The Summerfield Eco-village Partnership has been selected as the winner of the Public Sector category of The National Energy Efficiency Awards 2008 sponsored by EDF Energy.

The prestigious Awards ceremony, held on 2nd December at the Globe Theatre in London, showcased the innovative energy efficiency work of 42 finalists across the Award’s 10 categories.

A partnership made up of Family Housing Association, Urban Living and Birmingham City Council, are undertaking an ambitious regeneration programme in North West Birmingham that in addition to providing a range of street improvements, pioneered a £2.3 million eco neighbourhood project, the largest of its kind in the UK.

The project evolved after residents raised concerns about energy efficiency and rising fuel bills. The Family Housing Association identified opportunities to use new renewable technologies and, working with the council and Urban Living, converted a Victorian semi from a house containing several flats into a large family home that was to become their first Eco Show Home, opening in 2006. So successful was the initiative, the decision was taken to transform Summerfield into the first ‘Eco Neighbourhood’ in Birmingham.

An independent evaluation by Sheffield Hallam University in April 2008 confirmed the success of the project, concluding that it had made a positive environmental impact, both in terms of the practical measures taken, and the influence on residents’ attitudes and behaviour with respect to energy consumption, recycling and water conservation. The University is hoping to release detailed information about the energy savings made and their financial value later this year, but estimated energy and fuel bill savings for the six eco homes are expected to be in excess of £1,084 per year: a 35 per cent saving. 

David Stevenson, Director of Investment Assets and Regeneration at Family Housing, commented: “We are absolutely delighted that the Summerfield Eco Village Project has received national recognition for a highly successful partnership, to reduce energy use at a neighborhood level”

“This is clearly an exemplar of eco-regeneration that can be applied elsewhere. In fact, the scheme has been so successful that we are rolling out similar interventions in other parts of the Pathfinder area. I am particularly proud of the imaginative ways in which local residents have been engaged.” added Peter Latchford, Chairman of Urban Living.