When engineers first stepped inside the unremarkable, two-storey 1920s home on Wiltshire College’s campus, it looked nothing like an ecohome. “It was in a big state of disrepair,” recalls Max Waddingham, Good Energy’s operations director. “It was covered in mould, the floors were falling through. It was absolutely trashed.”
Today, the three-bedroom property couldn’t look more different. The building is surrounded by sweet chestnut trees and an expansive lawn and the inside is just as green. The ancient oil boiler has been swapped for an air source heat pump, while loft, floor and wall insulation have been fitted, along with underfloor heating. The old windows have been replaced with thermally efficient double glazing, designed to be as airtight as possible.
The house will be used to train the eco-engineers of the future – both those working for the renewable energy supplier Good Energy and apprentices at Wiltshire College. For Waddingham, it’s also about inspiration. “You have this kind of showpiece, if you like: here’s what you can do with a 1920s property,” he says. “Once you see the condition of the house before renovations, you can be sure that any home can be brought right up to date with the correct strategy.”
So, how can we improve our own homes with an eye on the climate, even on a tight budget?
