How green is your house?

Behind the doors of this Edwardian terrace, the owner’s introduced a host of money-saving ideas.

His adapted rainwater butt has halved his water consumption but cost very little to install.

Like hundreds of other people in south Norwich, Chris Hull lives in a terraced street, built around 1920. Although there are limits to what you can do( there are no cavities in the walls to fill, for example), Chris Hull has found some steps which are already saving him money.

His house is retro-fitted with low-tech energy and water saving technologies including secondary glazing, improved insulation and a rainwater-fed WC: “I began by looking at what I could do beyond the normal. With the windows, for example, I discovered that instead of replacing whole windows, you can replace the glaze[...]On a sunny day, it can be 2 degrees outside and 18 degrees inside.”

Cost: around £250.

Under his floorboards he’s added purpose-built insulation which fits beneath the joints, preventing drafts. His woodburner is 83% energy efficient. He has a combi-boiler, which he says made an immediate difference to his energy bills: “These are easy, affordable ways of saving money.”

Outside, an adapted rainwater butt has been fitted to flush the toilet: “Around a third of the water I used was going down the loo. I’ve almost halved my water bill since installing it.”

Chris Hull’s home on Neville Street is one of 24 being opened to the public as part of CPRE’s Green Buildings in Norfolk. Tours are available this weekend by booking online.

James Frost, Director of CPRE, said “With energy prices on the rise, there is no better time to think about energy saving home improvements[...]Whatever your plans, the Open Days will help you find the right solution for your home.

From October 2012, homeowners will be able to apply for a grant of up to £10,000 to make energy improvements to their homes, under a new Government initiative.

Meters, which measure energy consumption are available on loan from the Millennium Library at The Forum.