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Building the Low-Carbon Home of the Future

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  Building the Low-Carbon Home of the Future New Homes Are Improving—but We Can Go Much Further A newly built home should be one of the most energy-efficient, comfortable and environmentally responsible homes available. After all, it is much easier to install insulation, cables, ventilation ducts, solar panels and low-carbon heating while a house is being built than it is to return five years later, lift floors, remove plasterboard and start again. New homes are undoubtedly greener than homes built only a few years ago. In England, the 2026 Future Homes and Buildings Standards require high levels of energy efficiency, low-carbon heating and, in most cases, solar panels. These homes are intended to be “zero-carbon ready”, meaning they should not require major retrofitting to achieve zero operational carbon as the electricity grid continues to decarbonise. That is an important step forward. However, building regulations establish a minimum standard. They do not necessarily describe t...
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Twenty Green Changes That Paid for Themselves

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  Twenty Green Changes That Paid for Themselves “The best environmental improvements don’t just help the planet—they keep saving you money every month.” Going green is often presented as an expensive luxury. People are shown electric cars, large solar installations, new heating systems and costly home renovations. The understandable response is often: “That may be good for the environment, but I cannot afford it.” However, many of the most effective environmental improvements are not simply costs. They are investments. Some require very little money, some repay their cost within a relatively short period, and others continue producing savings for many years. The important question is not just: “How much does this cost?” It is: “How much will this save over its lifetime?” Over the years, we have made many changes to our own home. Some were small, such as replacing light bulbs and stopping draughts. Others were much larger, including solar panels, battery storage and an air-source he...
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One household won’t stop climate change—but thousands of households together certainly can.

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  Can One Family Really Make a Difference? “One household won’t stop climate change—but thousands of households together certainly can.” It is easy to feel powerless when discussing climate change. The problem is global. The figures involved are enormous. Governments argue about targets, industries debate costs, and international conferences produce promises that may take decades to fulfil. Against that background, what difference can one family possibly make? Our solar panels will not close a coal-fired power station. Our heat pump will not transform the national energy system. Recycling a few more bottles or planting flowers for insects will not reverse global biodiversity loss. However, that is not really the point. The question is not whether one household can solve climate change alone. Clearly, it cannot. The important question is what would happen if thousands—or millions—of households began making similar changes. Our own home has gradually become a useful case study. We ha...
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