LORNA MARSH Free tours of green buildings in Norfolk will run alongside Norwich's acclaimed Heritage Open Days event in a bid to highlight eco issues and give people an insight into what energy savings they can make.

LORNA MARSH

Free tours of green buildings in Norfolk will run alongside Norwich's acclaimed Heritage Open Days event in a bid to highlight eco issues and give people an insight into what energy savings they can make.

The exclusive opportunity to spy into environmentally-friendly houses and offices was organised by the Campaign to Protect Rural England in Norfolk (CPRE Norfolk) as part of the national Open Days initiative.

For four days in September, CPRE Norfolk will be inviting building owners and architects across the county to answer questions on how wind pumps, solar panels and turbines work.

Twelve award-winning, energy-efficient buildings, many of which are privately owned, will be opened up to the general public for guided tours.

James Frost, director of CPRE Norfolk, said: “Energy-efficiency is a part of the buildings' design, build and management.

They use principles such as passive ventilation, earth shelter-ing, rammed-earth construction, solar orientation and thermal massing to conserve and store heat. Some have grey water and rainwater recycling systems to reuse water.

“Many incorporate the latest in renewable energy technologies, such as photovoltaic panels, ground source heating, solar water heating or wind turbines.”

Each building in the scheme will have guided tours with the owners or architects up to four times a day between September 6 and 9.

Heritage Open Days, organised by Norwich Heritage Economic and Regeneration Trust (Heart), will also run during this period with 169 historic events in buildings in and around Norwich open to the public.

Open Green Buildings tours must be booked using the form at www.cprenorfolk.org.uk/open days or by calling the CPRE Norfolk office on 01603 761660.

Catalogues for Heritage Open Days will be released on August 6 in the EDP and in the Tourist Information Centre in the Forum, libraries and the Guildhall.

Open Green Buildings in Norfolk:

t Holly Barn, Reedham

t The Old Barns, Upper Stoke

t The Greenhouse, Norwich

t Honingham Earth Sheltered Social Housing Scheme

t Deepdale Farm, Burnham Deepdale

t ZICER and Elizabeth Fry Buildings, UEA

t Jasmine House, Blakeney

t Cedar House, North Elmham

t Ralphs, Plumstead

t Dragonflies, Little Snoring

t Hill House, Gimingham

t The Church of the Annunciation, Little Walsingham