Norfolk green buildings open to public
Eco structures in Norfolk will be opening their doors next month in the Campaign to Protect Rural England’s (CRRE) Green Buildings in Norfolk Open Days event. Bookings are now available for guided, informative tours of a variety of eco-buildings, most of which are not normally open to the public. The event will feature 12 projects that collectively incorporate a wide range of technologies and energy-saving measures, and will take place from Thursday, September 23 until Sunday, September 26.
Among the properties featured this year are a shed made from rammed-earth at Potter Heigham, a Bavarian-made kit house, in Fakenham, a converted pub at Corpusty and a house built into a North Norfolk hillside. There are also two community projects: a straw bale village hall in Neatishead and a community initiative in Reepham, which aims to reduce the whole town’s carbon footprint, and encompasses new technologies, retro-fits and car clubs.
“Norfolk is home to some of the UK’s most innovative architects, self-builders and home energy enthusiasts,” said CPRE Norfolk’s director James Frost. “This event allows them to show off their buildings, while allowing us the pleasure of visiting them. If you are seeking solutions for your own home then look no further; these are the people who’ve done the research, invested their time, energy and money, and are now reaping the benefits.
“It is also pleasing to see whole communities getting involved in energy saving and Norfolk is really leading the way in this area. The examples of the new straw-bale village hall at Neatishead and the Government-funded low carbon community challenge in Reepham will no doubt be an inspiration to many other Norfolk towns and villages for the future.
“As well as the ongoing local interest in green buildings, I am proud to say that our open days is still one of the only such eco-events in the UK, and brings people from far and wide to visit our green Norfolk, all of them look-ing for inspiration and knowledge.”
Peter Chisnall, advice centre manager for the Energy Saving Trust Advice Centre East of England said: “The Energy Saving Trust is delighted to support the Green Buildings Open Days again, as it gives homeowners the perfect opportunity to tour energy efficient buildings and see how they, too, can make their homes energy efficient.”
The event is supported by the Energy Saving Trust, Awards for All, the Lesley Mary Carter Charitable Trust, RG Carter Construction and the John Jarrold Trust.
Booking is essential for all the tours, and this year bookings can be made online. For a brochure and online bookings, visit www.cprenorfolk.org.uk/opendays. Alternatively call the Energy Saving Trust Advice Centre on 01376 531 547 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 01376 531 547 end_of_the_skype_highlighting.
One example of the kind of project on display is New Victory Hall, Neatishead. Village halls can often be cramped, dark and draughty buildings, and Neatishead’s, dating back to the Victorian era, was no exception. People in the village, near Stalham, began fund-raising a decade ago to replace theirs with something more up-to-date and in keeping with the requirements of a modern community.
