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The work undertaken at Carleon House, at Poltesco, involved the sustainable renovation of an historic building which provides accommodation for volunteers working to conserve the heritage, wildlife and landscape of the Lizard Peninsula.

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Carleon House was built in 1861 and came into the possession of the National Trust in 1991. Since 1992 the house has provided accommodation for long term volunteers. However, prior to restoration, the house was in a very poor state of repair.

The renovation project was funded by two legacies and the Cornwall Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) Partnerships’ Sustainable Development Fund and, since its completion, is setting a benchmark for the Trust’s work to reduce the environmental impact of its own operations.

Rainwater is collected from the roof and is used to flush toilets. All light bulbs and appliances are energy efficient and natural paints and floor finishes have been used for decoration.

Mike Hardy, Assistant Property Manager for South West Cornwall, says, "We were delighted to receive an award and recognition at this prestigious national event, which hopefully shows how good energy efficiency both helps the environment and saves money. Climate change is a common topic today but things like improving insulation and using low energy lighting show that individual action can really help make a difference."