The EcoBungalow has been through the coldest quarter of the year. It’s far exceeded my expectations in how comfortable it has been. But...

The weather’s getting colder. The heating is on. Energy use and comfort are becoming more interesting!   Energy use and carbon emissions:...

Nobody tells you how much their project really cost. I wish they would. It would be so helpful to clients to understand what’s involved...

Every year, Passivhaus buildings open their doors to visitors, sharing knowledge and experience. The EcoBungalow had an open day last...

So, the EcoBungalow is complete and I’ve been living in it since May 2024. My aim is to keep this blog going for at least a calendar year...

Making the EcoBungalow as airtight as possible was a critical part of the build. Preventing heat loss by eliminating drafts goes...

The main aim of this project has been to create a low-energy, comfortable house. But it has also enabled the transformation of a 1970s...

Moving into the EcoBungalow 3 ½ years ago, I inherited an ancient gas boiler with a hot water cylinder. Having become used to gas combi...

It’s taken nine months from start on site to moving back into my not-quite-finished house.  Despite the long build period, it’s only...

We want the external walls to do two things: to be airtight, but also to be breathable. These two are often confused. 'Airtight' refers...

Planning ahead is vital in any construction project. This is especially crucial with internal wall insulation. We needed to plan for...

Ever lived in a house where there just aren’t enough electrical sockets? Where the light switches are in the wrong place? Where the hot...

A big day in the evolution of the EcoBungalow: the interim airtightness test. We’d established that the original draughty, cold bungalow...

The floor’s finished, the ceiling’s done and the excellent Viking triple glazed windows are in. Now for the last remaining step in...

The project has now been on site for three months. Whilst great progress has been made, it’s so far looked pretty much like a standard...

Following on from planning permission, Hesketh Hayden developed the detailed design and specification of the EcoBungalow ready for...

Sustainable living isn’t just about the building. When I moved in, my garden was pretty typical of 1970s suburbia: close mown grass in...

Many people don’t realise that that VAT (Value Added Tax) is charged on building works to existing homes, but not on new builds. It’s...

I’m a town planner as well as an architect. In my professional life, I’ve submitted some very large, very complex planning applications...

Once the air tightness strategy was established, we could work towards finalising the design ready to submit for planning approval. You...