A draughty period property dating back to Queen Victoria's reign has been transformed thanks to pioneering renovation work carried out by local companies.

The Nook, which has six tenants, is part of a national pilot project launched by the Technology Strategy Board, to improve energy efficiency in social housing across the UK.

The architectural work for the ‘eco-retrofit' was carried out by BBM Sustainable Design in Lewes, the award winning company which was behind Kevin McCloud's Eco House on Channel 4's Grand Designs Live.

The work carried out to the property could reduce the house's annual heating bills from £1450 to £750.

The Nook's ‘eco-retrofit' has utilised cutting edge techniques, including super insulation on all external walls, treble glazed windows and a ventilation unit which redirects warm air from the kitchen and bathrooms to other parts of the house.

These features, together with roof solar panels and a high efficiency gas boiler, give this old property a more sustainable future.

The property will be monitored by the Energy Saving Trust for two years - the most successful changes could then be rolled out across the country.

The upgrade was overseen and built by the Brighton company Earthwise Construction, taking seven months to complete and costing £142,000.

Caroline Lucas, MP for Brighton Pavilion, will open The Nook on Monday 5th September. She said:

"The annual Eco Open Houses event is a great chance for people to see for themselves the innovative work being done in Brighton and Hove to increase the efficiency of our housing.

"Improving the energy performance of the buildings we live in is a win-win opportunity - through comprehensive retrofits and investment in renewable energy solutions, we can help reduce energy bills and slash climate emissions at the same time.

"I very much look forward to attending this year's event and cutting the ribbon on The Nook project on Lovers Walk, which will showcase the successful efforts of BBM Sustainable Design and Earthwise Construction to address the challenge of bringing an old property up to scratch."

A spokesperson from BBM said:

"Essentially we spend most of the money in making the building fabric super efficient. It means we can slow down the flow of heat loss to a point where very little heating is required.

"It's like putting on a really warm coat on a cold day. It can also help prevent heat coming through the walls and roof during hot weather too. 

"The aim of the project was to demonstrate what is involved in achieving the Government's energy efficiency targets for 2050 using current and emerging technologies.

"We hope that as more of these projects are carried out, the economies of scale will come into play making a roll out programme for all existing buildings more economically viable.

"That's vital for landlords - whether they are councils, housing associations or individual homeowners."

Notes to Editors:

The Nook, Lover's Walk, Brighton, will be opened by Caroline Lucas, MP for Brighton Pavilion, on Monday 5th September 2011. Doors open from 9:30am. Speeches from 10:00am followed by ribbon cutting.

Tours of the building can be arranged separately though the Eco-Open Houses http://ecoopenhouses.org/

Please contact: Ian McKay 01273 480533 or ian@bbm-architects.co.uk

1. The UK Government has set a target of reducing the country's CO2 emissions by 80% by 2050.

2. Social housing - homes owned by councils and housing associations - amounts to almost a quarter of the UK's housing stock. (Source: Technology Strategy Board).

3. The Nook is one of eighty seven social housing projects across the UK to be selected by the Technology Strategy Board to take part in the government funded ‘Retrofit for the Future' programme. The programme received £17 million of government funding to test low carbon building technology in a range of properties owned by councils and housing associations.