When Jacqueline Calvert moved into her new house, she never realised quite how at home she would feel. Not only has Drum Housing Association provided her with a wheelchair friendly house, complete with ramps, stair lifts, grab rails and a wheelchair accessible sun terrace; it is also an eco-friendly home.
The pair of semi-detached houses in Alton, Hampshire, are almost 50% more energy efficient than building regulation standards and produce an estimated 9% saving on energy bills*.
When Jacqueline Calvert moved into her new house, she never realised quite how at home she would feel. Not only has Drum Housing Association provided her with a wheelchair friendly house, complete with ramps, stair lifts, grab rails and a wheelchair accessible sun terrace; it is also an eco-friendly home.
The pair of semi-detached houses in Alton, Hampshire, are almost 50% more energy efficient than building regulation standards and produce an estimated 9% saving on energy bills*. They were built to replace the previous houses which were destroyed in an electrical fire.
As well as Photovoltaic cells on the roof that help power the house, it also has an extremely high level of insulation and air tightness throughout, and uses mechanical ventilation which allows exhaust air, taken from kitchens and bathrooms, to help heat the fresh intake air. This means that even in cold weather, Jacqueline only needs to put the heating on for a couple of hours in the morning and evening to keep the house warm throughout the day.
“I was always a cold person before I was in the wheelchair, and now as a person in a wheelchair I need the heat as I don’t create much body heat myself. Although we don’t have the heating on very high, or for long, the house stays incredibly warm. I couldn’t have asked for anything better”, says Jacqueline.
Jacqueline and her daughters, Teresa and Claire, have taken the lead from their eco friendly house and enthusiastically recycle all the materials they can, including reusing rain water and composting their food waste in the compost bin for the benefit of their garden.
As a sector leader in this field, Drum adapted the house to suit Jacqueline’s needs when she was awarded the house. This included not only the ramps and stair lift, but also other adaptations to make it easier for Jacqueline to live in. Previously she had to lean precariously out of her wheelchair to insert a plug in its socket or to turn on a light, but with the changes made to this house, all light switches are within easy reach. There are no sockets centimetres from the floor, they are all set at an easily accessible height mid way up the wall.
Jacqueline adds: “Living in this wonderful house makes me feel very lucky. It’s like it has been made for me. I hope Drum allow me to stay here for a very long time. I feel like I’ve come home.”
*Compared to a 2006 Building Regulations compliant house.