A couple who moved from their huge 17th-century mansion into an eco-friendly home said they've saved thousands.
Louise and Holly Sandow moved from the Grade-II listed pile in Huddersfield to a three-bed, sustainable home in the next village.
Built in the 1600s, the house had been in Louise's family for years, but was costing them a fortune just to heat and maintain.
Lacking any double-glazing or modern insulation, the drafty house was costing her and wife Holly more than £2,600 a year simply to heat and power as energy bills soared astronomically this year.
On average, their monthly energy bills were about £140 per month combined for gas and electricity, with an additional £1,000 per year for logs for the two wood burners, as the downstairs rooms didn't have any central heating.
But moving to the new house has cut their bills down to less than £20 a month during the summer, Yorkshire Live reports.
The Sandows - along with their kids Jack, 14, and Beau, aged four - moved into the house as part of a scheme experimenting to see how modern technology can help homeowners cut their emissions.
The house is fitted with technology powered by artificial intelligence, which adjusts its own heating, lighting, security, safety, and entertainment, using voice control technology and a mobile phone app.
“Being more energy efficient and taking part in the trial has made us much more mindful," said Louise.
"We tell everyone - friends, family, colleagues - about our experience and how beneficial it is. It’s exciting to be part of a trial that will influence how people live going forward.”
Holly and Louise have also found that living in a house that’s inherently more eco-friendly is even spilling into other areas of their lives.
They added: “Our last garden was all astroturf and patio.
"Now we’re much more in tune with nature and really enjoying having real greenery and flowers and growing our own fruit and veg.
"What’s important to us has changed and that’s got a lot to do with living in the Wondrwall house and being more aware of the impact we have on the planet.”
