- Are you planning work on your house so it will be more energy efficient and sustainable?
- Is the builder getting ready to start and you're overwhelmed by questions?
- Do you need help understanding the language and process of a renovation?
Judith was in exactly that position when work began on her 1901 Victorian end of terrace house. Her determination to be eco-friendly and make the house more energy efficient clashed with everyday building practice, requiring more project planning and active involvement than expected. It was a steep learning curve, but she came out of the experience with a much wider understanding, not to mention a sustainable house that saves 75% of previous energy usage and an EPC rating that jumped from D to B.
The challenge of finding her way through competing online information inspired her to write the book she needed, so others can learn from her experience and her mistakes. Always good at asking for help, Judith has been supported throughout by an eco-informed architect. The end result is a clear, concise lay persons summary of the retrofit / renovation process.
By reading this book you will get to grips with:
- important building terms so you can hold an informed and productive conversation
- the key elements involved in creating an energy efficient home
- the different stages of the planning process and who does what
- types of insulation - effectiveness, ease of use and cost
- how the airtightness line works and why it's important to hold your builder to account
- the vital role of ventilation
- how to manage your waste without resorting to the dump.
Judith has an easy to read, chatty style. This book is the equivalent of sitting down over coffee to learn from each other's experiences. She is generous with her stories, outlining successes as well as failures, so you don't have to go down the same dead ends.
Her aim is to give you the confidence to ask questions and challenge the thinking of your builders so you can make informed decisions about your home - the way you want and need it to perform.
To share your experiences and hear about new projects, go to Judith's blog: ecorenovationhome.com
Leary-Joyce, Judith: - "Judith knew little about architecture or building before managing her own eco renovation and learning from her mistakes. Now, with the support of professionals, she's written the book she needed, in order to help you future proof your home. Passionate about the environment, she was determined her updated home would not contribute to the climate crisis and now she has a home that is 75% more energy efficient. The state of the earth and the climate have been a prime concern for Judith since the 1970's. She needs to do everything she can to leave her grandchildren with a healthy world to grow up in - this is the legacy she cares about most. Eco renovation and retrofit are relatively new to the building trade so being informed gives you the best chance of getting what you want and completing a job that will do significantly less damage to the earth. This is Judith's fourth book although in an entirely different vein. Having worked for many years in business and people development her only plan for retirement was to be an active Granny and volunteer. A passion for insulation and airtightness was never on the agenda, but then an Air Source Heat Pump opened the path to a new and exciting direction, culminating in this book.Judith has an easy writing style, including plenty of stories about her own experience. Her writing continues in her eco renovations blog: Ecorenovationhome.com"
