Want to see for yourself what measures can be taken to improve the energy efficiency of your home? We are holding two demonstration events to exhibit old, hard-to-treat buildings that have been renovated to save money and reduce carbon emissions.

This is also a chance to see what work could be done on our competition winner’s home. We are offering a £7,000 home energy makeover to one lucky winner, who could then make savings of up to £750 per year on their energy bills. Click here to enter – the deadline is 15^th March so get your entry in soon! You just have to fill out a simple questionnaire.

On Thursday 8^th March, from 12.00-2pm, Cotteridge Quaker Meeting House will be offering tours of their renovated building, demonstrating how an old, ‘hard to treat’ building can be improved to reduce energy use and save money. This event is open to all; tea and cake will be provided. The address for the meeting house is 23a Watford Road, Cotteridge, Birmingham, B30 1JB.

On Tuesday 13th March, from 7pm-9pm, Chris and Harriet Martin will be welcoming visitors into their ‘Old Home, Super Home’ to exhibit the type of work that can be done to make an old house more energy efficient. Measures installed in this Bournville ‘superhome’ include solar hot water, solar PV, smokeless wood-burning stove, floor and loft insulation, and a condensing gas boiler, meaning the house generates as much electricity as it uses and uses only 25% of the average Birmingham household gas use. Tea, coffee and cake will be provided. There will be two 1.5-hour tours of the house, starting at 7pm and 7.30pm. Places are limited – booking for this evening is essential (to book email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ).

Chris and Harriet will also be having open days over the weekend of Friday 23rd March – Sunday 25th March. 90-minute tours will be at:

Friday 23rd March 6pm

Saturday 24th March 10am, 2pm and 4pm

Sunday 25th March 4pm

This weekend is being organised by Chris and Harriet themselves, not the Ecocentre - for more information, click here, where you can find a superhome near you and contact Chris and Harriet for more information.