New vic

We love ecologically sound modern design. But we also love Victorian houses. So we wanted to see if we could marry the two and live ecologically. 

We have massively insulated the house. Side and rear walls have been clad in 150mm external insulation. The front elevation has been insulated internally to retain the harmony of the streetscape. The roof space and cellar have been modified to receive a lot of eco-friendly insulation.

The external insulation has improved the thermal performance of our walls by almost 900 per cent. It means our need for heating has been drastically reduced. 

This is just as well, because the fuel for the biomass boiler is waste wood, which we collect. We do a lot of skip raiding because there is always timber to be had – and the owners are glad to be rid of it. We drag it into the cellar and chop it. Most of the dragging and chopping is done by me. My biceps are now a force to be reckoned with.

The wood-burning boiler provides hot water and heating for the winter months and solar panels provide hot water for the rest of the year. 

We collect rainwater off the roof which is stored in the cellar. The 2,000-litre capacity tanks supply three toilets, the washing machine and outdoor tap. 

Carrying out such a major eco-retrofit wasn’t cheap, so we get the house to work for us. It is a large house, so we provide accommodation for lodgers. The income goes towards the mortgage. We make big savings on gas, electricity and water use.

The house interior has been painted using a wide range of eco paints. We buy secondhand furniture and fittings and our kitchen is made from recycled timber. The kitchen consumes 80 per cent less energy than normal.

We have proved that older homes can be made into green homes. Older housing forms an integral part of the landscape, giving character and charm to streets. It needs to last and to be made more efficient.

The Stern Report said that we have about eight years to get our carbon act in order. Retrofit eight million homes in eight years? Can we do it?

The awareness is growing but it will take a while to reach critical mass. Help has come from organisations such as the Energy Saving Trust and the Building Research Establishment. Local authorities and energy-focused organisations and charities are banding together. In May, attention will be focused on the launch of a manifesto on how to tackle older homes.

But owners and landlords of older properties need to be incentivised, with tax breaks linked to energy improvements. Altruism is simply not enough.

Penney Poyzer is an author and broadcaster. For more on her home see http://www.msarch.co.uk/ecohome