Useful Information

Glossary

Wind Turbines:
Generating electricity from the wind. Small domestic ones are typically less than 6 KW and the big ones you see from your car are typically a 1-3 megawatts.
Photovoltaic Panels:
Generating electricity from the sun. In this country they are generally quite small and for domestic use. Often roof mounted or on a frame in the garden. These are what are commonly, mistakenly, referred to as 'solar panels'.
Solar Panels:
Used for heating domestic hot water by the sun. Now quite common they are black roof mounted things.
Ground Source Heat Pumps:
Method of providing space heating and hot water by extracting heat from the ground. These would be used instead of a conventional boiler. They are powered by electricity.
Passive Solar Heating:
Face your house South. Have big windows at the front and small at the back. Glaze these windows with efficient double or triple glazing, and the house will gain more heat from the windows than it looses.
Green Roofs:
These are flat or shallow slopping roofs covered in plants. Usually a 'sedum mat' on a felt roof. Sedum is a slow growing plant that doesn't mind getting too dry or need mowing. They create an environment, reduce urban heat up and look great.
Super Insulation:
Insulate your house to a very high standard, well beyond the latest building regulations, and in theory you wont need to heat it, or at least not much.
Natural Insulation:
Sheep's wool, recycled newspaper etc. All with low embedded carbon.
Wood Burners:
Carbon neutral and efficient space heating. Wood burnt in a stove with the door closed releases much more heat than an open fire.
Water Based Paints:
Oil based paints are one of the main building products that release chemicals into the house, reducing air quality. Using water based paints for your wood work and walls, in theory, creates a more healthy environment.
Recycled Materials:
This can be concrete blocks made from recycled aggregate, fibre glass insulation made from old bottles etc. Or just valuing what has come out of a project for reuse.....soil, stone, wood etc.
Rain Water Harvesting:
Collecting water from the roof for reuse in the house or garden. Usually flushing toilets.

UsefulLinks

Ever thought about the materials that are used when you have your house deocorated? Visit the Earthwise website for detailsof environmentaly concious painting and decorating services.

Building design with the environment in mind, visit the Ecoarc environmental design consultancy website.