Eco-builders are onto a winner with N&P

With rising utility prices, today's self-builders are in an ideal position to save themselves a fortune by installing energy-efficient systems in their homes.

Environmentally-friendly features, such as energy-saving heating systems and super-efficient insulation will not only save them money, while everyone else is struggling to meet the rising costs of fuel, they will cause lower carbon emissions too.

And, as an added bonus, self builders who incorporate impressive "green" features into their project could win a £5,000 cash prize from Norwich and Peterborough Building Society (N&P).

The Society has staged its Eco Self-Build competition for the past seven years. The competition is open to all home-owners (not just N&P mortgage customers) who have undertaken an "eco self-build". The winner will be the entrant whose property has, in the opinion of the judges, the most positive impact on the environment.

There are many energy-efficient features that can be incorporated into a brand new home including:

Building on a "brownfield" site (thereby not building on virgin countryside)
Recycling systems that re-use household water
Motion detection lighting
Ground or air-source heat pumps for hot water and space heating

Last year's winners, Brighton couple Jackie Strube and Alan Stone, worked hard to create a new home which combined a clever design with the best possible environmentally-friendly performance. But not many first-time self-builders would have spotted the potential of the awkward-shaped plot that caught Jackie and Alan's eye. They chose a derelict builders yard as the location for their new home, but had to overcome planning restrictions and major architectural challenges before their dream could take shape.

They are now the proud owners of a single-storey two bedroom, timber frame home that is insulated with sheep's wool and boasts a sedum roof, a solar hot water system and grey water recycling among its eco-friendly credentials. These factors, coupled with the extensive use of recycled materials - right down to the shredded car tyres instead of gravel on the driveway, created a great impression on N&P's judging panel.

And N&P judge Chris Holey, who has 30 years' surveying experience, said he was looking forward to seeing the quality of entries in this year's competition.

He said: "Jackie and Alan's project was very impressive and I am looking forward to seeing how high the standard of entries will be in this year's competition. The Government has set the deadline that by 2016 all new homes will have to be ‘carbon neutral' so it is vital that self-builders embrace the need to build more energy efficient homes now."

As a green mortgage lender, and a carbon neutral business itself, N&P has long championed the need for more people to make eco-friendly features a priority in the construction of their new home.

N&P has offered "green" mortgages since 1998. Today, for every "green" mortgage taken out, N&P plants 40 trees which "off-set" the equivalent of an average property's harmful "greenhouse" emissions for five years. The planting is arranged by The CarbonNeutral Company. It does this by planting and maintaining forests, measuring carbon uptake, and developing "carbon management" programmes.