Over 600 people attended the Green Buildings Open Days event in September, organised by the charitable environmental organisation Campaign to Protect Rural England in Norfolk. Guided tours with architects, owners, builders and researchers took place at some of Norfolk's most energy-efficient properties.

Highlights included a new social housing scheme in Lingwood, a low carbon private housing development at Costessey, the Norfolk Wildlife Trust energy efficient visitors centre at Cley and the Greenhouse Environment Centre in Norwich. Norfolk residents also opened up their own self built properties, barn conversions and home extensions.

Each of the 15 buildings in the event featured a range of methods for conserving energy and reducing fuel bills, applying the very latest renewable energy technologies together with improved insulation, rainwater recycling and use of local materials. A great range of technologies were featured in the event including a micro hydro-turbine at Itteringham Mill, a 96 photovoltaic panel installation at a bungalow in Keswick, ground source heating at the Roman Catholic Church in Little Walsingham and home wind turbine installations at several properties across the county. The Green Buildings Open Days event is organised annually by CPRE Norfolk and provides a unique educational experience for consumers and professionals wishing to learn more about sustainability.

The John Jarrold Trust supported the Open Days for the second year running, with a donation of £1000. Caroline Jarrold, Secretary to the Trust said "The Trustees are very conscious that individuals and developers need to look to new ways of conserving energy and operate sustainably and welcomed this scheme which allows access to buildings which have already used innovative ideas and enables the public to learn from the experiences of others".

Jarrold Properties is developing a new office building for DEFRA at St James Place next to the River Wensum in Norwich which will have a BREEAM excellent rating recognising the sustainability of its construction and operation.

Above: Visitors to Ecostessey a contemporary development of 22 townhouses with a range of energy efficiency measures and installed renewables

Above: Visitors to Marsham Barns a the sustainable conversion of agricultural buildings incorporating a 6kw wind turbine, ground source heat pump and rainwater harvesting

Above: Kate Edwards, builder of the beautiful cob and straw bale studio building with sedum roof at Banham, talking to visitors

All pictures by Julia Holland

For more information about the Green Buildings Open Days and the work of CPRE Norfolk visit www.cprenorfolk.org.uk