Gain inspiration for your home in our tenth Green Open Homes season this Autumn. Add comfort, cut carbon and reduce energy bills with up-to-date insulation, draughtproofing, heating and renewable energy.
- Visit a local home retrofitted with the planet and the pocket in mind
- Attend talks by expert speakers for practical advice.
- We can also provide contacts with local builders and installers our members have found trustworthy.
A note on home visits bookings:
Please be on time, because the hosts will start the tour and it may then be difficult to answer the door to latecomers or repeat things. If there are any problems on the day, such as not being able to find the property, you can call Mary Blake on 07774 147296.
If you need to cancel please email let us know as soon as possible by emailing info@mhsgroup.org. We can then arrange a refund or change your booking to a different event or time. This would be much appreciated so that the hosts know and the space becomes available another visitor.
Thank you for your cooperation and we hope you enjoy your visits.
HOUSE TOURS
These run over three weekends this year:
30th September/1st October
7th/8th October
14/15th October
See house details below.
EXPERT TALKS – IN PERSON
Tuesday evenings at Muswell Hill Methodist Church, 28 Page’s Lane, N10 1PP
7.30-8.30pm including time for questions, followed by refreshments and informal discussion. Talks will also be livestreamed. Admission free.
Tuesday 24th October – Home Retrofit Essentials – Dermot Barnes, Head of Sustainability, City University of London APOLOGIES, THIS EVENT HAS BEEN CANCELLED – PLEASE CONSIDER BOOKING FOR THE 7TH NOVEMBER EVENT INSTEAD FEATURING THIS SPEAKER
Dermot’s talk will cover the essentials of how to set about improving the energy efficiency of a flat or house – where to start, what to prioritise, the best value interventions and how to navigate the complexities. Full details and booking here.
Tuesday 7th November – Choosing the right contractors for your home retrofit and avoiding contractor, design and specification pitfalls
Speakers: Ian Preston, Retrofit Coordinator, of Ecofurb (The Low Carbon Home Service), and Dermot Barnes, Head of Sustainability at City, University of London
Ian’s talk will cover how to get started on your retrofit journey, including Ecofurb’s retrofit service and contact with vetted installers. Dermot’s talk will advise on professional accreditations and how to find the right installer. Full details and booking here
Tuesday 14th November
Understanding solar energy and heat pumps – Kaspar Bradshaw, Next Step Heating
Hear from an expert on solar systems to generate electricity and heat water, and heat pumps to replace gas boilers. For anyone considering such an installation, or just wants to understand more about home generation and heat pumps. Full details and booking here
Tuesday 21st November – Easy Energy Saving – Tanuja Pandit, Power Up North London
Interactive event on how everyone can save energy. Whether you rent or own your home, you’ll find out how to manage your household energy use, keep the heat in and save money – without spending on expensive improvements. Full details and booking here
ONLINE TALK
Tuesday 31st October – Dukes Avenue Virtual Tour with James Tanner & Dominic Snow
MHSG member and professional landlord James Tanner will show a virtual tour of an Edwardian house in Dukes Avenue retrofitted for energy efficiency, while retaining the character with all original features. Works include internal and underfloor insultation, draughtproofing, solar PV panels. Followed by Q&A with James and domestic refurbishment contractor Dominic Snow. Free event. Full details and booking here
OPEN HOMES
Book your open home visits here – dates and times vary, scroll down for details. This year we are introducing a £1 fee per visit to deter no shows – proceeds will go to the Centre for Alternative Technology.
Grosvenor Road, N10
Edwardian house (corner plot), Alexandra Palace
Original features plus underfloor and ‘Sempatap’ internal wall insulation, ‘Magneglaze’ secondary glazing, solar hot water and solar PV panels, low-energy bathroom fan, living wall and green roof.
Leaside Avenue N10
1949 brick terrace/semi-linked house with garage, Muswell Hill
Draughtproofing, multi layer foil and conventional loft insulation, secondary glazing (fixed and sliding), replacement double glazed windows and doors, 2 types of heat recovery ventilation fans, solar thermal system with heat pump ready water cylinder, water butts front and back, highly insulated garden room with far infra red heating, 2 green roofs, electric vehicle charging point, shares in cooperatively owned wind farm matching electricity use, thermal blinds and curtains.
Weir Hall Road, N17
1920s semi-detached house External, internal and underfloor insulation, triple glazing, air source heat pump, solar PV panels.
Palace Gates Road, N22
Edwardian terraced house, Alexandra Palace
Internal insulation to front wall, external solid wall insulation to side and rear walls, loft insulation, double-glazing with trickle vents, solar PV panels, efficient boiler.
Pages Hill House 1, N10
1920s semi-detached house, Muswell Hill
External solid wall insulation
Solar PV panels and batteries for storage
Solar thermal collector and hot water tank
Air source heat pump
Off mains gas supply
Pages Hill House 2, N10
1920s semi-detached house, Muswell Hill
Solid wall insulation
Loft extension insulation
Underfloor insulation
Double-glazed leaded windows in original style
Solar PV panels
Energy-efficient hot water system.
Bisham Gardens, N6
Detached three-storey early 20th Century property converted to residential use in the late 1920s.
Internal wall insulation
Solar PV and solar thermal panels
Sun-screening to prevent overheating in summer
Double- and triple-glazing throughout.
Muswell Hill Methodist Church, N10
Victorian villa adjoining 1980’s church. Features include Air-to-air heat pump, solar PV panels installed by Muswell Hill Sustainability Group’s social enterprise en10ergy, secondary glazing installed by volunteers, bug hotel and lawns returned to meadow, plans for a community garden.
Wolves Lane Centre, Wood Green, N22
Pilot project for peri-urban ecobuilding. Three buildings constructed 2023: offices and open-sided kitchen. Recycled crushed concrete foundations with brick plinths, light timber frame, straw bale with steel sheet roofing, heat pumps, solar PV panels, controlled ventilation, off-grid waste water treatment. PROJECT IN PROGRESS.
Yew Tree Close N22
Timber-framed detached 1980s house. Rigid wall, underfloor and roof insulation; air source heat pumps (x2) for underfloor heating & hot water; 16 solar PV panels (4kW peak); instant water boiler (no kettle); LED lighting; Argon-filled double-glazing throughout.
St James Lane, N10
Construction in progress of selfbuild PassivHaus
Low profile two-bedroom house on reclaimed site. Completed home to include living front wall, living roof and tree planting. PROJECT IN PROGRESS.
