Designing an energy-efficient home

The design of new houses continues to evolve and be influenced by the environment around us. One way this evolution is manifest is a focus on energy efficiency. However, if I cast my mind back a few years, only a small number of my clients ever mentioned energy use or insulation in meetings — other than asking about what sort of boiler would be good to use.

Now, though, more people than ever are looking at their energy strategy and considering their options during the design stages of their self-build and renovation projects. Regardless of people’s motivations, this is a positive development as the most efficient way to build an energy-efficient home is to plan for it early — with major decisions made during the design phase, rather than having to be retrofitted. But the choices and options available, not to