I stayed for a weekend at the Totnes Passivhaus B&B, in Devon. It is owned by Adam Dadeby (co-author of the Passivhaus Handbook) and his partner Erica Aslett. Visiting was an opportunity to experience the air quality and comfort levels of a Passivhaus. Totnes Passivhaus is a ‘retrofit’ of aRead More →
Hawkland are helping to build a 2 bedroom load-bearing straw bale house in a quiet residential street in Oxfordshire. In the first article of the series I looked at the roof structure as it neared completion, mounted on temporary supports. Here I return as the load bearing straw bale walls areRead More →
This year’s Grand Designs Live was held at the Birmingham NEC, 19-23 October. This is a huge show with over 500 exhibitors – including areas for self building, interior design and gardens. The annual Self Build on a Shoestring competition asked for designs for a cost-effective starter home. Self Build on a Shoestring:Read More →
Using sustainable materials can massively reduce the environmental impact of your building or renovation project. But what about energy efficiency in the lifetime of the building? Cost and energy efficiency go hand in hand. Keeping an old and leaky building at a comfortable temperature is expensive. Adding solar panels or other ‘bolt-on’ renewableRead More →
For over 50 years, Potton has been constructing wood framed houses for self builders. This September, in a major step for energy efficient homes in the UK, they opened their first Passivhaus show home at their self build show centre in Cambridgeshire. General description Potton collaborated with sustainability specialists HTA Design and lowRead More →
Hawkland is a newly incorporated company with experience in an increasing range of building techniques using natural materials. They are helping to build a 2 bedroom load-bearing straw bale house in a quiet residential street in Oxfordshire. This is the first of a series of articles and video logs followingRead More →
The National Self Build and Renovation Centre (NSBRC) opened its doors on the 7-9 October for the annual Big Green Home Show. While the NSBRC is open all year round – a bit like a permanent Grand Designs Live – this event was aimed at self builders and home renovatorsRead More →