Self-builders 'should consider sustainability'

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Britons planning to build their own dream home have been advised to ensure the project is sustainable, which may mean they wish to consider installing renewable energy technology.

Tim Pullen, an author and eco expert, said that building a sustainable home may be well worth the effort as it is likely to cost less to maintain and last longer.

"If the house is going to last longer and cost less to run then you have added value to the house, so you have actually increased the value of the house just by building it sustainably. It is cheaper to run, it requires less maintenance and will have a longer life," he added.

Mr Pullen explained that one of the first signs of how costly a house is likely to be to live in is when the building has been completed and the first gas bill is received.

With this in mind, self-builders may wish to consider technology such as solar panels and a ground or air source heat pump.

Such appliances make use of renewable energy and so reduce a household's reliance on fossil fuels and the National Grid, lowering both their impact on the environment and gas bills.
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