14 WAYS TO FUTUREPROOF YOUR HOME
DESIGN
STRUCTURE AND CONSTRUCTION
HEATING AND WIRED INFRASTRUCTURE
ACCESSIBILITY
LOW IMPACT MATERIALS
We’re slowly seeing a growth in uptake of low energy self-builds that reduce energy use and carbon. I think we’ll see a lot more people trying to reduce the immediate carbon impact of the build itself. This could be through using lower impact building materials like timber, straw, hemp, lime etc.
PAUL TESTA, FOUNDER OF PAUL TESTA ARCHITECTURE
Smart energy-saving controls
In the past the boiler in your home was either on or off. There was no modulation. It was also controlled by one thermostat that was often on the landing. That meant that if the landing was too cold the boiler would turn full on till the landing was warm. The north side rooms could be too cold and the south side rooms too hot.
Boilers can now modulate their output power with thermostatic control in each room — not just manual thermostatic radiator valves (TRVs) but measured thermostatic control that is governed by wired or wireless controls in the rooms and motorised valves on zone manifolds or motorised radiator valves. The controls ‘talk’ straight to the boiler to not only turn it on and off but also to
