Carbon neutral eco guesthouse (and SuperHome) in heart of Snowdonia and, according to The Guardian, “one of the greenest bolt holes in Europe”.

The Passive House Association of Ireland (PHAI) works to increase awareness of the benefits of low energy design and Passive House Principles across the Irish construction industry.

Not a business but a local voluntary initiative: SAVE (Support Aylesbury Vale’s Environment) is an active network of 150+ individuals. Many of these represent local community groups with Transition, environmental, waste, energy, conservation, economic, and social community interests, with a direct voice into local communities within the Vale.

greentomatoenergy advises clients on how to reduce the energy consumption of their buildings. This helps to reduce utility bills and CO2 emissions and importantly, improves the comfort levels of the property. greentomatoenergy also provides installation services for many of the measures it recommends.

What elevates a green retrofit to passivhaus standard? And is it worth it? Tom Pakenham made the leap. What was the result? Net energy bills were just £189 in year one, the house is comfortable throughout and free of drafts, cold patches and condensation. In short, Tom now owns a Victorian terrace which, he says, is near perfect to live in…

Climate Week is a national campaign inspiring action on Climate Change. In March each year it culminates in thousands of events showcasing practical ways to combat climate change . In 2011 over 3,000 events were attended by half a million people across the UK. To register an event or to find one to attend near you, visit www.climateweek.com

A green boiler could be gas condensing, combi, micro-CHP, wood pellet, or log burning. So, what type, size and fuel best fits your needs? Whether you are looking to upgrade to a new heating system or just improve the one you’ve got, this article should clear up many questions.

Up to half of all heat loss in buildings can be due to air leakage, uncontrolled ventilation and wind, despite the fact that insulation levels have increased substantially over recent years. This means that, along with insulation, draught-proofing for greater airtightness is vital.

Mechanical ventilation with heat recovery (MVHR) takes the heat from the air leaving the building using a heat-exchanger in the roof. It then passes it to incoming fresh air which is pumped to the ground floor. MVHR is a must if you are achieving Passivhaus levels of airtightness. It can also be a blessing in an older home that has persistent issues with damp.

Is sash window replacement the way forward? We investigated 4 different ways to improve on single glazing during the refurbishment of our Victorian house.

Heat loss though glazing typically accounts for approximately 10% of total heat losses from a domestic building. This means that improving the thermal performance of your windows has to be part of any eco refurbishment strategy (especially if you are aiming at reducing your carbon emissions by 60% or more as we did!).