You don't have to be a tree-hugging hippy to give serious consideration to building an eco house. Financially as well as environmentally, if you are building your own home, it is becoming increasingly popular and viable to eco build. Take a look at the guide to the benefits, practicalities and economics of building green.
This section provides useful links on sustainable homes and buildings with advice on material selection, thermal insulation, buying an eco-home, sourcing sustainable timber, natural paints, heating your eco-home, solar heating, sustainable roofing and much more...helping you make your home and buildings less harmful to the environment, the community and your family.
"Energy efficiency should be on the priority list for all home improvement work these days. Canny builders will be able to provide homeowners with energy efficient measures which help them to save money and the planet." - Sarah Beeny
Gutter Mate saves water and consequently reduces your water bill. It can be produced in the same colour as the drainpipe. The material is UV stabilised, so it will not discolour due to sunlight. All water is filtered and a filter basket collects debris. It’s easy to clean in only 30 seconds, avoiding you having to pay someone to clean your gutters. It also helps to protect your roof joists and walls from damp. Save water, save money and save yourself! www.guttermate.co.uk/
Founded in 2007, Syntegra Consulting has over 30 years experience in the Energy Consultancy profession, and provides SAP's, HIP's, EPC's, DEC's, BREEAM assessment, Code for sustainable Homes assessment and energy design consultancy to commercial and residential property owners/clients nationwide. The company is based in Reading and London. The company delivers comprehensive energy consultancy services to the public and companies, which is designed to meet current EPBD regulations at all times. With fully qualified staff, the business also has friendly staff helping clients to save money and legally comply. www.syntegra-epc.co.uk
Sustainable, ecological designs, planning consultancy. Planning appeals, enforcements, Urbanised societies world-wide are rearing children who have too little contact with the inherent beauties of Nature, the essential food of the human soul. Thus deprived, they reach for drugs, drinks and consumerism as poor substitutes. Eco Architecture Planning & Permaculture Design Consultants aim to design garden-centred environments for food, beauty and soul satisfaction as contexts for their eco-architecture.
They specialise in the design of ecologically sustaining architecture and planning. In other words, the holistic design of buildings and their surroundings spaces or gardens that maintain the balance in terms of food, energies, materials and humans needs: aesthetic, physical, social, spiritual and emotional. With an increasing concern at how human beings are destroying the planet, they see an eco-lifestyle as a means of healing the Earth. Eco Architecture Planning & Permaculture Design Consultants shall investigate, establish, teach and offer examples of ways of living co-operatively, harmoniously, sustainably and self sufficiently with each other and the environment for the benefit of the local and wider ecological communities. www.eco-architectureandplanning.com/home.html
Green Building Magazine. This magazine discusses the technical aspects of the best systems and techniques to achieve real green and energy efficient buildings. Designed to help create green, healthy and sustainable buildings. www.greenbuildingmagazine.co.uk/
Inside Out design and build low impact, eco-friendly garden offices for professionals working from home. They also design and supply granny annexes and guest accommodation for people who want to extend their living space into the garden. They specifically use traditional timber frame structures, high levels of insulation, cedar roof shingles and UK sourced larch cladding for their buildings. Their double-glazed, water-based stained doors and windows are made by a small, family joinery manufactuer to the highest standards. www.iobuild.co.uk/
J3*Building Futures is a sustainable development, environmental design, green construction and ecological living consultancy, concerned with developing the built environment in a socially and environmentally sustainable manner, helping buildings to become as energy efficient and healthy as they are cost effective. www.j3buildingfutures.co.uk/
LimeWork specialise in the restoration and conservation of buildings using natural lime mortars, renders, plasters, natural plant and mineral-based paints to help preserve, restore and enhance our built heritage. LimeWork is made up of a team of experienced and sympathetic craftsmen who understand each individual property's needs. www.limework.co.uk/
Simple, hassle free, award-winning British patented solutions to off-mains sewage treatment. From small domestic to large municipal systems. A truly environmental system, capable of recycling wastewater with lower carbon footprint and producing far less sludge waste than any other system available in today’s market. www.bio-bubble.com/
Ecomerchant is the UK's leading environmental builders merchant, dedicated to the ethical sourcing and supply of a wide range of competitive, sustainable building materials, from natural insulation to high performance, FSC timber, joinery. www.ecomerchant.co.uk/
AquaPro Solutions is a global resource for the promotion and advancement of water filtration and water efficiency technologies. They offer everything from small countertop models to whole house systems, shower filters, water softeners, iron, fluoride and arsenic removal filters. www.aquaprosolutions.com/
