Largest eco-house open day (plus garden office)

As part of Oxfordshire Ecovation Open Days, 18 houses in the area will be opening their doors to share the techniques and opportunities of eco-renovation (November 24 and 25). There's plenty to see (with lots of details on their site) from former council houses to 17th century cottages. The organisers, who claim this is the largest eco-house open day ever organised in the UK, say:

"Some of the houses use standard materials that could be bought at any builders merchant. Others use experimental technologies including straw bale and sheep wool insulation, solar panels, wood burners and a heat pump that draws water from the Thames."

Among the buildings on display is the Strawbale house pictured above at 55 Henley Avenue, OX4 4DJ, which is a garden office and spare room built from strawbales and recycled materials with wood burner and composting toilet. It's open on the Saturday from 10am until noon, and Sunday from 1pm to 4pm.