Eco Open Houses features
Airtight construction – lots of precious heat is lost through drafts so this is a priority for saving money.
Condensing boiler – a type of boiler that captures much more usable heat from its fuel than a non-condensing boiler. Its high operating efficiency is made possible by the design of the condensing boiler's larger – or sometimes dual – heat exchanger.
Energy controls – heating systems with simple easy controls in an accessible place can be more efficient as people use them more effectively.
Green roof – a roof of a building that is partially or completely covered with vegetation and a growing medium, planted over a waterproofing membrane. It may also include additional layers such as a root barrier and drainage and irrigation systems.
Grey water recycling – collecting waste water from sinks, showers and baths and reusing it for toilet flushing or watering the garden. Grey water is waste water that has not been mixed with sewage.
High performance glazing – windows that are designed to minimise heat loss, for example through an insulated frame, a low E coating, an inert gas filled cavity, triple glazing, or any combination of these.
Insulation – a lightweight material that reduces heat flow. The better insulated a house is the cheaper it will be to run and it will be snugger in winter. All external elements of a building can be treated, including the ground floor, the walls and loft.
LED lighting – a low energy form of lighting that is very cheap to run and the bulbs last a long time.
Low energy appliances – all appliances are rated from A to G, with appliances rated A and A++ for refrigeration using the least energy.
Low water use toilets & shower – taps, showers or toilets that are designed to use less water than typical plumbing fittings.
Natural materials – any product that comes from plants or animals, including sheep's wool insulation, sweet chestnut cladding, sustainably sourced timber paints and clay plaster.
Passive solar design – a design form that uses less mains energy through taking advantage of the sun energy by using carefully using building orientation, solar gain, super insulation, thermal mass and passive ventilation to provide heating and cooling.
Photovoltaic (PV) panels – panels, usually mounted on a south facing roof that uses a technology that converts sunlight directly into electricity.
Rainwater harvesting – collecting water that falls on a roof and using it at home for washing clothes, flushing a toilet or watering the garden.
Solar thermal panels – using the sun's energy to directly heat water. Can be a flat plate system or evacuated tube system.
Ventilation system with heat recovery – system that provides fresh air with a heat exchanger that takes the heat from the air leaving the building to warm the incoming air.
Wood burning stove – any type of grown plant matter, ranging from logs, wood pellets and wood chip through to elephant grass and other materials. It can be combusted to produce heat or power.