Renewables

Green Technology: Heat Pumps
As part of our comprehensive guide covering all aspects of green technology, we look at heat pumps and ask the question: Ground, air or water source - are they the green panacea the hype suggests?

Green Technology: Heat Recovery
As part of our comprehensive guide covering all aspects of green technology, we look at heat recovery systems and how you can provide the perfect heating and cooling system for your home by combining a ventilation unit with a heat exchanger.

Green Technology: Water Recycling
As part of our comprehensive guide covering all aspects of green technology, we look at water harvesting, including both rainwater harvesting and greywater recycling, to help you decide whether this is the right system for your eco build.

Green Technoloy: Biomass
As part of our comprehensive guide covering all aspects of green technology, we look at biomass and how burning natural plant materials for energy can be a naturally regrowing, sustainable and relatively cheap form of energy.

Green Technology: Solar Panels for Heating
As part of our comprehensive guide covering all aspects of green technology, we look at solar panels for heating and how you can use the sun to create hot water.

Green Technology: Wind Turbines
As part of our comprehensive guide covering all aspects of green technology, we look at the benefits of using wind to create electricity and whether the initial cost is worth the savings.

Green Technology: Solar PV for Electricity
As part of our comprehensive guide covering all aspects of green technology, we look at Solar Photovoltaic Panels that are used to produce electricity and examine the benefits and system requirements.

Feed-in Tariffs Explained
A new scheme to pay homeowners for every unit of energy they produce using renewables makes installing green technology practically a no-brainer, says Tim Pullen.

Self-sufficiency: A Green Dream or Reality?
H&R’s eco expert Tim Pullen investigates if we can truly be independent of mains energy — and how to get there by carefully considering each part of your project, including design, resources, energy storage and the economics of generating your own electricity.

Wind Turbines: Are They Worth it?
Can the domestic wind turbine provide a genuine contribution to your attempts to reduce your homes energy bills, or is it just an expensive way to make a green statement? Mark Brinkley investigates

Outside Spaces: Renewables
Interested in generating your own green electricity? The early stage of landscaping is the perfect time to think about renewables

Renewable energy systems
It’s tempting to think that simply bolting on a wind turbine or solar panel will be an easy solution to your energy problems. Eco building expert John Shore explains the options available and how to approach a purchase.

Heat Pumps
Part of H&R's Saving Energy series - Tim Pullen gives his views on the state of the market and looks at the responses to his article earlier this year on heat pumps. Who'd have thought a simple concept could get people so confused?

Heat Pumps: Free Energy or Eco Fad?
Heat pumps are all the rage amongst the eco set - but does this innovative technology offer an answer to all self-builders?

A Guide to Hydro Power
Hydro power is typically associated with big rivers, bigger dams and huge reservoirs - not something the self-builder normally contemplates. But that does not have to be the case

Passive Ventilation
With our homes becoming ever more airtight, and ventilation equivalently hi-tech, take a step back in time and discover how naturally free resources and good house design principles can offer the best supply of fresh air

Groundworks & Foundations: Rainwater Management
Rainwater has to be managed and disposed of to foul (sewer) drains. The conventional way to do this is to run drains collecting rainwater from roofs and hardstanding and direct them into a soakaway in the back garden

Biomass... A 21st Century Fuel?
With rising energy costs and an increasing eco conscience, it’s no wonder so many of us are going back to basics and heating our homes with the earth’s naturally regrowing – biomass – fuels

The Truth About Wind Turbines
When local DIY sheds jumped on the bandwagon, turbines were rapidly seen as all things to all men — but, sadly, they simply aren’t. Tim Pullen reveals the truth behind the claims

The Code for Sustainable Homes: How to Get the Points
With the Code for Sustainable Homes Level 3 likely to become mandatory next year – and many councils imposing it already

Natural Building Materials
Building homes in natural materials is no longer the preserve of the green enthusiast. Tim Pullen reports on a new wave of construction methods that provide excellent performance with a sustainable edge

Creating An Eco-Friendly Garden
Having an environmentally friendly garden is imperative if you want to be a part of the green elite and its a lot easier to do than you might think, says Sarah Davies

One man's dream to power his home
Worcestershire resident, Derek Matthews, is well on the way to fulfilling his dream of being energy self-sufficient. Prompted by the illness of his wife, an MS sufferer, Derek is generating his own power from a solar panel and wind turbine constructed in the grounds of his home

Sustainable Building - Turf Roofs
They don't even need mowing! A grass roof is a relatively simple option and will boost the eco credentials of your home

Straw Building
Straw bale buildings are a rarity in the UK, but Pat Borer and Cindy Harris explain why it is a sustainable, easy-to-build and well-insulated construction form

Natural Building Alternatives
There is a growing movement of eco friendly self-builders who are experimenting with low cost, low impact, sustainable building materials such as mud, straw and even hemp to build their homes. Clive Fewins investigates

Is a Heat Pump Right For You?
Getting ‘free’ energy from the ground in the form of heat pumps is all the rage in eco circles — but does this technology have anything to offer self-builders with a keen eye for practicality? Mark Brinkley investigates

A Guide to Hydro Power
Hydro power is typically associated with big rivers, bigger dams and huge reservoirs — not something the selfbuilder normally contemplates

Green Roofs
Is a green roof an easy way to keep down fuel bills or a misguided eco badge offering few benefits? Tim Pullen separates fact from fiction and explains the difference between extensive, semi-intensive and intensive green roofs

Alternative Heating
With fuel prices at an all-time high and grants now available for microgeneration, many self-builders are keen to look at alternative strategies for home heating

Alternative Fuels
With the end in sight for traditional fossil fuels, Tim Pullen takes a look at cost-effective alternatives for the future, including biomass, biofuel, biogas and hydrogen

Solar PV for Electricity
Hopelessly expensive fantasy with a ludicrous payback — or the renewable energy to watch? Tim Pullen looks at the future of generating electricity from the sun using solar PV (photovoltaic) technology

Geothermal Energy... A Heating Revolution?
Heat from the earth’s crust – or geothermal – is a near-infinite resource, causing less CO2 emissions than any other type of plant — so why aren’t self-builders incorporating it into their homes? Tim Pullen investigates