If you are planning a self
build project, or simply renovating your existing house, maybe
we can provide the information you need on line. We have hand-selected the best sources
of information on self build and eco homes.
Our information is largely
but not solely UK based, and there is huge amount of material
here, so why not add us to your favorites now, so that you can
return later.
Founded in 2002, theHousePlanner
has since passed one and a half million total visitors to this
site, and continues to go from strength to strength.
Site of the month:
December
2011: Assington Mill
-offers short one to three-day courses in Suffolk on rural
and traditional crafts from breadmaking to strawbale construction.
They provide a welcoming setting where people can enjoy learning
new skills, and have a great day out with like-minded people.
The mill is set on a small 70-acre organic farm in one of Suffolk's
beautiful secret valleys. Food is home-made and locally-sourced,
much of it grown in the kitchen garden.
Past featured sites of the month -every month we select
and feature a website of particular value.
Off
grid riverside retreat for sale
Located near Ombersley, Worcestershire,
a beautiful, secluded potential eco home or off-grid holiday
let on the banks of the River Severn. Surrounded by trees and
meadows, and overlooking the river this could be a very peaceful
rural weekend retreat -read
more.....
Loving your Sash Windows
Paul Burnett of TheSashWindowMan
explains why it may be both cheaper and more sustainable to have
your sash windows restored by a professional than replace them
-read more.....
Selecting a Staircase Design
Building a home from scratch
involves a great many different features all coming together.
Ben Winton of Complete Stair Systems offers some tips -read
more.....
Featured DVD
Grand Designs -Series 4
Complete
featuring Kevin McCloud.
Includes episodes on
The Violin Factory, Waterloo
- Louise and Milko
German Kit House, Surrey -David
and Greta Iredale
Revisited: The Inverted-Roof
House, Bucks
19th-Century Sandstone House,
Edinburgh -Reuben and April
Fabric First -a selection
of talks from leading manufacturers and industry experts on SAP
calculations, air-tightness testing, the Zero Carbon Hub, Part
L and Part E solutions for the home, internal/external finishes,
environmental issues, flooring systems, acoustic solutions for
new build and refurbishment and vapour control membranes.
A two day conference on the
Passivhaus standard organised by the Passivhaus Trust and the
BRE, with case studies and projects in the UK. The conference
will focus on themes such retrofit, local economic added-value,
residential and non-residential buildings and occupant comfort/measured
performance.
Using the same format as previous
events in London and Scotland, with Ideal Home Improvements,
Food, Interiors and Woman sections, also featuring a seasonal
twist with more gadgets, shopping and gifts for the family, in
time for Christmas.
See our calendar
page for or other self build and home improvement events.
With a focus very much on
explaining the pros and cons of today's popular technologies
this course aims to give a good grounding in how and where different
technologies work best, covering heating system design, including
solar thermal, and wood pellet and wood chip boilers and technologies
such as CHP, fuel cells, photovoltaics and wind turbines.
Mon 24th
Oct - Fri 28th Oct, 2011
-CATT Machynlleth
Timber Frame Self Build (5 days)
CPD button A series of frames will be made and erected in the
practical sessions, and classroom sessions will cover the timber
frame method, ecological building methods, design for low energy
sustainable housing and appropriate services for low energy buildings.
24-28 October
2011 Berlin
Solar Electricity
Installation Course - Off-grid Applications
This five-day intensive course
on the design and installation stand-alone / off-grid solar electric
systems (not grid-connected) is run by RENAC, the Renewables
Academy in Berlin. The course is ideal for anyone who wants to
install their own solar electric system, start a solar business
or seek employment in the solar industry. The course will include
numerous practical sessions. Participants will have the opportunity
to develop their own projects. The course is aimed at an international
audience and will be in English.
Course 1: Friday 21 - Sunday
23 October 2011 -Stanmer Park, Brighton
Course 2: Friday 11 - Sunday 13 November 2011 -Stanmer
Park, Brighton
A three-day course by Brighton
Permaculture run in partnership with Low Carbon Trust and in
association with RESET. This course is for anyone thinking about
building their own home and anyone interested in learning about
Earthships. Includes practical workshops.
See our page on courses
for other training events.
Manufacturers
Feature your product on the
HousePlanner. We have had more than one and a half million
visits from our readers since we first went online in 2002.
You can let them know more about your products by placing your
banner on this site -find
out more here.
Design and construction information.
Covers topics such as self build, renovation, finding an architect
specialising in sustainability, building and planning regulations,
finishes, components and building materials
General information on environmental
issues and green design -covers energy use (solar and wind power,
chp systems), recycling and re-use, green materials, construction
with earth, straw and timber, insulation and eco homes.
Resources on sustainable garden
design, plus water reuse using wetlands, composting of waste,
organic produce, planting for biodiversity and garden materials.
Buying, selling and renting
property in the UK; where to find green mortgages, estate agents,
surveyors and legal advice; ethical investment, insurance and
other useful information related to the UK housing market.
The Housebuilder's Bible: An Insider's Guide to the Construction
Jungle, 8th Edition
Mark Brinkley
This definitive guide offers
information, advice and costings from an experienced builder
-ideal companion for any self builder
Paperback - Ovolo Publishing Ltd
December
2011: 
Off
grid riverside retreat for sale
Loving your Sash Windows
Selecting a Staircase Design
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