Access help and information with Open Eco Homes tours and talks

Cambridge Carbon Footprint (CCF) is running an Open Eco Homes tour to help residents across Cambridgeshire access information, training, and support for improving their own home efficiencies and reducing carbon dependency.

On now and running until October 22, there are 10 new home tours taking place across Cambridge and St Ives, as well as the villages of Heydon, Guilden Morden and Caxton.

In addition, there will be a series of online talks and in-person events to give people the opportunity to ask some of the questions they may have around their own needs.

A unique opportunity comes in the form of the super-eco SoloHaus modular homes for the homeless that have been popping up around the city, and nationwide.

Fran Sutton, home energy officer at CCF, said: “With the ongoing energy crisis, we are getting more calls from residents across the county requesting advice and support to improve the energy performance of their homes.

“With open homes spread across more Cambridgeshire towns and villages than ever before, now is the perfect time to join a tour, book a talk or get involved in our home energy events to help improve every home.

“It is key for our environment that our homes perform better so that we can cut our carbon emissions across the county.

“Local green organisations and councils play an integral role in informing their community, leading by example, and having unique overview of their locality and it’s needs.

“Of particular interest to those interested in social housing, homelessness and mental health is a unique opportunity to learn more about the award-winning modular housing ‘SoloHaus’ scheme, designed to support greater independence, low-cost living and act as a critical step to help tackle homelessness.”

The stops on the tour, and the online talks taking place, are as follows:
Eco-renovating for retirement – Arbury Road, now until this Saturday (September 23), various times.
Self-building our dream home – Caxton, now until Sunday, October 1, various times.
A tale of two homes – Heydon, Cambridgeshire, now until this Saturday (September 23), various times.
Architect’s 1920s Passivhaus-inspired haven – Garlic Row, now until Tuesday, October 3, various times.
Dedicated to DIY Passivhaus – St Ives, tomorrow (Tuesday, September 19, 7-8pm).
1950s bungalow retrofit for sustainable family living – Guilden Morden, now until Wednesday, October 11, various times.
Family-focused design – Cromwell Road, Sunday, September 24, to Saturday, September 30, various times.
Cambridge retrofit guide – Monday, September 25, 7.30-9pm (online only).
Low-cost home energy savings – Thursday, October 5, 7-8pm (online only).
Marmalade Lane five years on – Saturday, October 7, 11am-12.30pm.
Addressing homelessness: small, sustainable, modular homes – SoloHaus, Sunday, October 8, to Tuesday, October 17, various times.
Low-carbon heating (online only), Monday, October 9, 7.30-9pm.
Open eco homes retrospective (online only), Wednesday, October 18, 7-8pm.
Human library on home energy (in-person event), Saturday, October 21, 10am-4pm.
Reimagining community energy… together (in-person event), Sunday, October 22, 2-5pm.

Visit cambridgecarbonfootprint.org/open-eco-homes-events/ for more information.