We are committed to taking action to tackle climate change at a local level, and strongly encourage residents to join us in these efforts.
Here you can find out more about our projects to reduce carbon emissions, and advice on how you can make a difference – and save money!
Our eco house
With the help of Barnet Council and Apollo Housing, we have transformed a 90-year-old property in East Barnet into a low energy eco house.
New solar panels, better insulation and low energy appliances have halved the amount of energy used by the terraced house in Berkeley Crescent.
Other measures include lining the loft with insulation made from natural sheep’s wall, replacing artificially produced foam, and rainwater collection systems to reduce water from the mains.
We are using lessons learnt from our eco house during our Decent Homes programme and when planning for future major works at our properties.
Decent Homes
Our Decent Homes modernisation programme has improved the energy efficiency of thousands of Barnet properties.
We have cut emissions of CO2 (the gas that primarily contributes to global warming) by an estimated 1.2 tonnes per property between 2003 and 2007.
We are building on these efforts by converting flats in Churchmead Close, East Barnet, into eco properties, with new A-rated double glazing, high efficiency gas boilers, improved insulation and low energy lighting.
This is being supported by a £2million programme of cavity wall insulation following a successful bid to the Homes and Communities Agency, and smaller schemes such as communal boiler insulation.
Energy efficiency advice
All residents can take some simple steps to improve the energy efficiency of their homes.
Not only will this will help tackle climate change, it should also save you money on your heating bills.
Top ten tips
• Washing clothes at 30ºC uses around 40 per cent less energy than higher temperatures. Use the economy button if your machine has one.
• Turning down your thermostat by just 1°C cuts heating bills by 10 per cent and saves £65 a year. If you have a programmer, set your heating and hot water to come on when required only.
• Switching off lights when you leave a room unoccupied saves energy.
• Turning appliances off rather than leaving them on standby saves on average around £37 a year.
• Unplugging chargers after your device has charged saves a lot of energy. In the UK, 95 per cent of the energy used by mobile phone chargers is wasted.
• Close your curtains at dusk to stop heat escaping through the windows and check for draughts around windows and doors. Use draft excluders if necessary.
• Dripping hot water taps waste enough hot water to fill half a bath in a week, so make sure you fix them.
• Only boil as much water as you need in your kettle, but make sure the element is covered by water.
• Using energy saving lightbulbs that last up to 10 times longer than ordinary bulbs can save around £45 over their lifetime. The Energy Saving Trust (external link) can tell you who is giving these away free locally.
• Switching off your computer at night rather than leaving it on saves £96 a year and stops around half a tonne of unnecessary CO2 . Also switching off your monitor when you take a break saves lots of energy.
Much more advice and information is available from the Energy Saving Trust (external link).