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MARCH/APRIL 2025 Taking a chance


James and Amy Savage’s project in Wiltshire saw them put their faith in an unusual property


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sel thefbuilder DESIGN. RENOVATE. REVIVE. Update your registration here: SBHM_0304_2025 Covers.indd 1 27/03/2025 10:58 Ticking all the boxes


Charlton & Jenrick’s Peter Mintoft explains why secondary heating is the perfect addition for your home


The next chapter ON THE COVER... © CHARLES EMERSON (PAGE 30)


We catch up with Olly and Veronika Stothert whose build has seen them overcome a myriad of challenges


FROM THE EDITOR...


ccording to fi gures recently released by the Passivhaus Trust, approximately  of new homes under construction in the  are being built to Passivhaus standard. This is due in part to policy and funding changes, as well as the increasing awareness generally of the need to build more effi cient homes and achieve net ero. The Trust has even loftier ambitions, hoping to see that fi gure increase to  by 3.


uilding to Passivhaus standard means hitting a series of strict targets relating to elements such as insulation, ventilation, airtightness, windows and solar gain. side from the wider benefi ts to the planet, there are of course benefi ts for homeowners in the form of cheaper energy bills, thanks to the improved indoor thermal comfort and reduced heat loss.


ith energy costs only going one way at the moment, it’s an enticing concept. That being said, achieving Passivhaus standard is no easy feat and doesn’t come cheap. t has to be factored into a proect from day one, as self-builders ane and Paul discovered in ess nwin’s case study on page . ven details like the orientation of the house can have an impact, but ane and Paul both being ualifi ed architects gave them a considerable advantage.


hile for some achieving Passivhaus might be too ambitious, sustainable features are on the menu for many self-builders. eat pumps are becoming increasingly popular, with recent fi gures showing  more were installed in the  in  than in 3. This is in part due to the overnment grants available, but some believe they need to do more. ’s total sales of under , heat pumps are way off the overnment’s target of , a year by .


nother example of self-builders opting for green approaches in this issue is Suanne and ark’s spectacular Scottish build, where they included not only a heat pump but a host of other eco-friendly features page .


s always,  hope you enoy the issue


ROSEANNE FIELD


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