How to Plan and Build a Passive House in the UK
# How to Plan and Build a Passive House in the UK > **TL;DR: Start Here** > > Building a Passive House isn’t just about adding more insulation. You need…
Green Roof Drainage Layers and Why Getting This Wrong Causes Leaks
# Green Roof Drainage Layers and Why Getting This Wrong Causes Leaks Green roofs fail catastrophically when water cannot escape. I have seen too many projects where someone thought they…
How to Find a Structural Engineer Who Understands Natural Materials
# How to Find a Structural Engineer Who Understands Natural Materials When you’re planning a build with hemp lime, timber frame construction, or cob walls, finding the right structural engineer…
Insurance for Natural Builds and What Providers Actually Cover
# Insurance for Natural Builds and What Providers Actually Cover I spent eighteen months trying to get my cob and timber frame extension insured properly. Not because I’m particularly slow,…
Hockerton Housing Project Nottinghamshire and 25 Years of Off Grid Living in England
I’ve spent most of my career watching developers slap solar panels on conventional houses and call it sustainable building. Then I visited Hockerton Housing Project in Nottinghamshire, and realised I’d…
Bosco Verticale Milan and What Living Facades Really Cost to Maintain
I remember the first time I saw photographs of Bosco Verticale back in 2014, thinking “that looks incredible, but how on earth do you maintain it?” Ten years later, having…
Trent University Nottingham and Green Roofs in UK Higher Education
I spent fifteen years watching universities throw money at green credentials that looked impressive in marketing materials but delivered questionable environmental outcomes. Then I visited Nottingham Trent University’s Newton and…
Sedum Roofs vs Wildflower Roofs and Which Works Best in a UK Climate
# Sedum Roofs vs Wildflower Roofs: Which Works Best in a UK Climate? I’ve been tinkering with roof gardens for about fifteen years now, and honestly, it took me way…
Triple Glazing vs Double Glazing for Passive House Builds
# Triple Glazing vs Double Glazing for Passive House Builds I’ve been down the glazing rabbit hole more times than I care to admit. When I first heard about Passivhaus…
The Complete Guide to Building With Natural Materials in the UK
# The Complete Guide to Building With Natural Materials in the UK > **TL;DR: Start Here** > > Natural building materials like straw bale, cob, and reclaimed timber can create…