Eco Building

Insulation

Eco building and home improvement is often dominated by Solar and Wind power headlines, but the first step in designing or adapting an eco home to be as energy efficient as possible should be to ensure it is properly sealed and insulated.

By insulating walls, windows, floors and roofs, and ensuring that airflow is appropriate around the building (ie kitchens and bathrooms are ventilated, and cooling can be carried out without powered assistance) it is possible to massively reduce the amount of heating and cooling energy that a house requires, even to the point that a building can be self regulating. With roof insulation, anything over 270mm is heading the right way, and aim for eco-friendly names such as Warmcel (recycled paper/), Isonat (hemp/cotton), and Thermafleece (wool).

Thermal Bridging

Poor thermal bridging, when heat is lost where it shouldn't be, can compromise the benefits of insulation, so this should be addressed. Eco building architects and renovation experts can advise on how to achieve this. Costs incurred are cancelled out by reduced heating bills in 5-10 years.

Energy Efficiency

Having minimised the need for energy through insulation, further good can be done by ensuring appliances are A rated, or A++ for fridges and freezers. Do the same with the boiler and make sure all your bulbs are energy saving.

Solar-powered electricity or water heating, when combined with an energy efficient eco building and appliances, can provide large proportions of electricity and water heating. Costs are still high, and grants low, so payback times are quite long.

The same applies to domestic wind power - cost, efficiency, and planning approval issues need to be examined before opting for this. Technologies for Solar and Wind power are improving continuously, making them increasingly viable additions to a well designed home.

Wood is a material regarded as carbon neutral, so a wood pellet burning stove can be used to great effect to provide background heating for a main living space. Larger scale models can also provide hot water and central heating.