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the directory |
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 The opportunities for alternative building methods is for me one of the most interesting areas where small and easily achievable changes can have a major impact on our lives and our environmental impact. There are so many areas
to discuss from the ordinary changes that most of us make in our
homes, such as thicker insulation and low energy appliances. To the
technically challenging geo-thermal heating and passive solar design
to turf roofs and straw bail building. For alternative energy systems and suppliers
see here. |
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| Information and projects | |
| Association for Environment Conscious Building (AECB) | |
The Association for Environment Conscious Building (AECB) was established in 1989 to increase awareness within the construction industry of the need to respect, protect, preserve and enhance the environment, principles that have become known collectively as "sustainability". The Association numbers local authorities, housing associations, builders, architects, designers, consultants and manufacturers among its membership and is proud to have Professor Chris Baines as its Honorary President. |
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| Bedzed | |
Bedzed is a leading project of low energy houses in South-London that prove you can build affordable, attractive low-enery homes that people want to live in. |
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| Ecological
Design Association The British School, Slad Road, Stroud, Gloucestershire GL5 1QW |
tel: 01453 765575 fax: 01453 759211 |
| As amazing as it seems, I don't think the EDA have a website, I'm sure they must have an email address, but I can't find it. If you know different please let me know. They used to publish the excellent EcoDesign magazine, I have a few copies, but again I'm not sure if it's still available. If you have any further information, please let me know. |
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| Environmental Building Association | |
I wonder if the environmental building association has folded, I've Googled them with no success. I used to have their details somewhere and I can't find it now. If anyone has some information, please let me know. |
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| Green Roofs for Healthy Cities | |
Green Roofs for Healthy Cities' mission is to increase the awareness of the economic, social, and environmental benefits of green roof infrastructure across North America and rapidly advance the development of the market for green roof products and services. |
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| livingroofs.org | |
An independent UK website to promote green roofs [roofs that are intentionally vegetated] and provide advice for their installation. This site is in response to the growing interest in green roofs in the UK, and the need to provide detailed and independent information. |
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| Natural Homes | |
Natural Homes has listings for courses, conferences and volunteer opportunities to help you hone your natural home building skills. They list information on everything from adobe, through straw bale to water management. There's also a really interesting map of existing 'natural homes'. Well worth a look. |
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| Shelter Publications | |
Other books
worth looking out for are the Domebooks 1, 2 & 3, all of which now
reach high prices on second-hand sites on the web. A recent publication
to follow on the tradition of Shelter, though with a smaller format, is
Homework, this covers the developments in self building since the publication
of Shelter. Homework is readily available on Amazon etc. A fascinating
read whether you're going to build you own house or not. |
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| Sponge | |
Sponge describes itself as 'a network of open-minded individuals who share a particular interest in sustainable development. These individuals generally work in, or are associated with the development of our built environment; from bricks and mortar through design, engineering and planning to communities and regeneration.' .... it also uses the phrase 'young professionals', which makes me feel a bit queasy, but lets give it the benefit of the doubt. |
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| The Yellow House | |
As someone with a house in much need of repair and renovation I'm always interested to come across a website with tips for an environmental approach. The Yellow House does just that, owners George and Annie have converted their 1930s terraced house into their eco-dream. The great thing is that it's the conversion of an existing property. Many of us would like to move into new purpose built eco-homes like Bedzed, but the UK is covered in mainly old housing stock and we need to bring that up to a good environmental standard. The second great thing about this project is it's carried out by ordinary DIYers, not architects or builders. There's loads of detailed information on the website and you can even send off for a CD-ROM with further info. A really inspiring project. |
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| Suppliers and Services | |
| Gordon Clarke Architects | |
Gordon Clarke Architects say about themselves - 'We have been designing high quality works of architecture since their inception in 1999. We combine building methods which care for our planet and our future, with the highest quality design and a full professional service.' |
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| the
green shop (UK) Bisley, Stroud, Gloucestershire, GL6 7BX |
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On the website they say, 'At the Green Shop we encourage our customers to live lightly on the planet by providing sustainable and low impact products for their homes.' and they certainly do. We visited late last year (2006) and building work was taking place on the extension, which I would imagine would be open by now. They stock and excellent selection of 'eco' goods for the home, lots of books and information. Well worth a visit. |
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| Green Building Store (UK) | |
The green Building store don't have an actual real-life store that you can go to visit. They do have however trade and DIY websites packed with information for the environmentally conscious shopper. Well worth a look. |
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| The
Solar Living Centre (USA) 13771 S. Highway 101, Hopland, CA 95449 |
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For more information see the centre listing on the Alternative Energy Page. |
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have
now almost entered folk law as the books of record for free thinking self-builders.
These books are not intended for those wanting to construct a standard
three bedroom town house. Probably the most well known book is Shelter,
originally published in 1973 and still in print, it is a fantastic record
of alternative self-build projects mainly throughout the USA. Although
not restricted to green building methods, the concepts of use of natural
materials and the re-use of materials are high on the agenda.