Media information
Ecology Building Society is unique amongst UK building societies. We specialise in offering green, ethical financial products, in particular savings accounts and mortgages.
Our mortgages are different from any other lender as they are only available for projects and properties that benefit the environment. We specialise in providing mortgages for properties that most lenders class as 'non-standard' and 'unmortgageable' - for example log cabins, timber chalets, properties constructed using traditional materials and methods such as cob, straw bale, wattle & daub, as well as all types of existing rundown houses or derelict buildings that can be renovated and brought back in to use or converted into residential dwellings. We do not lend on what are classed as 'standard' properties such as three-bed semis, unless for example, they require substantial renovation work or their energy efficiency is being improved by the addition of energy saving measures or renewable energy technologies. See our page on the C-Change mortgage discount for further details.
We lend on a wide range of properties from rundown cottages and terraced houses right through to disused lighthouses, chapels, oast houses, water towers and barns. We will consider any type of renovation or conversion project. Our other main area of lending is for new build properties that are constructed ecologically. For example:
- Use sustainable or recycled materials such as timber, straw, cob, rammed earth, reclaimed brick or stone
- Incorporate high level of energy efficiency e.g. highly insulated, triple glazed, condensing boiler
- Incorporate renewable energy systems such as solar panels for hot water heating, photovoltaic cells that generate electricity from the sun, rainwater harvesting systems
We want to encourage the reuse of existing resources through our renovation and conversion mortgages and also support new sustainably built homes that help protect the environment. Other unusual types of properties or projects that we provide mortgages for include:
- Organic smallholdings
- Small woodlands
- Houseboat moorings
For further details please visit What do we lend on?
The money our members invest in their Ecology savings accounts funds our mortgage lending. So our savers know that their savings are being used to support sustainable housing and the environment.
As a business we are fully committed to sustainability and to prove that we practice what we preach we operate from our own state-of-the-art, energy efficient headquarters in Silsden, West Yorkshire. For details on our office and its ecological features please read our Ecology HQ Environmental Specification (PDF*, 50K).
Case studies
We are a small, progressive organisation keen to maximise opportunities to spread the word about what we do and our commitment to sustainable development. With the kind assistance of our borrowers, we are able to provide some highly original and interesting case studies on renovations, conversions and low impact self builds. Several examples can be viewed on our case studies page. Other case studies can be supplied at reasonable notice. Please contact the Marketing Manager to discuss your requirements.
To find out more...
For the Ecology's latest facts and figures please take a look at Ecology in Profile (PDF*, 1.1MB).
Media contact
| Jenny Irwin Marketing Manager |
Telephone: | 01535 650 770 |
|---|---|---|
| Fax: | 01535 650 790 | |
| E-mail: | jirwin@ecology.co.uk |
