County family voted Britain's greenest
A GREEN-thinking family has picked up a top honour, as well as a £10,000 prize, for being the most eco-friendly in Britain.
Judith McDermid, 42, and husband George, 43, have taken a whole host of steps over the last 14 years in a bid to make their five-bedroom bungalow in Burngrange, West Calder, more environmentally-friendly.
Their efforts saw them reach the final of a UK-wide competition to find Britain's greenest family – the Future Friendly Awards.
They have now been named the winners of the family category, securing a 10,000 green home makeover.
The couple, who have two children, Beth, ten, and Rory, seven, have insulated their loft, helping to reduce gas bills to just one-sixth of the original cost, as well as installing a new boiler and cavity wall insulation, double glazing and new doors.
Last year, they introduced a wood burning stove to the living room, fuelling it mainly with wood from trees in their back garden.
Mrs McDermid said: "We're absolutely delighted. We weren't expecting to be chosen as the winner as all of the projects were so inspiring, but we're happy the voters chose to support our project as it's a tribute to our commitment.
"Sustainability has been a part of our daily lives for many years, but we hope that what we're doing can inspire others to make their own improvements."
The McDermids are also considering having solar panels installed as part of their eco makeover.
The family were chosen ahead of tough competition from hundreds of entries to win the public vote. The award ceremony took place at Kew Gardens in London last Thursday, with the winners announced by actress Kacey Ainsworth.
The couple, who now believe they have saved more money than they have spent on the extensive improvements to their home, also have nine raised beds in the garden, which feature apple trees, blackberry and gooseberry bushes, as well as plenty of vegetables, ranging from onions and potatoes to kale and celeriac.
The family lived off food grown in the garden for a period of two months last year, only purchasing things such as pasta and flour and receiving beef and pork from friends, who are smallholders, in exchange for helping them with their livestock.
They hope to do the same thing for six months this year, again obtaining some of the protein they require from eggs laid by their own free-range chickens in the back garden.
The competition winners were chosen by a public vote online, where each family shortlisted had made a short film highlighting the improvements to their homes. Almost 6,000 people voted.
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Tuesday 07 February 2012
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