National Trust continues green initiative

Castles, farms, light houses and properties are set to be insulated over the next five years as the National Trust drives a campaign to turn the nations heritage green.

More than five thousand buildings have been earmarked by The Trust to meet minimum environmental standards in the next five years. The first priority will be to insulate the walls and roofs, draught proof chimneys and double glaze windows. Flow-restricted taps, rain water butts and more efficient dishwashers are to be installed as well as biomass heating systems working on locally sourced wood.

Historic buildings will be fitted with appropriate alternatives, temporary insulation during the winter or using natural products.

Stephen Kane, deputy head of buildings at the National Trust, said ‘what we've realised is that we need to start adapting our buildings now in order to be able to survive the conditions we are going to face in the future. But it's not going to be easy and we realise there are challenges ahead’.

The renovations aim to save money in the long run but initial work will be paid for out of existing budgets. Guardians of the properties are being encouraged to go further with their own initiatives installing renewable energy resources where appropriate – wind turbines, ground source heating pumps and natural processing sewage systems.

The National Trust has various green initiatives planned including giving land over to allotments as a drive to get people into growing their own food. For more information visit www.nationaltrust.org.uk