I'm Mike, and a few years ago I was planning an extension onto our 1930s home. Working on existing old homes is difficult and disruptive but it was the perfect time to really improve the energy efficiency and create a greener, cheaper home.  However I found that the builders I worked with didn't always have the long term energy use in mind.  Walls and floors were put up that may have have met basic building code, but didn't take into account the impact improved insulation would have on the heating costs.  Many of them didn't understand that improving specification would pay the extra cost back in a few short years, sometimes less.  

Renovating houses with my own hands since then gave me an insight into what works and what doesn't, what's effective, and what's a waste of time and money.

I have a degree in Environmental science and for as long as I can remember have always had a concern for our planet.  For me, working on reducing our energy use is a win for the environment and a win for your budget.  It's a no brainer, so it's amazing that many of us live in cold, draughty homes that cost a fortune to heat.  Britain has some of the worst insulated homes in Europe but that can change.  Modern materials and technology (along with some traditional ones) gives us a great opportunity to create more comfortable homes that are more efficient, cheaper to live in, and better for the environment. 

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Mike Smith, BSc, MBA

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