Protecting your home: weatherproofing tips for all eventualities

Our unpredictable weather With the UK's weather continuing to shift from being intensely cold to predicted April/May heatwaves (with talk of snow flurries in between) we thought that now would be a good time to post some tips that could help you to protect your home... whatever the weather. Preparing for cold weather Proper insulation is key to keeping your home warm and energy-efficient during the cold weather. Whilst the autumn-winter season is ordinarily the perfect time of the year to take care of these fixes, it's never too late - or too early - to put things in place.…
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Why improving indoor air quality matters

  'All we need is the air that we breathe…' When we think about air pollution, we often picture smog-filled city streets or industrial emissions. However, the quality of the air inside our homes and buildings can also have a significant impact on our health and well-being. Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) refers to the cleanliness and purity of the air within enclosed spaces such as: homes, offices, schools and public buildings. It encompasses factors such as the presence of pollutants, levels of humidity, and ventilation rates. Poor indoor air quality can lead to a range of health issues, including respiratory…
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Affordable warmth for all: heating your home sustainably

Staying warm and comfortable in colder temperatures Ensuring that everyone has access to affordable warmth is a crucial aspect of sustainable living. Affordable warmth refers to the ability to maintain a comfortable indoor temperature without experiencing financial hardship. This Blog Post explores what affordable warmth means, why it's important, and provides practical guidance on how everyone can heat their homes sustainably. Affordable warmth is about more than just heating your home; it's about ensuring that everyone has the means to stay warm and comfortable, regardless of their income or housing situation. It's a fundamental aspect of social and environmental justice, as…
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Water neutrality: what it is and how you can achieve it

Understanding water neutrality In an era of increasing concern about water scarcity and environmental sustainability, the concept of water neutrality has gained prominence. But what exactly does it mean, and how can individuals work towards achieving it? In this Blog post, we'll delve into the concept of water neutrality, exploring its significance and providing practical guidance on reducing water consumption to minimise your water footprint. Water neutrality is a concept aimed at balancing the amount of water consumed, with the amount of water returned to the environment, through conservation and restoration efforts. Essentially, it involves striving to ensure that the…
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A breath of fresh air: home ventilation and sustainable living

As winter draws in… Although you may feel like closing the curtains tight and shutting all windows to keep the cold air out, this practice could be harming your home - and yourself. It's only natural as the air outside gets colder, to want to cosy-up indoors - but in doing so, we are also in danger of blocking out the fresh air that we need so much. With sustainable living, we often focus on energy-efficient appliances, renewable energy sources, and eco-friendly materials. However, one crucial aspect that is sometimes overlooked is home ventilation. The air we breathe within our…
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Damp and Mould: Why education and retrofit are key to eradicating the health scourge of bad housing

Damp and Mould: two of the most common problems in poorly maintained housing The more people who can live a decent life by being kept out of fuel poverty and out of hospital, the better off the entire country is. Take a look at this Headline: Tackling cold homes would save the NHS £540mn per year, new BRE research reveals Here I examine the causes and health impacts of damp and mould and explore how education and retrofitting can help to eradicate these problems, particularly in low-income communities. Causes of damp and mould Damp and mould are caused by excess…
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