Hockerton Housing Project has won one of the categories (not for profit) of Eurosolar UK Awards (2000).
The Eurosolar UK Prizes are awarded each year (for the last 5 years) to those who have given outstanding service to the promotion of renewable energy including categories for local authorities, companies, individuals, engineers, architects, owners of renewable energy plants, authors and organisations. In the context of these awards, solar energy or renewable energy means energy derived from the sun, whether directly or indirectly, through weather systems (such as wind and hydropower) or crops. The aim is to promote renewable energy for widespread replication and public acceptance.
The judges looked for systems and projects that are inspiring and that can be reproduced. Winners will have demonstrated vision, persistence and ability to introduce and succeed with their project.
Judges comments on HHP:
“The integrated approach to living was very impressive and the low-impact ethos has considerable appeal. It is an important demonstration of the possible in a realistic context and is the strongest of a very strong field”.
“An extremely commendable project, which has had to persist and fight for its success. The whole system, which includes a reasonable amount of ‘lifestyle’ provides an example of future living standards”.
The award ceremony will be at Lord’s Cricket ground on 14th November as part of a ‘Sustainability in Public Services’ conference.
On 6th October we were visited by one of our local MEPs (Member of European Parliament) for East Midlands, Phillip Whitehead.
Philip Whitehead wrote back to Councillor Stan Crawford (leader, Newark & Sherwood District Council), who had organised the day, “The range of projects you are nurturing and the foresight and enthusiasm displayed by all those involved does you great credit.”
This visit is more important perhaps than it might seem at face value. In many ways we in the UK are lagging behind many other European countries in terms of sustainable development and use of renewable technologies. Let’s hope Newark & Sherwood allow the momentum to continue by supporting future sustainable development proposals
HHP has recently been the subject of a new Government publication (part of ‘Energy Efficiency Best Practice Programme’): –
New Practice Profile (119) -The Hockerton Housing Project – design lessons for developers and clients
In our opinion this is a useful report. It covers project features & house construction, energy consumption, monitoring the internal environment, and design lessons.
It concludes – “The houses at Hockerton are a successful experiment in low-energy design. They are attractive and pleasant to live in, although some occupants had some complaints. The design of the site enables a sustainable lifestyle with self-sufficiency in water and food while also providing a high level of amenity for the occupants. The houses were built at a comparable cost to conventional housing, although the self-build element of the work distorts comparisons. Many of the elements of the housing could be replicated in more mainstream developments….”
The complaints referred to were minor and in the context of the whole project insignificant.
This report is now one of three publications on the project.
We were pleased to help and get involved with an Australian TV documentary team, who are researching the most successful eco-villages across Europe. We are one of 12 projects from across Europe that are being filmed for a documentary next year. Although we are the smallest of the projects looked at, being more of an eco-hamlet, they felt that HHP worked well in the context of eco-communities. Also with the group was an Australian town planner who was collecting evidence and ideas to use back in his district of Byron, where they are hoping to set up a number of varying sized eco-villages.
The UK’s premier business environment awards, the BCE Awards, recently announced its 1999 results. Hockerton Housing Project Trading Ltd (the Business Company based at HHP) has gained a MAJOR COMMENDATION in recognition of exemplary achievement with its environmental activities. BCE awards have consistently recognised the variety of business commitment to the environment to be found throughout Britain, from small to large companies, in the private and public sector.
HHP has managed over 3,000 enquiries in the last few years, including professionals such as architects, students and university lecturers, over 200 media articles, local government officers, and members of general public. The project has run nearly 100 tours of the project, given over 25 talks to various interest groups, provided advice and consultancy on low-energy house design, providing publications about the project, and supplied a limited range of ‘green’ goods.
We are very pleased to have received this award, particularly since we have managed this with relatively small resources. Hopefully our activities will have a significant impact on the way others consider the environment.
