What could an eco self-build look like?
When Gloucestershire-based self-builder Ian and his wife Justine decided to build their dream home, lowering their impact on the planet was high on their list.
The result of their labour is a contemporary Passivhaus family home which meets the growing needs of their family.
“We felt so drawn to this kind of energy efficient self-build for its many benefits – the air quality, the low running costs and the comfort levels was a major factor,” explains Ian.
“Knowing that our environmental impact could be reduced also played a huge part in our final decision.”
It’s becoming an increasingly popular choice and research by the National Custom and Self Build Association (NaCSBA) has revealed that those people who had completed a build in the last five years felt sustainability was high on the agenda for anyone commissioning their own home, with 1 in 2 builders including a sustainable heat source on their project.
The survey showed that self and custom builders were also shown to be important industry pioneers, with over half choosing to build using Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) for their homes, a sign that times are changing. There appears to be a growth in the acceptance of alternative models of construction, especially when they can contribute to improvements such as speed of building or sustainability.
Government policy, like the Future Homes Standard, means that self-builders will now need to introduce sustainable elements to build a home for a cleaner, energy-efficient future.
1/ Materials matter
One of the advantages of self-build is that it does give you a lot of flexibility over the construction method and the materials you wish to use. Choosing the right solutions for your home is a crucial part of your self-build journey, helping you to build a dream home that is sustainable in the long-run.
When it comes to construction, the airtightness and energy efficiency requirements for thermal elements of windows, doors and walls need to meet Part L Building Regulations, which came into force on 15 June 2022.
Roofs, flat roofs, walls, floors, windows need to achieve lower U-values (the measure of the overall heat transfer) and meet targets for primary energy, carbon emissions and fabric energy efficiency rates. Getting proper insulation installed at all points is paramount, to stop leaky buildings releasing all the energy back out again.
2/ Chase the sun
Maximise the solar gains on your site to help heat your self-build. The orientation of your building will determine how much sunlight your building receives. Ideally any windows used for maximising solar gain should face south or as close to south as possible. Overheating is becoming a more common problem with the increased use of glass in modern designs although adding solar shading to your design can reduce this. North facing surfaces receive very little to no sun, so it is best to keep glazing on this side of the building to a minimum.
3/ Don’t forget your electric charging point
All new buildings and homes will be required by law to have electric vehicle (EV) charging points from June 2022. You will need off-road parking – a driveway or garage – and you need to ensure power can reach this area. A wallbox needs to be installed – this is by far the quickest option. Charging your car with a standard three-pin plug could take much longer.
4/ Introduce solar panels and energy efficient lighting
Energy efficient lighting should be installed throughout the house. Install solar panels to heat water if there is space on your roof.
5/ Install a heat pump
There’s no doubt heat pumps are set to expand over the coming years as energy prices rise and self-builders seek low-carbon, energy efficiency alternatives to gas boilers.
The government’s £450 million Boiler Upgrade Scheme offers homeowners in England and Wales £5,000 grants through the government’s £450 million Boiler Upgrade Scheme. This applies to self-builders who want to install clean heating systems.
Heat pumps take the heat from outside and bring it into your home by using electricity. They are more efficient than other heating systems as the amount of heat they produce is more than the electricity they use.
You may need permission from your local planning department to install a heat pump if you live in a listed building or conservation area.