Ashton Hayes Going Carbon Neutral
Year House Was
Built
Introduction
Unknown
Before 1900
200
1900-1918
Ashton Hayes is aiming to become England’s first carbon neutral village. Carbon
neutrality will be achieved when sources of carbon dioxide from the village are balanced
by activities that absorb carbon dioxide (i.e. when sources of carbon dioxide are balanced
by sinks of carbon dioxide). The University of Chester has a five year commitment to the
project, dedicating resources and students in order to carry out the annual baseline survey.
1919-1944
26
1945-1964
1965-1974
1975-1980
1981-1990
150
35
1991-2001
100
53
8
Methods
50
59
Baseline Survey
16
57
A preliminary survey was conducted in order to determine the total number, and type, of
homes within the village. The baseline survey was then carried out by students beginning
on May 8th. The survey asked questions about the home, home energy use, travel and
transport and also some more general questions. The questions were asked in order to be
able to calculate the carbon dioxide outputs from a household, and also to gather
information on a households energy efficiency. Initially all surveys were carried out
door-to-door, but due to many people being out during the day surveys were posted
through doors.
0
Figure 2: Age range of the homes.
Detached House
The majority of the homes in the village were built between 1945 and 1974 (figure 2). This
may have an impact upon the insulation characteristics of these homes compared to the
newer homes.
30
25
Land cover Survey
The land use of the parish was classified into three categories; arable, grassland and
broadleaf woodland.
Count
20
15
Detached
Bungalow
Semi-detached
House
Table 1: Average carbon footprint for each house type, and total for the village.
The carbon footprint of each household was calculated using the answers from the
surveys. The carbon footprint of the village was then determined using information on
the total number, and type, of houses as well as the average carbon footprint for each
house type.
0
Unknown
None
2 Inches
4 Inches
6 Inches
25 cm
No Loft
1 Inch
3 Inches
5 Inches
8 Inches
150 cm
Loft Insulation Thickness
The majority of homes surveyed did not know the thickness of their loft insulation. Of
those who did, 4 inches was the most common (figure 3). The Energy Saving Trust
recommend a thickness of 270mm.
Number of Houses in
the Village
7.72
155
Detached House
21.72
108
Semi-detached House
12.94
38
Semi-detached Bungalow
8.10
22
End-terrace House
18.83
22
Mid-terrace House
7.10
19
Total (tonnes CO2 /
year)
4765.75662
How often is the
Car used
Daily
Weekly
Few Times a Year
Never
Results
The total output for the village was calculated at 4765.76 tonnes CO2 per year.
Between the launch of the project and the survey some residents had already implemented
energy saving changes (e.g. installing loft insulation, using the tumble dryer less and more
energy saving light bulbs). All of the changes amounted to a saving of 39.16 tonnes CO2 / year.
The hedgerow and land cover survey were both successfully carried out. Initial analysis of the
hedgerow survey indicates that biodiversity has not changed much. The land cover survey will
be used to quantify the size of the carbon sink within the parish (i.e. how much carbon dioxide is
being absorbed). Comparison of this carbon sink to the carbon source calculated from the
village will tell us whether the village is a net emitter or carbon dioxide or not.
100
90
80
% of Respondents
Average Carbon
Footprint
House type
Detached Bungalow
Figure 3: Loft insulation of surveyed homes.
Calculation of carbon footprint
End-terrace
House
The anomalously high results (figure 4) are probably due to a few households with a large
number of flights. The detached bungalows have a small interquartile range, which may be due
to the fact that most of the bungalows are of a similar age. Conversely, the detached houses have
the largest interquartile range, which may due due to the wide range of ages of the houses in the
village.
The overall carbon footprint of the village was then calculated by multiplying the average carbon
footprint of each house type by the total number of that house type in the village (table 1).
5
A hedgerow survey carried out by the Women’s Institute in the village in 1977 was
repeated. Species within 30 feet sections of the hedgerows were recorded.
Mid-terrace
House
Figure 4: Carbon footprints of different house types.
10
Hedgerow Survey
Semi-detached
Bungalow
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
Deatched
House
Detahced
Bungalow
Semidetached
House
Semidetached
Bungalow
End-terrace
House
Mid-terrace
House
Figure 4: Frequency of car usage.
House Type
Figure 1: Percentage of respondents for each house type.
Overall, 40% coverage of the village was obtained. Higher response rates were found with
the door-to-door surveys rather than the posted ones. There was also a large variation in
coverage for the different house types with semi-detached houses having the highest
percentage, and end-terraced houses the lowest (figure 1). It was also found that 72% of the
village homes are detached, which is likely to increase carbon footprints.
Over 75% of the households use their car on a daily basis (figure 3). It was also found
that two occupants per household with two cars was the most frequent occurrence.
Improvement of public transport was expressed as the most important issue for the
residents in the village. This suggests that car usage might decrease if public transport
services were improved.
A large proportion of the surveyed residents said they had become more ‘energy conscious’
since the launch of the project, although many had been so before. Residents were keen to
install solar panels, wind turbines and wood stoves, but concern was expressed over the initial
costs of these. Almost all recycle on a regular basis.
Conclusion
Most respondents were very supportive of the project in the village, with most keen to reduce
their energy consumption within the home if it was not of any detriment to their current
lifestyles. The responses from the survey were also useful in providing individual household
feedback on ways to potentially reduce their carbon footprint.