The Winterbottoms have won SEE-Change’s coldest house in Canberra competition which they have been running for the past few months.
“The winning entry included Susan Winterbottom reciting a poem explaining just how freezingcold her home is,” Alexander Watson Chief Executive, Jeremy Watson said.
“According to the poem, the Winterbottom’s house, which is an original Tocumwal, has no insulation and holes in the floor. No matter how much heat the family pumps in they cannot warm the house up as it just escapes too quickly.
“Susan pointed out that the family’s name is often the ‘butt’ of jokes and teasing includes being called “Frosty Bum”. However in light of how cold her house is, her surname seems quite appropriate.”
Ms Winterbottom also highlighted the family’s high energy bills and lamented that her cold winter house becomes steaming hot in summer.
“This competition was designed to let Canberrans know there are some simple improvements to energy efficiency they can make so they don’t suffer in a house that is too cold in winter or too warm in summer.
“As part of this competition, 300 local homes have had a free home energy assessment with thermal imaging so we can let families know where their energy problems lie and the types of fixes they can implement.”
As part of the $20,000 first prize, the team from Alexander Watson will give the Winterbottom’shome a complete overhaul.
“We’re going to draught proof, insulate, double glaze and put solar in!” Mr Watson enthused.