2.
Building
Buildings
are enormous consumers of energy. Mostly for
heating and power, of course, but also through the production of the materials with
which we choose to build them.
It
is possible to make buildings carbon neutral or zero carbon by using good
insulation, triple glazing and renewable energy. The government’s target is
that, by 2016, all new buildings’ use will be carbon neutral. You can use
carbon offsetting schemes on www.projectcarbon.org
or www.carbonneutral.com (see
Energy section).
But
we need to deal with the buildings that already exist, that’s about 43,000
houses locally! The first target is to reduce the amount of energy the
buildings use, by increasing insulation, draught-proofing, double glazing; and
definitely changing our habits. Only after that, consider solar panels, wind
turbines and so on.
ENERGY and BUILDINGS
(see the Energy Section)
Insulation
Our
homes leak tons of carbon into the atmosphere every minute, but if you insulate
your loft (now recommended to be a depth of 30 cm / 12inches) this can be
reduced, together with your fuel bill. Sheep’s wool and blown cellulose from
recycled newspaper score best. (Fiberglass production uses large amounts of
energy, plastics are made from oil).
Water Meters
Installing
a water meter means you only pay for the water actually used, so the less you
use – the less you pay!
Water
meters were automatically included on all homes built since 1989 but where
possible, Severn Trent will fit one free of charge.
Thermafleece
(sheepswool)
Dacre,
Penrith, CA11 0JF
T:
01768 486285
W:
www.secondnatureuk.com
Or
from Precious Earth below.
Penycoed
Insulation (warmcel cellulose fibre)
Pen
y Lan, Meifod, SY22 6DA
T:
01938 500643
W:
www.penycoed-warmcel.com
Isonate
T:
01248 388486
W:
www.naturalinsulation.co.uk
Hemp + recycled cotton
Innotherm
T:
0114 1499 459
W:
www.recovery-insulation.co.uk
Recycled
cotton.
Draughts
Chimney
balloon
T:
01252 319325
W:
www.chimney-balloon.com
Paints
Conventional
paints are derived from petrochemicals and have a toxic waste by-product. A
range of paints using natural materials, often organically produced, is available
through the stockists below.
Building materials
Green
Building
Store
Heath
House Mill, Bolster Moor, W Yorks,
HD7 4JW
T:
01484 461705
W:
www.greenbuildingstore.co.uk
Energy-efficient
windows, paints, insulation, etc.
Green
Shop
Cheltenham Road,
Bisley, Stroud, GL6 7BX
T:
01452 770629
W:
www.greenshop.co.uk
Natural
paints (and a range of energy-saving devices).
Natural
Building
Technologies
The
Hangar, Oakley, Bucks, HP18 9UL
T:
01844 338338
W:
www.natural-building.co.uk
Insulation,
plasters, blocks, paints.
Precious
Earth
131 Corve St,
Ludlow , SY8 2PG
T:
01584 878633
W:
www.preciousearth.co.uk
Interior
design, natural building and decorating materials
Smile
Plastics
Mansion
House, Ford , SY5 9LZ
T:
01743 850267
W:
www.smile-plastics.co.uk
Plastic
sheets made from recycled material – CDs, bottles, even kids’ wellies
Architects and designers
David
Gomersall
Lower
Down, Lydbury North , SY7 8BB
T:
01588 680693
Specialises
in designing modern ecological timber-frame buildings
Philip
Pool
32 Mount St,
Shrewsbury , SY3 8QH
T:
01743 367968
Energy-efficient
ecological building design.
Simmonds
Mills
Station
Rd, Coalbrookdale, TF8 7DR
T:
01952 433252
W:
www.simmondsmills.com
Energy-efficient
building design to advanced energy standards.
Double Glaze
But
consider wooden frames rather than UPVC which is made from oil residues combined
with a cocktail of toxic chemicals. Its production, use and disposal all cause
pollution.
Organisations/advice
Association
for Environment Conscious Building
(AECB)
POBox 32,
Llandysul , SA44 5ZA
T:
0845 456 9773
W:
www.aecb.net
Promotes
sustainable construction; membership across building industry.
Centre
for Alternative Technology (CAT)
Machynlleth,
SY20 9AZ
T:
01654 705950
W:
www.cat.org.uk
Demonstrations
and information on practical solutions to environmental problems.
Green
Wood Centre
Station
Rd, Coalbrookdale, TF8 7DR
T:
01952 432769
W:
www.greenwoodtrust.org.uk
Promotes
traditional uses of timber, runs workshops.
Remember
that the water in our taps has already used a lot of energy. Use it carefully.
See Home and Energy section on meters. Visit www.harvestH2O.com an interesting website
on the harvesting of water.