Building on green foundations (From The Argus)

Building on green foundations

3:18pm Monday 10th December 2007 in Going Green

With alarming stories about polar bears facing catastrophe and the ice caps in melt-down, it is easy to become disheartened about the environmental hazards gripping our planet and feel the problem is too big for any individual to do anything about.

Katya Mira talks to Sussex eco-warriors who believe small changes can go a long way and that the green revolution really does start at home.

About a third of this country's carbon emissions come from our homes. Heating turned up too high, poorly-insulated lofts and even overfilled kettles all contribute.

But Paul Early, of Whichelo Place, Brighton, believes solutions are staring us in the face.

The 39-year-old railway engineer has nurtured his passion for adapting the home to be more ecofriendly for about ten years - researching cheap but effective methods of saving the environment and reducing his household bills.

So when he moved into a four-bedroom Hanover house four months ago he embarked on a £20,000 project to turn it into an eco-home.

Using recycled newspapers as under-floor insulation and wool to insulate the loft, the emphasis has been on innovative, cost-effective methods.

Paul said it was the little things that made the most difference, such as a dual flush toilet, which has already reduced the amount of water the couple use by three quarters.

The eco-aware homeowner said there were some things you could not cut costs on, such as putting in new draught-proof doors and windows. But buying a top of the range energy-efficient washing machine or fridge will even save you money in the long run.

Paul also plans to create his own heating system using solar thermal panels.

He said: "All the things we have done so far have been quite cheap - it is just a matter of thinking about how you are going to do them.

"Little things like draught-proofing windows and doors, using low-energy light bulbs and cutting your curtains shorter so the heat goes into the room make a big difference."

Paul's home improvement theories are shared by Austrian-born Peter Kaufmann and Sigrid Stagl, who completed an even more ambitious eco-project at their Southdown Avenue home eight months ago - just in time for baby daughter Nika's arrival.

The pioneering couple were the first in Brighton to carry out a full eco-conversion in a historic Victorian terrace in a conservation area. They spent about £50,000, endured more than five months of submitting four different planning applications and eight months of building work. But they are now the proud owners of one of the most environmentally friendly homes in the city and have reduced their carbon emissions by 72 per cent.

The couple, who both work as environmental researchers at the University of Sussex, insulated the roof, walls and floors despite the difficulty of working on a 1887 building. They also installed four solar panels on the roof for hot water and heating.

They have put in six new windows along the endof- terrace wall so there is more natural light and warmth from the sun and even paid attention to details such as using renewable materials, eco-paints and drought-resistant plants.

Peter said the methods used were common in Austria and other parts of Europe but largely unheard of in Britain. He hopes their efforts will pave the way for others.

He said: "We had to be very stubborn to see things through but we hope it will make it easier for others.

"Everyone who does things for the first time will come across certain obstacles and now that people are more familiar with ideas it will be easier. A lot of people don't seem to understand that it is better in the long run to do things properly - not just think about the next five years or so.

"Some people do up their homes in an artificial way but it is becoming more and more important to think about energy ratings. I think things are changing and will really speed up in the next five years or so."

Solar panels could supply home energy

During the past year alone Brighton and Hove City Council has had 150 inquiries from residents wanting to install solar panels.

It says the idea of conserving energy and households creating their own power is gradually catching on.

Leading the way and helping people join the green revolution is eco-warrior Howard Johns, one of the first to fit solar panels to domestic homes when he set up Southern Solar in Brighton five years ago.

The company now has 14 staff and offices in Bristol and Herefordshire as well as a Sussex base in Allington Lane, Offham, near Lewes, with a branch soon to open in London.

The 34 year old was recently made chairman of the Solar Trade Association, which means he talks directly to politicians about environmental issues. He was involved with the pioneering Earthship Brighton project and Southern Solar was chosen by the Government as one of three companies in the country to be in charge of distributing grants to schools, councils and other public buildings planning to convert to solar power.

Howard said ordinary people could make a big difference to the big picture by adapting their home in simple ways.

He said: "I am interested in enabling people to work more harmoniously with nature. Every little action we take has a larger effect than we can imagine.

"Most of us have roofs we can put solar panels on - it is something accessible for everyone. And if we put panels on all the houses in Britain, you would actually have more energy than we need.

"We all know problems can often seem too huge to tackle but this is an easy way we can all make a difference. It is great to see all kinds of people who are not geeky about eco-things get really into it. I see them a year after they had the panels fitted and their attitudes have changed. They get really excited.

"It is crucial to understand the power of individual action. People have got to get their head around a new way of working. We have got to become the generator."

High hopes for turbine

It is not just Brighton and Hove residents who are turning their homes into eco-havens.

Mark and Fiona Hutchinson, from Henfield Road, Albourne, near Hurstpierpoint, Hassocks, will be the first people in Mid-Sussex to install a wind turbine.

They already have planning permission for the 50ft structure on a steep hill on their rural property. The project will cost £20,000 and should generate enough electricity to power their home.

Mark, 50, said: "It is very windy up here in winter and we thought it would be an ideal place to put up a turbine."

Architect George Baxter, based in Hurstpierpoint, said he hoped more homeowners would follow suit.

He said: "We need to encourage people who want to put something back into the grid and so reduce energy consumption."