Ecology updates housing scheme to offer mortgage discounts to sustainable homes

Ecology Building Society has launched an updated version of its C-Change sustainable homes scheme, to offer owners of energy efficient, low-carbon homes discounts on their mortgages.

Buildings that were built or renovated using the Passivhaus method – a German-developed sustainable homes standard – will be eligible for interest rate reductions of up to 1.25%.

Homes that meet EnerPHit requirements – another mark specifically for older buildings that have been refurbished sustainably, but for whom meeting Passivhaus might not be possible – will also be entitled to the discounts.

“Our C-Change sustainable homes discounts have shown that mortgage lenders have a vital role to play in improving the energy efficiency of our homes”, said Paul Ellis, Ecology chief executive.

“Five years since we first launched this scheme, the challenges of cutting the carbon footprint of our housing stock are even clearer, and it’s the right time for us to acknowledge the proven effectiveness of the Passivhaus and EnerPHit standards in achieving warm, comfortable, healthy homes that are affordable to heat.”

The C-Change update, announced yesterday, coincides with Ecobuild 2013 – a sustainable design event held at the ExCel in London for three days this week.

It also follows the launch of the green deal – the government’s flagship energy efficiency scheme that was finally unveiled in January.

Chris Farrell, managing director of Zenex Energy, wrote about the benefits of self-build to the UK energy landscape this morning, saying, “Self-build, both in building new homes and refurbishment of our existing ones, has a key role to play in ensuring the UK housing stock is able to adapt to future changes in the global energy situation.”

Further reading:

The benefits of self-build to the UK energy landscape

Government launches long-awaited green deal scheme

Green homes: will patience pay?

Study paints UK as a leader in green building