Francis Court has been designed to minimise the amount of energy used to provide heating, hot water, lighting and power. Accord Housing Association built the 15 homes in Halesowen using a range of techniques to make the homes as green as possible.

By combining super-insulated walls, roofs and floors with energy-saving windows, airtight construction, south-facing conservatories and heat recovery ventilation, the heating needed is just  fraction of that used by an ordinary home.

Wind cowls on the roofs provide ventilation and a biomass boiler produces no carbon emissions as it heats water.

The roof is covered in sedum, a low-maintenance plant which absorbs water and provides extra insulation, as well as providing a habitat for birds and insects.

The scheme is aimed at people aged 45 and over.