WINNING THE LOTTERY

A mum has described how moving into one of four homes which Broadacres has retrofitted to make them the most energy efficient and environmentally friendly homes in its entire stock as like “winning the lottery”.

And having visited the home, a local MP has praised Broadacres for the way it is “leading the conversation” when it comes to energy-saving solutions for homes.

Jane Mitchell moved into her home in the village of Myton-on-Swale, Hambleton, earlier this summer.

She didn’t realise when she accepted the home that it was one of four properties – the others being in Northallerton (2) and Stokesley – Broadacres had been carrying out extensive work on over the last two years as part of an innovative project to see how older homes could be transformed to get them to net zero carbon standard.

And now the mum-of-six (she has two children still living at home with her) is seeing for herself how energy efficient and cost saving her homes is.

Jane says: “I had been renting privately and had been on a waiting list for a family home for a while, so when I heard about this property, I came to have a look and fell in love with it immediately.

“Apart from being in a chocolate box village, my children and I now have a home which has effectively been wrapped in insulation and other energy saving measures and even though we moved in the summer, we are already saving money.

“I cried when I was given the keys and saw how wonderful the house is; it felt like winning the lottery!”

The deep retrofitting of these homes will reduce energy demand by up to 70% and will eventually reduce carbon emissions by 100% when the National Grid becomes decarbonized. Work has included installing renewable energy, air source heat pumps, solar panels, triple glazed windows, and doors, laying thicker loft, floor, and wall insulation, and installing a system which uses residual heat from shower water to preheat the incoming cold water and another which extracts warm, damp air from the home and draws in fresh air from the outside.

Thirsk MP Kevin Hollinrake recently visited the home and met Jane and Broadacres Chief Executive Gail Teasdale and the Association’s Senior Sustainability Manager Helen Ball, who has led the retrofit project.

He said: “It’s an amazing home which demonstrates what is possible when it comes to making older homes energy efficient and future proofed.

“I am aways delighted to engage with Broadacres who have shown they are leading the conversation and delivering innovative solutions in their field.”

Broadacres’ Chief Executive Gail Teasdale said: “We are delighted that Jane and her family have settled in well at their new home and are already experiencing the positive benefits of their energy efficient zero-carbon ready home.

“Undertaking the deep retrofitting work on this home, and three others has given us important learning which we will use in all our other homes and will guide us on our journey to becoming a  net zero carbon organisation by 2050.

“Ultimately, we are committed to providing homes, whether they are new or older properties, that are warm and affordable, and that our customers who live in these homes have the best possible experience.”