents save money on their fuel bills."

What's behind the green door?

Insulation: floor, roof and internal wall insulation fitted wherever needed at a cost of £12,000

Windows: good-quality double glazing means windows are 20 per cent better at retaining heat

Draught proofing: every area, including loft access, is draught proofed as much as possible

Internal heat recovery: uses "smart ventilation" to recycle the heat from the outgoing stale air and re-use it in the incoming clean air

Drainage: rainwater is collected for use in the garden