Committee on Climate Change

Ed co-founded the construction company Urban Design Build, 20 years ago. Since then, the duo and their team of qualified home experts have renovated and restored properties throughout London. When they saw how much energy is consumed by heating and lighting, and how much waste is produced as a result of construction and renovation, they decided to create Green Power Installations. Now they install affordable, scalable green technology in residential and commercial buildings. Their innovative Retrofit Home was featured at Grand Designs Live 2011.

1.    Why have you built a ‘life-size’ home?

Lots of homeowners face larger energy bills after refurbishing their home. But we believe that renovation provides a unique opportunity to create a more cost-effective, more energy efficient way of life. We created Green Power Installations to help our customers save money and the planet, with innovative, green technologies that are affordable and designed to reduce energy usage. This year, we teamed up with LILI (Low Impact Living Initiative) to create our Retrofit Home Tour. It’s about showing UK homeowners that they really can afford to make the small changes that will have a significant, positive impact on both their energy bills and the planet.

2. What makes the house energy efficient?

Our Retrofit Home features lambs’ wool and recycled newspaper loft insulation. We’ve used a hemp product to insulate internal and external walls, which promotes breathability and allows moisture to escape. To reduce electricity usage, we’ve installed LED high-efficiency 7-watts light bulbs, which are equivalent to 50-watt halogens and last for 40,000 hours. Radiators feature thermostatic valves, which help to regulate room temperature more efficiently, again saving money. Solar panels enable the house to generate its own electricity and heat water, bringing greater energy and cost savings over time.

3.    What are the key benefits to householders in installing these sorts of technologies?  

Lambs’ wool is a natural fibre and a sustainable resource, which makes for safe, healthy and environmentally friendly acoustic and thermal insulation. For asthma sufferers and anyone with allergies, it’s also an ideal alternative to Rockwool, which is an irritant. Recycled newspaper can be sprayed in-between roof joists, filling all the nooks and crannies. It also brings very good thermal and acoustic properties – which is great if you live in a converted property. LED light bulbs provide a more natural light source and don’t need replacing as often. Solar panels generate electricity and a good income, while cutting the cost of energy bills over a 5-year period.

4.    In your view what would the average UK home look like in 2020?

I would like to see homes operating intelligently, with an internet server that detects when electrical appliances aren’t needed. More homes could be built to meet PassivHaus standards (BRE Code 6). Today, there is much we can do – even without futuristic technologies. Front and back gardens can be fitted with water tanks to store rainwater for use around the garden and to fill toilets. By replacing old boilers (between 50-60% efficient) with a modern boilers (currently 98% efficient), and installing solar panels, around 65% of your hot water needs can be met. Better insulation, hot air ducts and air source heat pumps all drive greater efficiencies.

5.    What policies would you like to see introduced to help people make their homes more efficient?

Ideally, I would like the government to expand the 5% VAT charge onto a greater range of emerging green technologies. I also believe that every household should benefit from a free energy rating and a three-year strategy to implement simple, cost-effective changes to improve energy ratings – in a move which would also be self-financing. I believe that green responsibility should form part of citizenship programmes in schools. Increasing access to information and investing in awareness campaigns in the mainstream, would all help – as would increased support for SMEs. Of course, keeping the current FIT system would significantly benefit households across the UK.

6.    What does your company do to reduce its  footprint?

Wherever possible, we visit customers in our G-Wiz electrical car, which is powered by solar panels on our office roof in North London. All our vans are very new and therefore offer more MPG (miles per gallon), and comply with the new London targets for the congestion zone. We’ve also found simple ways to reuse and reduce waste from retrofit projects. We distribute waste timber to households with wood burning stoves in the local area, while rubble and concrete is collected by a hardcore company. Our computer system orders exact product quantities required for each project, also cutting transportation to just two large deliveries per site. To help our customers, we provide lots of free advice in their home or office, as well as helpful tips online and over the phone.

E: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it T: 0208 292 1391  twitter: @greenpowertoyou