Knowing where to begin can be overwhelming when planning a renovation, or considering a new build. Making smart choices from the very beginning will not only save time and money, but will also allow for the most sustainable approach. In this session, we’ll start at square one by detailing the most important things to consider when building or renovating a sustainable home, as well as hear a panel discussion and Q&A session with experts and some of our Sustainable House Day homeowners.

It’s essential to find the right team for your build or renovation, yet it can be quite tricky to find people who share your sustainability goals. In this session, we’ll
offer guidance on how to select a team in your area that will guide your vision to life. In the second half of this session we’ll open up a panel discussion and Q&A session with our experts and some of our Sustainable House Day homeowners, who will share their first-hand experience of finding the right team.

An essential consideration in any sustainable build or renovation is the embedded carbon of the building materials used. In this session, we’ll provide insight into which building materials create the smallest carbon footprint,
as well as outlining those to avoid where possible. In the second half of this session we’ll open up a panel discussion and Q&A session with our experts and some of our Sustainable House Day homeowners, who will share their first-hand experience of building with sustainable materials.

Windows are often the most beautiful component of a new build or renovation, as well as the most expensive. They are also crucial when optimising thermal comfort inside your home. In this session we’ll be exploring the essential considerations when selecting windows, as well as hearing a panel discussion and Q&A session with our experts and some of our Sustainable House Day homeowners, who will share their first-hand experience of getting their glazing right.

Passive solar design is a cornerstone of any sustainable build or renovation. Well-designed passive solar homes require very little heating and cooling, and stay comfortable all year round at very low cost. In this session, we’ll explore passive solar design principles, and how to get them right. In the second half of this session we’ll open up a panel discussion and Q&A session with our experts and some of our Sustainable House Day homeowners, who will share their first-hand experience of implementing passive solar design.

Utilising smart energy efficiency measures is the easiest and most effective way to make your home more comfortable and affordable. In this session, we’ll explore the things that you can do quickly to improve thermal comfort, as well as those that are more long term, like insulation. In the second half of this session we’ll open up a panel discussion and Q&A session with our experts and some of our Sustainable House Day homeowners, who will share their first-hand experience of improving their home’s thermal comfort.

Going all-electric is an essential step in making your home as sustainable as it can be. In this session we will detail how and when to transition away from gas, offer tips on creating an efficient all-electric home, and outline the benefits environmentally and economically. In the second half of this session we’ll open up a panel discussion and Q&A session with our experts and some of our Sustainable House Day homeowners, who will share their first-hand experience of ditching gas and going all-electric.

Every home has slightly different requirements for a rooftop solar array, and every lifestyle has different energy usage that will impact which system will suit best. In this session, we’ll explain how to navigate the installation of solar on your home, and detail which setup is right for you. In the second half of this session we’ll open up a panel discussion and Q&A session with our experts and some of our Sustainable House Day homeowners, who will share their first-hand experience of getting solar right.