With all the alarming news of extreme weather around the world, most people are looking at ways they can reduce their carbon footprint. Around a quarter of our greenhouse gases are produced from our homes mainly through heating.
This year Dorset Climate Action Network (DCAN) is running an open homes event on the last weekend of September and the first of October. Around 50 homes are opening across Dorset for a day to showcase how we can live greener lives. Some of these are new houses built with very high levels of insulation, heat pumps and ventilation systems. Others have been retrofitted with extra insulation, solar panels and better windows. Yet others are homes where people have made lifestyle changes – growing vegetables, wildlife friendly gardens, using cycles or electric cars, travelling less, reducing waste.
Sam Wilberforce of Transition Town Bridport, who has been organising open EcoHomes in West Dorset for eight years, said ”Our hosts have a huge repository of knowledge, enthusiasm and expertise on energy saving measures. Visitors have returned inspired and informed about what they can do in their own homes. Many of the visitors return next year as Greener Homes hosts to showcase what they have achieved during the year.”
Colin Tracy, one of the organisers of Dorset Greener Homes and of Green Martinstown, said: ”Some of the solutions are very ingenious, with energy saving measures from repurposed materials at very little cost, storing rainwater in tanks and zoning the heating in their homes. It is wonderful to see how people are making a difference, no matter what scale, sensing the seriousness of the situation we are all in”.
Each of these homes have specific opening times, and some require prior booking. Please see http://dorset.greenopenhomes.net for details of all the homes, and booking instructions where required.
Dorset Greener Homes is running on the weekends of 25-26 September and 2-3 October 2021.
DCAN has received a grant from Dorset Community Energy to run this event. All those involved are volunteers.