Two New Eco Homes in Reading

Catalyst Housing Group have recently completed the eco-refurbishment of two Victorian ‘hard to treat’ houses in Reading.

The range of energy-related measures installed in these properties make the project the first of its kind in the Borough. The project has been endorsed by the European Union as an official partner of the Sustainable Energy Europe Campaign and is a finalist for the ‘Sustainable Smaller Housing Project of the Year’, which is one of the Sustainable Housing Awards 2011.

Two different approaches have been taken for each of the properties:
· ‘Cost house’ (Palmer Park Avenue) - where the marginal costs over and above the standard refurbishment costs have been kept as low as possible.


· ‘Performance house’ (Addington Road) - where the budgetary constraints have been secondary to the final building performance.

One of the main objectives of the project has been to gain the knowledge and experience required before considering rolling out energy-related measures in programmes of work across the stock.

Although the full range of measures will not be replicated in other properties at this time; the measures which optimise carbon dioxide reductions whilst representing the best value for money will be identified as suitable for incorporation in other programmes of work and will help to inform our long-term Asset Management sustainabilty strategy.

A Guest Post from
Catalyst Housing Group
A charitable housing association
www.chg.org.uk