LOW-ENERGY LIVING

There was a time, in the not-so-distant past, when the words ‘eco home’ were uttered in the same breath as tree-hugging and compost toilets. They conjured images of futuristic houses built for housing expos. And as most of these pioneering homes were experimental prototypes, they were rarely offered for sale. Fast forward to 2020 – on the cliff-edge of climate change – and sustainable housing really started to go mainstream. Green technology has moved on, as has public perception, and a growing raft of devotees are building inspirational low-energy houses. For some, clean sea air and coastal ozone are essential factors of the sustainable lifestyle.

From off-grid cabins to new-build palaces, these eco new-builds come in all shapes and sizes, however they share an ambition to use less energy and produce less carbon, thereby reducing greenhouse gases. To put that in context, around 40% of the UK’s carbon emissions are a product of heating and lighting our homes. The