City eco home on sale

4:53pm Thursday 9th October 2008

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Green principles have been put into practice in a terraced home in Oxford.

Number 45 Trinity Street, pictured below, which is on the market, has been given an eco-renovation by owners Mark and Alice Luntley.

They have converted the 1980s three-bedroomed developer home into an eco-friendly property.

Mr Luntley said: "We are deeply concerned about climate change and did not want to be armchair campaigners."

The first step was to install a solar combi boiler system with new heating controls. A flat plate solar system warms a heat store which in turn preheats water entering the boiler Insulation has been added to the loft, external wall cavities and the garage, Mr Luntley said: "We added 100mm of sheepwool insulation to the exising 70cm of insulation in the loft."

A conservatory has been added to increase the property's thermal performance.

Mr Luntley added: 'We commissioned an architect-designed conservatory for the house. To maximise performance, the glazing is only on the south wall of a well-insulated shell. The side walls are built of brick with 100mm insulation and the floor has 100mm of insulation under terracotta tiles.

"In the spring and autumn we can open the sliding doors to allow the warm air to enter the house whilet in the summer electronically controlled vents in the roof are opened to reduce solar gain.”

The bathroom has a heat-exchanging fan and a Swedish toilet, which uses only two to four litres of water per flush — 45 per cent less water than conventional British designs.

More recently the couple have installed a porch to the north-facing front of the house and dry-lined the garage.

Featured on television including an Open University programme, the house is on sale at £330,000 through Oliver James. To arrange a viewing, call 01865 250111.