A retrofit of a Victorian cottage on our Eaton Estate which aims to challenge assumptions about the sustainability and energy performance of historic properties could reduce the carbon emissions for heating the home for a year by 94% to 520kg CO2e/yr – less than a single passenger’s carbon footprint for a return flight from London to New York.
In addition, it is hoped that improvements to the home will enhance the energy performance certification of the property, reduce its energy use intensity (the total amount of energy used in a building in a year divided by its floor area) by almost 60% and more than double the insulation quality, known as the U value.
Collaborating with leading experts, we’re aiming to make the property – which was built in the latter stages of the 1890s – more environmentally and economically sustainable, more compatible with modern family living as well as enhancing biodiversity by creating new habitats around the buildings.
By using this knowledge, we will develop a template for our future refurbishment programme, as we work towards net zero carbon.