Energy Saving Open Homes

The Energy Saving Trust is working with organisations that are opening up energy saving open homes to visitors. These homes are open to the public and to trade professionals to demonstrate how our homes can be upgraded to be more energy efficient and comfortable to live in. Opening them up helps visitors to see first hand what energy saving features may mean in their own homes and is a great way to reinforce energy saving advice and encourage action.

There are a number of approaches to running open homes but our partners have tended to offer inspirational events consisting of groups of homes open throughout a weekend. These events are successful because they offer locally interesting and accessible homes which are promoted by local media and handy for residents to visit and they encourage visitors to take action in their own homes.

Our aim in working with our partners is to enable energy saving open homes activities to take place in more places and more frequently. Our vision is for everyone to have access to energy saving show homes in their area to help people make the right decisions about upgrading their property.

Some of the results we already know:
• 75% of visitors to one event in Norfolk took action in their own homes within a year.
• 2,500 people visited 14 homes in Brighton over two weekends.
• 78% of visitors to open days in Oxfordshire were inspired to do more to their own home.

If you are planning on setting up your own event or network of energy saving show homes these pages and our 7-step guide provide some useful information to get you started.