Back     Latest news from Green Building Press    Subscribe to our newsletter

Green Self-Builders Win Award

Posted: 13/06/2005

An Essex designer and his family have scooped a prestigious award -and a cheque for £5,000 – from Norwich and Peterborough Building Society (N&P). Paul Gladman and Kerry Medhurst have won N&P’s Eco Self-Build competition for individually designed and built, energy saving homes. Around 20,000 people “self-build” their own homes every year, and far more dream of making it possible.

Paul and Kerry made environmentally friendly features a priority in their new home in Danbury, Essex, where they now live with their children Briony (aged 12), and Harrison (9). They describe their five bedroom, two storey home as a stunning and spectacular house, which has no adverse impact on the environment due to its unique build system.

They said "Like so many couples/families today we wanted a light, modern, spacious, energy efficient home that was much kinder to the environment we live in. By building our house in a normal suburban street scene we hope we have shown that environmental houses can be, and certainly should be, part of everyday life. We were very excited to win Norwich and Peterborough’s award and applaud the Society for its efforts to promote eco-sensitive buildings. The introduction of their Carbon Neutral® mortgage definitely recognises the rapidly growing demand for better housing".

N&P held the competition to raise awareness of how homes can be built in a more environmentally responsible way. With the effects of global warming, such as increased flooding, being reported regularly around the world, and affecting more and more homeowners, N&P thinks that we should all be doing what we can to minimise the detrimental effects of housing on the environment.

Stephen Penlington, general manager (customer service) at N&P and one of the judges of the competition, said: “This house, which Paul and Kerry designed themselves, took just 65 days to construct. The property has solar heating, a rainwater recovery pond and zero CO2 emissions. All the materials that went into its construction are from sustainable resources. And it’s a very attractive home!”

NORWICH @ PETERBOROUGH'S CARBON NEUTRAL MORTGAGE

N&P launched its first “green” mortgage in 1998. Just two years later in July 2000, N&P became the first mortgage lender to offer a Carbon Neutral® mortgage – developed in association with environmental group Future Forests. For every home, which is purchased or re-mortgaged to N&P using a Carbon Neutral® mortgage, N&P plants 40 trees – eight trees per year for five years – in conjunction with Future Forests. Over time, the trees will absorb or offset the CO2 emissions produced by an average property (eg in using energy for heating, lighting, using electrical appliances etc), making it Carbon Neutral® for five years. N&P has planted nearly 10,000 trees on behalf of its mortgage customers. Customers are offered the choice to carry on the scheme after the five years have elapsed, through Future Forests.

 For mortgage enquiries - contact your local N&P branch, visit www.npbs.co.uk or telephone 0845 300 2522.

Green Building Press  
 

Back     Latest news from Green Building Press    Subscribe to our newsletter

780