This property, in Summerfield Crescent, Edgbaston has been renovated by Family Housing Association (Birmingham) Ltd as a demonstration Eco Show Home illustrating how social landlords can promote energy efficiency and at the same time limit environmental damage. It is also the first to gain planning permission for a domestic wind turbine in the City.

With funding from Urban Living, the Birmingham Sandwell Housing Market Renewal Pathfinder, the property has been reverted from a 3-flat House in Multiple Occupation (HMO) back to a large family home and Family Housing Association has used private finance to incorporate all the eco-friendly features to the property.

The Minister and David Bellamy toured the Eco Home and met local school children from Oratory RC Junior & Infant School, who have been filming the Eco Home as part of Birmingham City Council’s Housing Education Project.


These local children, known as TNT (The News Team) Ladywood, report on issues, events and happenings in the area and were recently on ‘Green’ Peter as they filmed the installation of the wind turbine at the property. They presented copies of their film to the Minister and David Bellamy and helped the visitors to plant one of the flowerbeds in the back garden.

Tim Sewell Chief Executive at Family Housing, explains: “We’ve considered every angle when building this house. Firstly, the property is heated from two sources: solar panels and a high energy boiler. The kitchen is made from recycled material, bathrooms and taps are water efficient and ventilation is non mechanical. A home office is provided and there is a shed available in the garden for cycle storage. No tumble dryer is installed as there is an internal and external drying area, and outside, rain water is collected in water butts from the downspout and used for watering the garden. Two compost bins made from treated timber and a vegetable patch is also supplied.’

The property has been given the stamp of approval from the Building Research Establishment, which awarded its Eco Homes ‘Excellent’ rating to prove that the property is as environmentally friendly as possible.

Mr Sewell added: “We’ve set out to demonstrate how Housing Associations can make a contribution to reducing the impact of climate change when renovating older properties. Once the Eco Home has been completed, we’ll rent it out and work with the tenants to measure the potential impact on their energy bills.  We then aim to build on our experience and partnership working to convert more properties like this throughout the city.”

Environment Minister Ian Pearson said: ‘It just goes to show that individuals and organisations can all play an important part in reducing climate change and limiting energy wastage. If every homeowner, tenant or landlord introduced even one or two of the measures seen in this home, the long-term savings for them and for the environment could be considerable.

I hope that other Housing Associations and social landlords follow the example of Family Housing Association and that Local Authorities involved in schemes to build or improve houses under the next bidding round of the Decent Homes programme, announced by Secretary of State Ruth Kelly, will consider many of these measures as automatically included into their schemes.’

The Minister continued ‘I have seen the footage filmed by the children and it not only shows that, even at their tender age, they have an awareness of measures to combat climate change to help secure their future but it also shows that children could teach many adults a few things about being eco-friendly.’