Sustainable buildings are designed and constructed to high environmental standards. They minimise energy use, reduce water consumption, employ materials which have a low environmental impact, reduce wastage, conserve and where possible enhance the natural environment whilst safeguarding human health and wellbeing.
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.
Did you know? Its often overlooked but loft insulation is the most cost-effective and energy efficient measure to reduce losses and the easiest to install! Read more...
"The best way to realize the pleasure of feeling rich is to live in a smaller house than your means would entitle you to have." - Edward Clarke
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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
The timber used by Timeless Timber comes from responsible producers who encourage proper management of resources. This involves the conservation of forests, and their renewal through re-planting schemes. Timeless Timber is also a member of the Timber Decking Association who strive for best practice in the decking industry. www.timeless-timber.co.uk
Sustainable Homes Ltd is a leading training and advisory consultancy operating in the field of sustainable housing. They provide expert training on environmental standards, such as the Code for Sustainable Homes and EcoHomes for new build and existing buildings (XB). Sustainable Homes Ltd also run SHIFT a sustainability benchmarking system, which was developed in partnership with WWF and the Government.It helps benchmark your performance for future improvements and gain a comparison against peers.It is fast being recognized as the way social housing providers prove their environmental credentials. Their 35 members represent over 800,000 existing homes. www.sustainablehomes.co.uk
Henley Garden Offices design and build a range of pre-fabricated, energy efficient Studios and Rooms with high levels of insulation. Using Eco–Friendly PEFC certified wood and components, their Garden Offices and Studios allow you to easily create spacious high quality living spaces with unique contemporary décors. www.henleyoffices.com
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/
Sustainable building design. Award winning eco interior designers Heath Design have a wealth of experience in eco product design, architecture, speaking and environmental consulting. www.oliverheath.com
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/
