A programme providing home owners with free solar panels and a free energy efficiency home check by a qualified Green Doctor is now underway in South Lozells, helping cut down on the rising cost of fuel bills and providing Birmingham with its second eco village. The project which started at the end of 2008 aims to install solar panel hot water systems to 23 properties in the Lozells area, provide 1500 homes with green Information Packs on recycling, water conservation and other green issues and complete 60 energy efficiency advice surveys via a Green Doctor service. Family Housing Association decided on the project following our very successful award winning eco village project in the Summerfield area of the city in 2007/08. On a larger scale, this £2.3m project saw solar panels installed to over 300 homes in a 12 month period which will help deliver 60% of each households hot water per annum. Learning on their experience, Family Housing are now focusing their work on South Lozells to help home owners in this area receive the same benefits. Funding of over £160000 for the South Lozells Eco Village has been provided by Urban Living, the Birmingham / Sandwell Housing Pathfinder and will currently see the project through until the end of March, with local contractors, New World Solar delivering the project. The South Lozells eco programme is FREE for home owners living in the project area who meet certain guidelines and involves the installation of solar panels, energy …