Green Self Build in the UK

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Self build eco houses in the Field of Dreams, Findhorn Foundation

Over the last decade or so the green building movement in the UK has gone from being fringe to mainstream. Architects, builders and suppliers are falling over each other to declare their green credentials

Self builders have something of a tradition of trying out new and emerging techniques, not least with green technology.

Domestic buildings in the UK account for more than 12% of carbon emissions and have a huge ecological impact on the building materials industry.

This site is aimed at UK self builders who want to incorporate green features into their project. The range spans small home improvement jobs right through to community self build.

All change

Now is the time to look at progressive and emerging trends. Standards are on the change. Anyone relying on old thinking about building standards is liable to get left behind. Even the current building regulations are greening up rapidly!

Recently, Grant Chapps, the Minister of State for Housing and Planning, announced a government initiative to encourage a great deal more activity in the self build market.

Or not

The government has stated its intention that by 2016 all new homes shall be zero carbon in line with EU legislation. Wales is being even more ambitious in terms of its time scale. It remains to be seen how the raising of standards will progress. Either way this will be a huge challenge to anyone building a house, given the present low level of commitment, expertise and skill within the house building industry.

Anyone achieving a high rating such as Passivhaus standard, AECB gold standard or CSH 6 will not only have moved sustainable building forward but should have made a sound financial investment and have a place they can be proud to live in. This is not 'rocket science' (most of the building techniques such as Passivhaus, and funding institutions such as the Ecology Building Society have been around for a decade or two). What is new is the awareness that what is good for the planet can be good for the pocket and good for the soul.

New or retrofit

An even greater challenge than building a new house is the refurbishment of an existing one. There are only a very few examples in the UK of older houses which have been brought up to a high standard

Self build can mean many things to many people; from doing every last detail yourself through to commissioning an architect to achieve what you want.

Whichever way, this web site assumes that there is an imperative to reduce energy usage, protect natural habitats, reduce pollution, increase the quality of living and have a great time building a house.

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