Are you wondering how to make your home better for you and the planet? Meet fellow York residents who have achieved just that!

Around a third of the city's carbon emissions come from heating and powering our homes because very few are well insulated, if at all. Yet, upgrading energy efficiency of homes reduces their running costs and carbon footprint while also improving health and wellbeing, which suffer in cold and damp homes. This event gives you the opportunity to visit local homes that are healthier and don’t cost the Earth to run in either energy bills or carbon emissions. Book a visit to pick up tips for improving your home and meet friendly people happy to share their experiences. Whether you're interested in the technical side or just want to have a nosey, all questions are welcome. Retrofitting homes is not as simple as it should be so it's good to learn from others.

On this page you can book to visit: 

DIY upgrade of a 1920s semi (Tang Hall)

For Lyle and Natalie, reducing their carbon footprint has been the primary motivation for retrofitting their house but they’re very happy to enjoy other associated benefits such as a healthier home and financial savings. They’ve done most of the work themselves on insulating the house from top to bottom using various types of insulation. In their selection they were looking for a low thermal conductivity, high recycled content and low VOCs (volatile organic compounds). Having to remove most of the concrete floor in the kitchen provided an opportunity to not only insulate it very well but also add electric underfloor heating for added comfort.

To ensure adequate ventilation throughout the home and regulate humidity, they have installed a mechanical ventilation heat recovery unit (MVHR). This can be up to 80% efficient at recovering heat, while exchanging the air in the house with filtered air from outside. In terms of heating, Lyle and Natalie have opted for a gas boiler and a hot water tank for now but their goal is to move to a heat pump within 5-10 years (or hydrogen should that be an option). To further reduce their energy demand, they’ve swapped the gas hob for an induction one and any new (or slightly used) appliances have an A+ or higher energy efficiency rating.

In addition to making their home more energy efficient, Natalie and Lyle have also opted for more sustainable purchases in the finishes, such as clay-based paints with very low (essentially zero) VOCs, and a mix of linoleum and cork flooring. Both materials are made of natural renewable materials, which maintain a healthy indoor environment for people with respiratory issues, and range from carbon neutral to carbon negative. Once the home retrofit is completed, the couple also plan to nature-scape the front and back garden by replacing the gravel and concrete with native planting.

To book for Eco-retrofitted Victorian House (Knavesmire area), Greening up a Fishergate terraced house or From a Victorian to modern standard (South Bank area), please follow the links.

Free entry; booking is essential as places are limited for Covid safety

This event, organised in conjunction with York Community Energy, is part of York Envvironment Week, Great Big Green Week and Green Open Homes.