Do we need a cavity wall in new builds?

The cavity wall dates back to 19^th Century Britain, a pioneering method in the construction industry that gained widespread use from the 1920s. They were primarily implemented to prevent the passage of moisture into the interior of the building; preventing damp, other benefits include sound and heat insulation. However, do we need this cavity in an age of high tech materials that can insulate and damp proof our home from the elements?

Draught Proofing, Eco-superhero’s sidekick

In a previous article I proclaimed insulation as an Eco-superhero, like most superhero’s insulation needs an effective sidekick. Batman needs robin, like insulation needs draught proofing. The more air tight your home, the more effective your insulation.

Green roofs preventing flooding

Green roofs act as a natural storm water management device by using vegetation and soil to slow down and reduce runoff response. The temporary storage of rainwater in green roofs reduces the peak flow of water in drain systems, releasing it slowly over time, reducing the risk of flooding and reducing the need to build costly new systems.

How much will the pump in my rainwater harvesting system cost to run?

Rainwater harvesting systems require pumps to move stored water to the point of use since the tanks are not under mains pressure. As a result the following questions have become very common among those enquiring about the technology: Does the cost of running the pump negate any savings made? By running a pump, are we increasing our carbon emissions, and negating any environmental benefits?

Insulation is an Eco-superhero

The homes we live in contribute a lot to carbon emissions. Each UK household emits 6 tonnes of carbon a year; there are 25 million homes in this country so that’s a lot of carbon. The majority of that 6 tonnes comes from the energy we use to heat our homes. Overall 27% of all UK emissions come from keeping us warm. So turning the telly off at the wall instead of leaving it on standby will compensate little to the overall picture, reducing our heating requirements and conserving heat is where we need to focus our efforts.