Week 46: Build your own green dream home…

This is a biggie! I vowed when we moved that we would never do it again because of the stress. But if I were to self build then I would certainly look to make it as green as possible – and I don’t mean in colour!

Anyway, I have done some ‘leg work’ for those of you out there that might be considering this mammoth task, or renovating an existing property…

So, as any good researcher does these days I went into Google and typed green self build houses. After a few false starts – deadlinks – I can across www.thehouseplanner.co.uk

What a super site: I was instantly drawn into a whole new world with a whole new language and way of looking at buildings. I challenge you to investigate further and see if you can find out what SUDS stands for.

I’ll give you a clue, as I have now decided that we are not going to tarmac the driveway because “Paving materials to avoid include solid concrete and tarmacadam -far better to use sand bedded paving blocks on a compacted hardcore base which will allow water to percolate through; similarly gravel beds, chippings and other loose finishes will achieve the same end.”

If Tony is reading this he will be jumping up and down because he has always wanted to build his own house.