Marianne Suhr on commissioning an eco building

Marianne Suhr offers her advice on how to go about designing and building an eco home.

An eco project may be more expensive initially, but will prove economical in the long-term. To find out more, visit the Ecobuild show at ExCeL, London, from 20-22 March (ecobuild.co.uk). Or for short courses and information, contact the Centre for Alternative Technology in Powys (01654 705950; cat.org.uk).

• Choose a designer or architect with experience in eco construction; ask to see other projects they’ve designed.

• Try to avoid standard one-metre deep concrete foundations – there are other options, such as raft or pile foundations.

• Choose ‘low embodied energy’ construction materials that use less energy in their manufacture, and opt for locally sourced and natural materials where possible.

• Think about orientation to benefit from solar gain and maximise internal daylight – but beware of overheating.

• Research green technologies, such as rainwater harvesting, ground-source heat pumps and solar panels, and living roofs.

• Super insulate your building and go beyond what is required by Building Regulations.

• Air tightness is crucial for a thermally efficient building, so carry out an air tightness test on completion of works.

Read about the final stages of an eco build...
Find out more about installing eco-friendly insulation...

WORDS MARIANNE SUHR PHOTOGRAPHS MARIANNE SUHR; CAMERON SCOTT
Featured in the March 2012 issue of Period Living