WINTER 2020.
In short gave up. Though if some person desiring to fully understand
renewable energy science and plant fertility and how various plant species
grown close to one another create a more sustainable growing system in so many
ways, wishes to be part of this situation as David gets on, do get in touch.
Over time they, autonomously, can perhaps develop their own little
workshops or online material showcasing many years of unique learning. Use the
property as their base. There is generations of knowledge showcased in this
garden to collect into media - books, film, pamphlets, and share with
future generations. The knowledge is more valid now than ever as ecosystems
around plant propagation have always been assessed most scientifically by
David so as to minimise any potential harm to natural ecosystems, and balance in
as high yields as possible with minimal negative effect to nature. And always
enhancing nature where possible.
This setup - the low energy house and rich co2 sink gardens, has
always been developed as showcase with money-free use and access as prime
objective. Just to share with anyone enthusiastic the great lifetime gained
eco knowledge with others who may be part of the future in that world.
Energy policy as stated December 2020 by the government. In short The
Teletubbies are in charge.
Essay about why December 2020 Government PR releases on climate is utter
poppycock, coming soon. Groundsource heatpumps are completely inefficient.
Never will work or be economically viable. The Denmark model (not sexy but it
works) many years has been known to be a far far better use of
national resources to reduce emissions. Small scale turbine plants on the edge
of any, even small, town, making maximum use of renewable energy to pipe via one
small hot water pipe under every street hot water to all dwellings which can
drive heating and all other domestic energy needs. Simple, cheapest by far
medium term, less lossy use of energy.
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meantime summer 2020 simon walks the hills and photographs and
catalogues the increasing range of really really naughty wildlife crimes even
over here around fairly decent habitats up on the hills of Western
Herefordshire.
Might start a legal action one day if allies are available - was already planning to January 2020 then delays in getting interest for obvious reasons... Some major wildlife crimes that took place summer 2020 within a mile of this supposedly
protected area are beyond belief. Allies needed to protect backs. The baddies
have big guns. Why I usually hide away from internet view.
various young people interested in media still sought - film needs to be made of how much damage has happened to River Arrow especially. Ideas for projects available.
WEBSITE BEING REVAMPED SOON - all a higgledy piggledy mess, meanwhile only contact being monitored is
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Welcome to www.Co2gurus.com homepage. Primarily intended as social media and Youtube video 'friendly' initial portal to be run by one or other younger associates so that they may spread information on the Lyonshall Co2 negative Showcase home and gardens into their networks.
This page, and the simplified messages it aims to bring alive, may develop in the future if indeed we have an enthusiast alongside who can do that function (get in touch if that's you). The fiftysomethings who are main energy behind the operation although quite 'tech savvy' do not use social media themselves and don't wish to be distracted by it. However do email and telephone on absolutely anything- all and any enquiries are answered immediately.
2018 at last David Olivier is ready to offer, to a schedule that will develop, group visits with questions and answers on his techniques developing this low cost, high design standards, very low energy home.
We also plan to form a group lead by David which aims to offer informal get together talks and debate on demystifying the reality of how (UK) environmental law, other initiatives and also industrial practices and economic reality, have been influenced by the EU over the last few decades. David is a true expert on some of all this - a massive field. Which ever way the politicians and even the 'people' take the UK regarding the EU the simple likely truest 'fact' is that a reasonable non-partisan assessment is that EU initiatives over the last few decades have overall caused better environmental protection in the UK. Transferring some of that successful practice over to UK authorities will be a major task that concerned citizens may well need some help in understanding - simplifying the true net recently historical effects of efforts by the EU. In reality, assuming UK one way or other repatriates 'control', it will be a massive task to translate the best bits of recent EU best practice into our systems, culture, and politics. There are many environmental Messiahs but there are few who truly understand and can analyse scientifically the net effects of one or other policy and we are all going to have to a be a lot more well informed so that we can hold UK authority to account. David will host (non-partisan) sessions trying to simplify some of the environmental realities that have resulted from all the various policies both EU and UK the last few decades. We - meaning our society in UK urgently being an effective player in better protecting the worldwide environment, don't have time to reinvent the wheel here.
It is wonderful for example that there is recent awareness of plastics in the oceans (one of us saw in person thirty years ago - this is nothing new), however in respect of emissions it is still housing and even lighter industry and soil use practices which will make the greatest beneficial change in the shortest time if far better practice can be rolled out quickly.
We had hoped to have some film we have made and other write ups ready by now to publish here aimed at the person new to some of the environmental build and garden expertise showing it in a more simplistic form but that is not ready yet. Objective: at the very least passing on to younger generations some of David's superb many many year wisdom is purpose via new media.
This website is also portal sending people in to the specialist web pages on the Eco House.
For even the specialist, at the moment the video page (link above) remains the best resource we have in that it shows a tour around the house going into some specifics and the wider issues rather well.
This year we have occasionally mentioned to people we would be able to offer a great learning opportunity to younger people who are interested in a future in this field (potential part time formal apprenticeship even for the right person). There is some paid work occasionally and also scope for someone to develop things like facebook (we aren't up on and don't really want to be) and then assist in other ways we can get the place known about. We have had a young man working last year at the property for a few months (now left the region to do his MA) and we think he would give us a good reference as a great learning place and good vibes. There is space for someone - a self starter, who would like some internship almost or hybrid of volunteer with some paid work, to get the project rolled out a little more. The official latest 'government' huhh hummm line is that one house every seven seconds needs to be retrofitted for quite a few year, so as to achieve the legally binding Paris .... ehh well it seems like a dream the shambles so far, so we better not call it a binding Treaty. Even informally now and again (we can offer just in a friendly way with a place to sleep as well for the right people) getting to know some of the basic principles behind this house and gardens - Davis is a national expert on and loves to show his knowhow to others, has got to have longterm career or business advantages for someone even vaguely curious what all the Green build and retrofitting is about.
All visits and talks will if possible be free. More specialist workshops later on may be chargeable. We may be applying for a little formal funding in time but the objective is to get people experiencing the house and gardens however we can, and all our expenses will be kept to the minimum and thus minimising any need to seek ongoing support of any kind to cover costs.
Over time we wish to enable younger people - the environmentalists of the near future, to even partly 'adopt' the project. Have it functioning such that Environmental Science students or budding younger politicians or even builders of the future (and present) feel they can visit and bring their friends and colleagues informally to come and see what can be done.
Winter 2017/18. The very last touches are being put on the house this winter then it will be launched publicly then and also this website will be revamped by then.
We continue to invite various people individually who are interested in eco building etc., and so this does not mean closed for visits. The mobile phone listed below is changing soon to one that works a little better in our marginal signal area. The email is probably the most certain way of contacting us.
Anyone environmentally concerned should take heart or rather see as a call to arms the fact that a local large building proposal which has bubbling away in the planning processes (Big expensive Barrat boxes) on which we joined the lobby within the community, has revealed even in quite conservative Herefordshire that there was considerable concern over environmental standards. In fact a postal survey (October 2017) as part of The Local Area Plan indicated far wider support for a more balanced approach than we had imagined after the first public meetings, including Affordable Housing or even better Community Land Trust arrangements whereby via 'sweat equity' less privileged bands of society can end up with shared equity in these kinds of social build schemes. There is hope if one works with the people and encourages involvement in the official processes in that a reasonable proportion seem to be getting the message....
MARCH 2017 UPDATE: we were planning last year to run workshops (free) following us finishing various aspects of the development - installing the best eco boiler systems, and establishing a variety of specialist fruit trees in the gardens, but uptake did not transpire.
Those last few months of work have been keeping us busy preparing for the house being fully open and finished for energies to go into now encouraging visits. Come and have a look simply to see if the final product may work for you, your friend or relation's plot of land, or perhaps as extension.
We do have several new potential associates who are beginning to plan workshops at the showhome which can be your own interest; we like people simply experiencing the space and passing the word on.
And this website still needs a jolly good spring clean and sort out, but a winter of unusually benign weather has had us out doors using it....
August 2016 - This website is still rather raggety, and needs improving and finishing off still, but having engaged with a fair few people this summer who one way or other care about matters environmental we know there are people out there who we know are serious about our children's future environment, and all invitations to pop over and see the eco house - almost any time / day, are sincere. This project has been near twenty years in development as showcase and the last garden work is near completion.
Interestingly it seems that previously mild mannered people, known years, are becoming noticeably more voluble - have had enough of various form of apathy and government spin regarding environmental matters (government policy on standards of new build has the last decade laughable - pure Alice). This space - the Lyonshall house, would make a wonderful place for people to carry on all sorts of activity open to the public, from yoga, to writing groups maybe figuring how to write the 'Cathy Come Home' of the environment that may inspire next generations to become more focused on reform. David Olivier and his showcase eco house is a fantastic resource to be shared with the world - and the local children perhaps - even if it is just helping establish the best most productive organic fruit growing areas using his fantastic scientific understanding of the way the ecosystems and then our growing practices, really works- he has country wisdom and also hard science wisdom based on generations of experience in his family and forty years involved in science of soil to trees. And few have time to commit properly especially as we are right out on the border of West Herefordshire so off the beaten track, but even putting on something every few months to get people visiting, viewing the place - experiencing what can be done to such high standard on such a low budgets, is a start. We welcome all from young children to seasoned politicians scratching their heads as to how we really do deliver environmental targets and also inspire younger people into taking this stuff seriously - especially seeing with their own eyes how much financial benefit there is to the ordinary person who can incorporate some of the better low energy practices.
Please do get in touch any time and we can show you around or offer free advice, and come to us with any scheme that may have people visiting the place - no one leaves un'converted' - the warmth - for almost free, all winter is extraordinary - from careful but quite ordinary eco building practices... or just come and nose, you never know who you may meet in the future that you may be able to nudge in to us for mutual benefit - even if it is just a neighbour pondering a new extension with eco building principles high up list, to your business or public space may need some eco advice - David has many year experience doing low cost energy surveys of the home - and other spaces - helping people cut their heating bills back to the barest minimum - good for the pocket as well as the planet. Can do it the posh way to latest architectural specs, or the rural Hobbit house way.... the same science applies to both
Perhaps younger people or the part time employed, may wish to develop their own businesses rolling out better homebuild or more environmentally focused landuse and we would assist anyone researching just that even if its just first idea stage with free advice and guidance. What strategies give most positive net effects for minimum money/time - even in your own home back garden, is still widely misunderstood and we share that knowledge freely. Anything to get better eco boilers for your bathwater, to better carbon sink gardening practices out there and widely understood by ordinary people is our main mission. Call Simon lives 2 miles from site, any time 7am to 8pm any day. text or email if you would prefer to use the cheaper landline and you will get that number by return.
Phone best, email as well at the bottom of this page but ecological matters are best taken forward person to person -building up friendly relationships first - only people can create solidarity which is what its about....email doesn't seem to be too good for that.....
- allies collaborators, make it your own thing, your school, or even work out apprenticeships for local teens - all is possible. The eco hose and some of the background scientific principles which can be simplified for younger children, would make a great school project - adopt us and study it for your own school eco group.
The government are and will be hopeless on all those wonderful sounding environmental targets they have announced the last decade. Few know though that by fairly small change to ordinary home gardens - the kinds of plants encouraged and a few other practices (or around parks or sports fields or by working on your neighbouring smaller farm to make some adjustments), we the people could in fact sink enough carbon countrywide to put them to shame and in fact make a large impact on those targets, despite HMG apathy.
David enjoys giving advice on how to campaign against daft planning constraints that cause waste and inefficient building; Heath loves to try and set up others who wish to be future campaigners with some easy facts and experience of political realities and maybe help tool up younger environmentally concerned citizens on how to be most effective. Or perhaps collaborate with us improving website - cross publicising your own activity with ours. (we have the tech know how but don't like working on screens when the summer is here and weather is nice).
We have had in mind a long time also ideas of creating some kind of art installation that expresses some of the issues - not the ubiquitous Marches hare paintings, rather more Tracey Emin on the rather Kafkaesque societal policies that have created such a wasteful approach especially in home building. Collaborators welcome.
8 July 2016 - public Socratic discourse in the Marches region the last few weeks with many ordinary, 'simple' (meant in best sense) people - not the supposed rich captains of industry or Metropolitan luvvies, has revealed a widespread sadness at the potential disconnection from the EU.
Planning to spend the summer in a tent for a few weeks escaping all the natter, with George Borrow, one of us will instead become him and further roam the region attempting to find and record those who care about disconnection in these times when many say it must be about more connection. And most who understand the way government treat farming know full well support will be squeezed for smaller farms and we care about that above all. 'Sorry, we intended to retain subsidy post Brexit but we looked at the viability overall, and, well.....[compared to industrialised conglomerates that even creep into Herefordshire].... you were never really feasible were you? so regretfully, you are phased ...out.......' '
Everyone however who is interested in matters European to a one of course preaches that EU needs major reform. That is a given; and most of the European people-focused politicians - largely on the 'left' entirely accept that is a given.
The EU page here will be further developed - Attempt to clarify the real-world environmental benefits.
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5 July 2016 - from an environmental and smaller scale farming point of view we believe that matters Brexit need to be debated far more carefully. We hear many locals who are involved in those aspects of life now most concerned (today studies released clearly show UK will NOT meet renewables targets). We are publishing a careful appraisal of some of the issues on a new tab above: EU
28 June 2016.
All plans have been delayed due owner having to work on other projects to pay for the last finishing touches of this one and some diverting involvement in the EU campaign.
Jan 2016: Our website was ever so slightly rushed up here in higgledy piggledy form to offer some Christmas pre-booking of the visitor program that we have many years planned to start this spring, and for surplus stone and wood sales. It is now being improved, updated + edited. The eco house being near completion we have to push to develop interest as we have local events such as H-Energy and Spring Greens and then Hay Festivals where we will certainly have some promotional presence. Collaborators in helping promote and maybe even use the property themselves showcasing these expert pioneering low energy themes are certainly welcome. We would like to have perhaps some local parents set up a fruit garden where they can get the very best old~timer tips to pass on to next generations. Get in touch....
22 December: This page features a new upload of a radio piece covering a recent Downing St event demonstrating how much pent up demand there is for custom build (houses or extensions). Those interested in assisting in the project to nudge forward more building to these affordable eco standards we demonstrate please get in touch to take it forward.
Home page of www.co2gurus.com a portal which will host easily accessible information on David Olivier's The Energy Showcase, Lyonshall, Herefordshire as it develops 2016 as a local attraction as it receives national press coverage as one of only several truly energy efficient homes in the region and is being opened to the public to experience the comfort and fabulous design that can be achieved with surprisingly minimal premium over the less well built standard home. Little more than £100,000 builds a large luxurious design three bed home which uses hardly any gas or electricity to keep at very comfortable temperature.
Workshop / general visits program, and limited b&b info will be ready by Feb 2016. Techniques used can translate into any modern building - we even have thoughts to share on straightforward conservatory build.
Over time we are establishing a non profit small institute to share as much information with the general public as we can. And hopefully make it accessible, and even fun, for the lay person... We plan ASAP a weekly informal fee-free open / social day. We seek collaborators / partnerships to take this forward with us.
9th December there was a 'summit' in Downing St on 'self build'. A recording of a segment on it is here:
BBC
Our initial main purpose will be to Showcase the 'self built' house which by demonstrates that using simple effective and above all affordable design will still use less than half, likely a quarter, of the electricity that even Passivhaus certification standards require. According to the summit spokesman yesterday (clip will be uploaded) "one million people wish to self or custom build in the next year". This house is self built in that it was project managed by the expert owner, however local (often one man band) expert builders were used to do most of the works and the project is as much about how healthy quid-pro-quo flexible owner-contractor arrangements made the house possible at our low budget. More widely the model that all could be involved in encouraging is "custom built" which means that new build housing in your locality is not to the standard stifling Barratt box usually careless of solar gain, but indeed patterned on houses like this. People at all levels of society can play a part in promoting that as a principle we should employ - as a handful of other countries have for decades. Even the non-expert can play a part.. for example at election times politicians like to linger on street corners.... pointing them to this model of build is something anyone can do.
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Free advice: we will likely add a forum style system into these webpages where eco/solar and fruitgrowing queries can be made - with a local slant: knowing the good products and contractors in the area is critical. For the time being queries can be made on the facebook site and answers shared there. We answer all email and messages quickly (including over holidays). Test our eco/solar build, and fruit-tree knowledge.
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Please note these webpages are a temporary look first draft prior to professional rebuild over winter, and extra interactive features planned for spring 2016. We link at tab above into Long established professional websites on The Energy Showcase where technical language describes that project to specialists.
We are in the process of getting some printing if anyone wishes a leaflet (or maybe to hold a stock at their own venue):
please note our leaflet only shows the landline which is not so often manned. The mobile number at the bottom of this page is far more 24/7 ish. This website holds all the video links and other miscellany the one stated on the leaflet will not.
This website guides you into our activities:
This website is our new more interactive portal where we share ethos and show video and other media on the Lyonshall home and gardens showcasing affordable co2 nett negative practices.
The Energy Showcase - house and co2 sink gardens, have been many years planned as publicly accessible to demonstrate combinations of technologies and practices which we hope cut through a lot of what can sometimes feel overwhelming.
We provide several main functions.
Primarily for more than a decade various energy saving house-build techniques have been researched and worked into an overall design which we feel combines them into an end result which is the most affordable. In other words the sky is the limit if one has unlimited funds, but we have worked to a tight budget cherry picking, and combining those technologies and materials which will together give an end result close to "Passivhaus" standard but at an overall cost that is considerably less than that usually accepted by industry as inevitable. Though in some areas the house excels the standard Passivhaus requirements - e.g. will use 1/4 of the Passivhaus certification standard.
The combination of some practices and technologies, rejection of others as overkill, most carefully working through the minefield of materials that are acceptable and those not, and perhaps above all sharing the difficulties and occasional mistakes on this journey lead to a unique resource for others interested in energy saving at this level of the ordinary home, and our mission is to open the home and share the knowledge as widely as we can.
Of course we work with people retrofiting existing properties - insulating and adding other energy saving aspects, but with techniques employed here that with care and expertise only add a relatively small cost in new build - from scratch or extension / annexe, major longterm cost savings on energy can be achieved. This house costs just a couple of bottles of gas in the darkest winter months to augment other systems and maintain high warmth throughout the house and full hot water.
Many people describe how matters planetary - particularly on the atmosphere, leave them overwhelmed and psychologically crippled - powerless to do anything. Energy waste through roofs and walls - not transport as most people think, is the prime reason for the co2 rise. The non-expert can be part of the well overdue changes the developed world must make by sharing the kinds of design we showcase - be it amongst family friends and in their community, or just going along to local public planning meetings and raising this example of affordable eco-build. In the face of local opposition developers may be persuadable to consider more responsible eco-build. It is quite startling how careless of simple energy saving ethos many developers and planners remain and the ordinary citizen can easily play a part in their "education". We can assist with simple briefings.
Any ordinary domestic garden, with some simple replanning, can act as carbon sink - we show how the gardens at this property have been created for carbon sink, as well as attractive flowerbeds and super-productive fruit growth.
Our program
As we progress we invite anyone interested to join as an occasional volunteer - we could find room (free accommodation) for a few visitors who may be interested to learn, hands on, some of the finishing-off jobs such as installing the experimental solar water system and boiler.
We enjoy the science of fruitgrowing and various aspects of gardens too. Our "architects tour" video on our youtube channel segment 14 tour segment 14 has some of the science of light regarding your plants - and in fact a rude slanderous slur on lovely little Kington by the heckler with the camera, because in fact the comment is not true (as he later pondered): over the years far more pot plants on show, being encountered in the Other Place 6 miles yonder up the border.
In other words a revolution doable if we have the will. Ok one is a bit extreme: knock down most ordinary housing built the last fifty years and rebuild because modern developers have not even bothered aligning houses to capture best ordinary sunshine which if they did by default (as they did 200 years ago) would save the average house something like 20% on heating costs.
The primary objective for 2016 is to encourage the public to visit and use The Energy Showcase house and also talk through practices with the owner David Olivier, and one or two of his acolytes buzzing around the place (especially in the winter as The Showcase is so warm!). This may be at the level of casually interested non-expert, or prospective developer wanting to see specifics of the techniques. David is one of the best people in the country at cutting through complicated and expensive eco build principles and singling out which building (and other) practises should be used to create economical and simpler solutions, and which may be left aside as elitist or overly complex and expensive, and thus in this eco-house example, creating in as simple way as possible the most cost effective package. This is based on years of experiments with the options and years on the science behind it all.
Sadly, British practises (as the architects discuss in our tour video) are not perhaps yet what we would hope for.... and we openly describe all the mistakes made on the journey so that indeed others may benefit
tour video clip 8
There is a full professionals tour video that when edited will be an excellent serious introduction - we will list some of the tips we discovered as we had the session. For example few of us knew that indoor plants do far better away from double (or triple) glazing and behind only one pane of glass - most plants need the photons more than the warmth and double glazing restricts photon and other essential input more than may be widely known.
One of our professional friends exclaims "David, there should be a law against you"
see youtube channel all clips gathered in one continual play playlist.
please share with your networks, if you have a moment.
FACEBOOK TWITTER
our Youtube channel
Winter 2016: if you are just curious want to come and have a quick peer David and main volunteer can be on site most days and anyone is welcome to pop down for a look and a cuppa.
Best to call first on the mobile number listed lower down this page - or email.
During the winter it will be a push to get the whole place finally shipshape. Gardening and woodworking as weather allows.
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Main plans developing: talks, courses, or free shorter visits to simply experience the low energy house and gardens, that begin Christmas and get really going next early spring. For example workshops on establishing new fruit garden with "the son of a Herefordshire fruitgrower" (and science consultant to House of Lords) David Olivier.
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A picture or video speaks a thousand words. A roughly made first video tour of the house is at the video tab above video tab
We are collecting together and publishing plenty of video - perhaps it still makes more impact if you come and touch and feel in person.
First main new project we would love others to enjoy with us is soon to begin the work on the new small semi-exotic fruit garden where the basics of fruit tree establishment and growing practise will begin. It is the sort of project perhaps some local children would find fun and inspiring enjoy being part of, if their parents wanted to team up with us a little.
One other stop press: we badly need the help of someone with a bit of good camera and lighting kit as we have National magazine articles on the project at deadline - will be printed when we have the pictures they require. you can have the credit!
These will be for workshops next year (we can be flexible in accommodating your diary) on eco building tips - especially energy efficient extensions or annexes (where YOU can do most good re our planet and setting example) and small scale experimental practises in fruit growing - many fruit plants are best set in January and we start our first workshop on establishing from scratch an exotic fruit garden early in the New Year.
We are also able to accommodate limited visitors and there is budget accommodation should anyone be keen to experience the house urgently if they are perhaps planning something similar soon.
David Olivier main expert speaker, though ruthless scientific mind, is very very friendly for a scientist and delights in any visitor we can muster. In his last effective decade or so simply wants to share the lifetime of wisdom gained in environmental science - even at this small and small farm scale, and as cheaply as possible for all concerned. Many simple building and gardening tips will be picked up that indeed only come from many years hands on experience. Talks and workshops will be maximum efficient bang for buck - getting as much useful information as possible over to our visitors without overwhelming .. some tips will of course appear here but there is never any substitute for seeing it all for yourself.
Please note we are only just beginning our ever so slightly "commercial" operations - in truth "not for profit" as we will only charge enough to cover expenses, we haven't even planned our image yet. i.e. scrappy. This is next on the list. We are ready for partnerships in promotion and modest commissions will be available for anyone, business or civilian, whom may be able to assist in booking custom in our talks / workshop days (and later b&b) programmes.
On this website: We will gather great writing and interesting low carbon living media here - some of which we have created ourselves, and also develop other associated activities and services through this website as we hope to turn ourselves into a small informal totally inclusive institute of sorts - all will be welcome, from the petrol guzzling newbie who wants to argue (even he can have free advice on how simple it can be to save £000s on the heating bill) to the top expert who may be able to assist us with I am sure somewhere there may be even better science.
We know some great people out there who we would like to give a"green" roof for debate and organisation - for example local man, the fabulous Radio 4 program maker - a bit gonzo, great things to discover, who, no real radical, influenced many local people with an article prior to the general election and we applaud for always making it about his childrens' futures.. link: Ian Marchant Green Article
CONTACT US:
or fill in contact form at bottom of this page
though direct email is simpler (you will NEVER be added to any spamming list!)
And please do note, David is a part-time consumer rights champion - unfortunately anything connected with building or even some times hi tech eco appliances sadly all too often ends up in legal battle for remedy (he assists others with legal cases and claims against shoddy goods or services sometimes): whereas some may overwhelm with weekly email if you get on their lists, we will never send round robin style email beyond perhaps a couple a year. And you can hold us to that, legally.
* = terms and conditions: the only conditions that apply and ever will are warm, toasty and incredibly bright, inside, all winter, and it would be at almost no cost for heating and hot water all year round if it were not for..... This is the only short cut language we shall use. Many Green projects can be vague about their overpriced costs. Every penny spent on this project will be published in time. Essentially houses such as this, built for roughly £110,000 for this large three bed example, are by careful design pretty much zero energy cost - no heating bills!, however in our example very early on some extremely carefully sourced underfloor insulation materials did not live up to specification and we discovered that after a few years the performance was sub standard which it is estimated takes down the ambient temp by 2 or 3 degrees.. Too late to dig up and start over but lesson learned and above all sharing by the hardest (ex Cambridge Uni scientist) science exactly which products to use, there can be the greatest gain. An example is that many even supposedly knowledgeable eco builders will talk £30,000 for the triple glazing a house this size when hard nosed sourcing can reduce that to circa £10,000 buying in from Canada.