Spring clean homes to go green

Residents wanting an environmentally friendly makeover for their homes will now be able to visit a green show house at weekends.

Manchester City Council's Eco House in Miles Platting has extended its openings to include weekends from Saturday 27 March.

The centre, on Penzance Street , offers free impartial advice about how to make homes more energy efficient and cheaper to run.

Although it looks like a normal Victorian terrace house from the outside, the building is crammed full of the latest in environmentally friendly design.

Visitors can receive a free 90-minute tour around the house, which includes features ranging from a green roof on the bike shed to a solar thermal hot water system and a sun pipe designed to channel free natural light.

They can also look at examples of loft, interior wall and pipe insulation as well as water saving devices, reflective radiator panels, efficient heating systems and low energy lighting.

Residents can also get information and advice about grants and discounts available, while landlords and developers are also welcome to visit the house.

The house has been open since 2006, but this is the first time it has opened its doors at the weekend - with help from Manchester Event Volunteers and the National Energy Foundation.

Helping residents reduce their environmental impact is a major part of Manchester 's far-reaching plan to reduce the city's carbon emissions by 41 per cent by 2020. The plan, entitled Manchester - A Certain Future - Our Collective Action On Climate Change, was coordinated by the city council but written by nearly 100 organisations including Manchester Friends Of The Earth.

Councillor Nigel Murphy, Manchester City Council's Executive Member for the Environment, said: "Thousands of Manchester residents live in houses just like this one, and they are notoriously difficult to heat. However, the Eco House demonstrates how, by making simple modifications, they can become incredibly efficient.

"I hope any residents who are interested in finding out how easy it is to slash their fuel bills will take advantage of these new weekend visits."

Visits need to be booked in advance and will be available from 10am to 2.30pm on weekends.