Manchester’s
Eco House Project
Diana 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
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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
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Structural remedial work
DDA Compliant
Interior changes
External improvements
Additional features
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Materials required for EcoHomes
Insulating the property
Energy efficiency
Innovation
Displays
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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
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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!!