Dorset Greener Homes is opening around 50 homes across the county, including 12 in Purbeck, for two October weekends. Owners will walk visitors through real installations: air to air heat pumps, rooftop solar with battery storage, sheep's wool insulation, and a near-passive new build in Swanage. The aim is to give people a chance to ask practical questions about cost, noise, payback, and whether these measures work in older houses. One Purbeck couple swapped a £2,500 a year oil bill for air to air heat pumps and an electric car charged on a 6p overnight tariff. Another retired architect couple built a low-carbon bungalow for about £10,000 more than a conventional boiler and radiator setup, and now reports very low running costs. The open days run on 17-18 and 24-25 October 2026. More details and a four step home efficiency plan are on the Dorset Climate Action Network and Sustainable Swanage websites.
