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Top tips to create an eco-home
27/05/09
Polly McLean has recently renovated a home to turn it into an eco-friendly and efficient dwelling and she has offered some advice on how homeowners can do the same.Speaking to the Guardian, Ms. McLean said people should live in the property first to see how they actually use it and what areas are habited the least.
Visiting other eco-homes is also suggested as it allows renovators to learn about the possible pitfalls beforehand.
Using a recommended tradesperson is also advised and people are urged to follow recommendations from friends or websites.
"There are a lot of cowboys out there marketing themselves as green consultants," she said.
Ms. McLean added that every home is different, so what may work for one residential property may not for another.
Ground-source heat pumps can save on energy usage from the grid, but she explained they "require extensive trenching in the garden", which not everyone may wish to do.
Meanwhile, Mark Brinkley, the author of the Housebuilder's Bible, has suggested the pumps work best with new-build homes.
