Wednesday 9th July 2008
We have dreamed of building our own eco house for about five years or more, but circumstances weren't right until now!
We've used the time very well; researching green technologies, going on eco building courses, thinking about what we want from the land we buy and house we build, organising the finances and working out the logistics and so on.
So here's a basic outline of our plans:
- We (Mum - Sarah, Dad - Paul, three children 11yrs, 10yrs, 6yrs and Pumpkin the dog) are joining with Sarah's Mum (better know to us as G or triple G) for our self build and we are putting our homes up for sale at the beginning of August 2008 to finance it!
- Once we have sold our homes we'll move into rented accommodation together and buy land - not sure of the location as yet, maybe somewhere in Yorkshire or maybe further afield.
- Then once we have land; we'll probably work with Amazonnails, get planning permission and building regulations sorted and hope to begin building from Spring 2009!
Our House/Build
- We are planning to build a straw bale house, because of their "greenness" - the wonderful insulation and sound proofing properties of straw and because we love the thick walls (we currently live in an old stone house).
- The green technologies we plan to include initially are: passive solar heating and passive cooling, a ground source heat pump supplying under floor heating, solar hot water, brilliant U-value FSC timber windows, and rain and grey water recycling.
- Throughout the property we plan to use "green" options - like limecrete rather than cement, lime (external) and clay (internal) plasters, FSC timber, natural insulation (sheep's wool / cellulose) etc.
- On the ground floor of our house we are planning an apartment for Grandma with a living/kitchen area, a bathroom and a bedroom, along with an open plan living/dinning/kitchen area and a separate library/relaxation/sitting room for us. On the first floor we are planning four bedrooms one of which will be en suite (our room) and a generous landing for our children to relax and play together. Then if the budget and straw bale building technique we choose allows, on the 2nd floor their will be a further sitting area/guest room and a family/hobby room.
- We also want a large garden (we currently have a very small garden/planting areas) to provide space for: the children and Pumpkin to play, trees - we'd love our own woodland, to grow our own organic fruit and vegetables, to live outside much more and because I (Sarah) love designing gardens......
- And whilst Paul continues working full-time, I (Sarah) plan to project manage our self build, whilst continuing to home educating our children (two of which have learning disabilities).
And now we are busy preparing our home for sale and to sell it ourselves rather than use an estate agent.
