A Bristol couple have beaten 8,000 other homeowners to win a £23,000 eco-makeover on their property.

The Great British Refurb Campaign, which is fronted by Grand Design's Kevin McCloud, aims to help people reduce their carbon emissions through home improvements.

Will Homoky and Catherine Beswick's house in Totterdown is now being fitted with the latest energy-efficiency measures, including loft insulation and solar panels.

A panel of expert judges chose their house in Bellevue Road to be turned in to the Home of the Future.  

On receiving the news of his win, Will Homoky said:  "We are absolutely delighted to have been chosen.  Environmental issues are important to us both; and we make conscious efforts to conserve energy by choosing to cycle, recycling our waste and reclaiming furniture for use at home.  But this really does take it one step further. 

"As new homeowners, we could not have afforded to make such radical eco-changes for a long time, but thanks to the Great British Refurb Campaign, we will be drastically reducing our carbon emissions, almost overnight!"

Speaking about the campaign, Grand Design's Kevin McCloud said:  "It is vital that we cut our carbon emissions and meet these targets - and our homes are the obvious place to start. 

"We need a nationwide programme of green refurbishment that is sensitive to the fantastic diversity of housing types in Britain, and if people can't afford the upfront costs of what will ultimately save them money, then we need to find ways to help to do so.  This is why the Great British Refurb Campaign is so important."

Five houses were selected randomly from the 8000-plus entries.  Coincidentally, two of the shortlisted houses were from Bristol, with the other house winning second place in the competition.  Emma and Peter Rowleston will receive £5,700 worth of eco-refurbishment work to their home in Goulston Road, saving them 69% on their annual energy bill and cutting their carbon emissions by 64%.

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