Model village gets green makeover with tiny heat pumps, solar panels and miniature Ed Miliband

A model village is being outfitted with tiny homes, heat pumps and solar panels alongside micro versions of energy secretary Ed Miliband and net-zero skeptic Nigel Farage in a call for Britain’s homes to be made greener.

B Corp-certified energy company Good Energy has equipped the newest neighbourhood at Southsea Model Village, dubbed Sunshine Place, with handmade miniature heat pumps and solar panels for a two-week installation running until 26 April.

There are 12 new homes outfitted with the green upgrades in the model village alongside eight retrofitted existing homes and businesses.

Meanwhile, a mini Miliband can be found among the tiny homes. The energy secretary is alongside energy minister Miatta Fahnbulleh, local Labour MP Stephen Morgan and Liberal Democrat MP Max Wilkinson, whose ‘Sunshine Bill’ calling for mandatory solar panels on new homes was recently rejected in parliament.

Reform UK leader Farage – a vocal opponent of net zero policies – is also there in micro form for balance.

The energy provider hopes the stunt will drive action on net zero from politicians as well as urging them to recognise the role small green energy generators can have on the country’s clean power goals.

Nigel Pocklington, chief executive at Good Energy, said: “Small changes can have a big impact. Sunshine Place demonstrates what a greener, cleaner future could look like in the UK. As a nation, we need rapid adoption of sustainable energy solutions, but we also know that making that leap is a big decision for consumers, especially considering ever-increasing energy bills.

“Helping people understand their options, the grants available, the money they can save and their potential contribution to the nationwide push towards net zero is what has guided this feel-good campaign and installation.”

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Around 29 million homes across the UK need retrofitting, according to the UK Green Building Council, if the UK is to hit its goal of reaching net-zero by 2050.

The Climate Change Committee said last summer progress “needs to speed up” across the board if the UK is to hit the milestone in 25 years. There was particular criticism for government policies, including a failure to regulate for improved energy efficiency of rented homes.

Upgrading homes will see more solar panels used on properties, swapping boilers for heat pumps and improved insulation to boost efficiency, slash emissions and reduce energy bills.

Good Energy has made quicker progress, albeit in tiny form.

The energy provider has written to MPs to call for them to revisit the Sunshine Bill as well as removing green levies from electricity bills and moving into general taxation – a move Good Energy insists will lower energy bills and make heat pumps more cost-efficient.

More funding for lower income households for solar and heat pumps should also be on Labour’s priority list, they said. 

Placards around the model village also take aim at misconceptions about grants and subsidies currently available and challenge government decisions on the green transition to a fully renewable future.

Mark Wilson and Dean Wilson, owners of Southsea Model Village said, “We’re delighted to be partnering with Good Energy on the construction of Sunshine Place. To be able to support such an important message and use the village to showcase what a sustainably powered future could look like is a great honour.”

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