The Energy Showcase, Lyonshall, Herefordshire is the showhome many years in design and construction of David Olivier whom conceived the project as a living demonstration show home of how employing intelligent design that nowadays even ordinary builders can access, one can live in considerable comfort and at the same time at a fraction of the energy costs that the average UK home has to bear. The premium for incorporating latest solar and eco-building practices is negligible; though most careful consideration at all stages does have to be given to design and perhaps even more germane which materials and suppliers to use. And in fact practical financial benefits are often lost in the grander rhetoric - for exaple in this property being as the insulation and other basic design features are so good, it belies the need to install £10,000 worth of the latest efficient boiler and heating system because a far smaller system (same efficiency, far fewer radiators to run) is all we need. Of course also £10,000 systems cost thousands to renew as they expire or are superseded. SO if anything the financial benefits to the ordinary home owner of careful building are under estimated in all our presentations. If the politicians ever catch up with common sense and put back in the various less greedy on the co2 systems we had last decade then of course as focus changes back to emissions etc then homes like this will also perhaps increase in resale value at a higher rate than standard. No one is going to put in new law saying one may get less concerned about the carbon.
We will create a simpler short write up on these benefits - often less well emphasised by others such as the air processing systems leave a dry atmosphere which results in far less condensation which means decoration lasts longer and fewer redecoration needs; clothing, books, and other such organic necessities of course will have far less deterioration due mould and animal visitors which plague many countryside homes. In the winter when windows are kept shut it also means there is far less ordinary dust seeping in which cuts down on the cleaning.
Above all, just listening to BBC Radio 4 Costing The Earth 17 Nov http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b06pb74d it does not have to be hair-shirt; there is much misinformation in the eco world as any other; expensive electric cars are probably not a best solution, and people may be surprised to hear that expensive latest low energy lighting in fact still does not match the lifetime cost-benefit of certain cheap florescent lighting. Smart small measures can make truly fundamental differences to your own footprint. And we for one do not believe in exploiting people, rather share what we can for free.
We will be developing a small team over 2016 whose sole initial aim will be to allow as many people as possible to experience various aspects of the house and part-experimental gardens. We will also develop workshops and visitor programs. We would love to take forward a few apprentices and assist them in a future in these associated fields.
Our aim is to firstly let people enjoy the property in such a way that they can appreciate real daily advantages in a property such as this, and also offer budget workshop days on various aspects of eco building likely at various levels from general principles we have employed such as the battle with Planning Departments to allow the correct elevation in respect of maxim benefit from solar xxx to how one may best approach building contractors with a view to developing a house such as this.
In Herefordshire alone it would be no surprise to find several thousand new extensions built under the new planning regime over the next few years, and all the practices employed in this Showcase model can be applied to extensions and outbuilding works.
What you can do to help if you arent planning any building.... This organisation is being revamped in the very few weeks leading up to the Paris Climate talks. Many "Green" people ask on the way out from meetings green talks about one notion or the next 'but what can we really do?!'
Many years in Green politics leads one to understand that it is symbolic messages that can make the most real difference; perhaps as communities we could all keep eco-building in mind if we hear of a new planning application or even a neighbour friend or relative indeed having first thoughts on that new extension they have long promised themselves. And if you are or know a councillor, or other such community leader or influential person then pester them to have a look at this site. We particularly welcome debate - come and joust, argue on the reality of such building becoming more common. (Clue, we win, in Germany for instance it already is and German GDP per capita isn't much off our own, but unlike some Greens we welcome the argument. ).
With climate change so prominent in media nowadays sticking ones hand up at the local public planning meeting and suggesting to the developer ' err excuse me, I hear some hostility in this room, perhaps if your plans incorporated space for several home build plots which you sell to eco-house developers, and incidentally reap a 25% premium on the land as they are so much in demand, you may find that the local community will huff and puff a little less'.
For 2016 the main focus will be finishing off a last few projects opening to the public as often as we can from around late February (we can already accept small ad hoc visits)
We will be organising info and open days for schools, politicians, and anyone else that wants. The space also lends itself as a great venue for small groups to gather for their own private meetings. There is parking for around 5 or 6 cars at any one time though we expect to be able to accommodate larger numbers by prior arrangement.
THE ETHOS
Showcase home: Pioneering but affordable design and build techniques in the prototype home which is built to harvest every photon and in the winter months retain every smallest bit of warmth. The ethos from conception is using that technology in the build which gives most bang for fewer bucks and thus making this model of house realistic for mass build (applies to extending houses or doing up the garden shed too).
In simpler words, over a decade we have experimented with combining various specialist low energy and solar techniques and attempted to find the best outcomes combining the less expensive options into an overall most functional yet cost effective whole. (thus very much reducing overall build costs which can be prohibitive in many low energy houses).
Gardens:
experimental fruit and flower growing practises - max crop from minimum cost and effort, with max co2 sink in the domestic garden. Changing landuse practices - even in the humble domestic garden may be the swiftest way for the developed world to adjust back the rate of increase of Co2
The regular sized garden, largely given over to specialist but still affordable high yield fruit trees, but with some flower areas and a general 'multi-storey' ethos which is the best way to sink plenty of Co2 are a feature and working with people to increase their fruit yields - even the domestic garden, and implement simple greener gardening practises, is our first love. Some tree growing is experimental meaning scientific approach to different ground covers which enhance the fertility of the soil and lead to better crops. Also we try out various newer species of apples pears and other fruit.
Other:
visits to experience the easy comfort, and seek advice on all sorts of many year developed eco practises, all welcome from our youngest citizens up to parliamentarians perhaps trying to figure how we really do meet our national emissions targets. Major thrust of the projects is to share information on the very best cost-effective materials and other cost saving tips. E.g. stainless steel gutters reduce longterm replacement costs. Simplest old tech low energy lighting we believe is still cost effective over newer expensive installations.
The Energy Showcase website
When it is finished (the house and gardens - the book may be a little longer) buy the book The Story of a Solar House order form
http://www.energyadvisoryassociates.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/Energy-Showcase-Presn-Hereford-Mar-2012.pdf
for design consultancy
http://www.energyadvisoryassociates.co.uk/
we don't wish to make it just about us however, in fact would urge anyone to have a look at Mike Coe's video of what can be done albeit a larger budget at his fabulous creation The Autonomous house on YOUTUBE
