Stroud Eco-Renovation Open Homes - day 2

To get to my venue of choice today required walking up 'The Hill' in Stroud, where I hadn't been before. This house was built in the grounds of a large mansion, on a slope looking west out towards Dove Row Hill. The location is only a short walk to the town centre but feels quiet and rural.

Penny S. had bought a bungalow and obtained planning permission to build a second storey whilst incorporating a comprehensive range of energy-saving technologies. The bungalow lies beneath the modern cladding retaining its original footprint, whilst the new building above it is of the very latest standard of materials. She is an architect and has designed the whole project beautifully, to my mind.

Fred, her partner, showed me the air-source heat pumps which are installed in the alleyway, behind where you can see him telling other visitors about the various systems they have employed. (You can see some information about this house on the Festival website HERE, if you click on 'House 14 - Stroud'.

I liked being in and around this house very much, notwithstanding all the interesting technologies they have employed. A minor triumph I'd say, although of course as always it is not perfect. Some of what they have tried to do has not reached expectations, but I sense that they understand that was possible when you are working at the forefront of innovation.

I would like to thank Penny and Fred, and all the other contributors from Transition Stroud, because they have captured the attention of many people who are looking to follow them down this sensible road.

Some of the technologies they have incorporated include air source heat pumps, solar thermal, external insulation and renders, a sedum roof and rainwater harvesting and hopefully photovoltaic panels in the near future.