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No! I hear you cry...
Join the controversial debate at EcoBuild this week at Earls Court...
Germaine Greer, Bill Dunster, TonyJuniper and David Orr will be debating the aesthetics of low carbon design for new homes and communities tomorrow in the main arena at Ecobuild from 17.00 - 18.00.
Ecobuild is always worth a visit and is also free but you should register at http://www.ecobuild.co.uk/
Ecobuild is the world’s biggest event dedicated to sustainable design, construction and the built environment, so if you are renovating, doing an eco self-build or just interested then get yourself along for the best showcase of sustainable construction products anywhere, plus dozens of inspiring attractions and more than 100 free conference and seminar sessions.
But hurry, the show finishes on Thursday!
Have you been following Oliver's trip round Britain with Dream Homes? Catch another episode with an eco focus tonight on the Discovery Channel. you can wrap those last minute Chrsitmas gifts whilst getting inspiration for your eco home...
Isle of Skye:
Architect Mary Arnold-Forster has bought one of the most spectacular plots in Scotland for just £25,000. Oliver Heath follows Mary’s progress as she designs and builds a house to withstand storms in winter and midges in the summer, and struggles to get building materials to one of the remotest parts of the British Isles.
Just a quick heads up for tonight's episode of Dream Homes:
On the site of an old signal box in Wisbech, newlyweds Russell and Delia Swann are building a brand new house - with their bare hands. Using the latest sustainable methods, including recycled yogurt pots in the kitchen, this is going to be one of the greenest houses in the country. But all that’s in the future. The reality is that, just three months after their wedding, Oliver Heath finds Russell and Delia living in a caravan at the start of one of the coldest winters on record.
Catch it at 9pm tonight on the Discovery Channel (repeated tomorrow at 8pm and Sunday at 7pm)
Good news – my wife Katie just had a little baby girl! Added to that over the last month we have moved house – believe me these are two major life changes that shouldn’t happen anywhere near each other!
However it has got me thinking ever more about designing eco children’s bedrooms.
As there wont be too much energy use, your main concerns will be the creation of a happy and healthy space for your precious child to live, sleep (and occasionally scream!) in. Remember that childrens immune systems are in development and so more susceptible to the effect of toxins.
The main things to think about are:
- Reducing toxins found in furniture, paints, and toys
- Reducing dust levels – cutting down on unhealthy dust mite.
- Good natural ventilation- cutting out the build up of damp and potential mould
- Safe Low energy lighting
Floors
Natural wood floors are great for interior design, they will also help to cut down on surfaces that trap dust (such as carpets. But if you do want some soft surfaces, try rugs or whip stitched sections of natural carpets made of wool with natural backings.
Walls
Paint walls in natural paints that don’t contain Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC’s) which can off gas toxins onto the floor or surfaces below. VOCs are found at their highest levels in conventional eggshell or gloss paints
Furniture such as beds, wardrobes and chairs
Choose solid wood furniture that wont contain formaldehyde resin glues (found in MDF, chipboard and plywood) which can off gas. Vintage furniture can look great when given a lick of paint or even a little wall paper.
Beds
Mattresses can trap high levels of dust which leads to dust mites, these can be vacuumed clear. Alternatively you could use a closed cell structure natural latex mattress or use organic fibre mattresses which wont have been exposed to toxins in the production of the materials.
Toys
Buy solid wooden toys and avoid plastic toys particularly those made of PVC (like rubber bath ducks) which contain phthalates- which have been shown to cause a wide array of health issues affecting the liver, kidney, lung and blood pressure, but most importantly is their reported effect on the reproductive tract of boys.
Lighting
It goes without saying that you should use low energy bulbs but I advise using the bulbs that have the curly filament encased within a conventional bulb shaped cover. Low energy bulbs contain small quantities of mercury which can be released if broken. Alternatively use a tough lamp shade such as polypropylene, which can be recycled at the end of its useful life.
Heating and ventilation– thermostatic valves
Bedrooms need to be both heated and properly ventilated – this will keep the rooms living conditions healthy and comfortable. Children’s bedrooms should be kept at between 64.5 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit, this can be achieved by using a thermostatic radiator valve to regulate room temperature.
Use trickle vents in the windows to maintain regular air changes, this will reduce the build up of damp and mould.
Oliver launched his new book 'Urban Eco Chic' last month and it has already picked up an award. The ultimate onlne luxury lifestyle magazine Hot Brands Cool Places gave the book its Green Award.
Urban Eco Chic is a design-led guide to eco-decorating, helping interior designers, green builders, and homeowners make eco-friendly choices that transform the home into a sanctuary of sustainable style. The book is filled with loads of inspiring colour photographs and presents the visionary eco-style of green designer Oliver Heath, who believes in balancing the elements of nature, vintage, and technology.
Urban Eco Chic is also about achieving a balance between function and style, teamed with a conscious effort to reduce one's environmental impact. Urban Eco Chic combines the use of pioneering technologies powered by the least energy possible, sustainable natural materials that leave the lightest footprint and recycled or recyclable products such as vintage furniture and accessories.
Oliver is giving sneak previews of elements of the book on his style column on the ecocentric website.
Read the Hot Brands Cool Places review of the book here
Oliver will personally sign all copies of the book bought from ecocentric, and you can also request he add a special dedication - an ideal Christmas gift!
This week Oliver has been chatting to Kate Watson Smyth from the Independent, tipping her off to the best places to visit for renovating and decorating an eco chic home.
Retrouvius
"Lots of people already know this site, but it really is one of my favourites. You can find unique pieces, and buying old furniture really is green. It's good for a browse and for getting ideas."
Junkystyling
"I buy very little from clothes shops. Instead, I will pick up something from the market and take it to this place in the East End of London for alterations - they adapt it to fit with bits of other material or some tailoring. It combines recycling, vintage and style all in one."
Brighton Sunday Market
"I love going to markets to look for furniture. Get to know the markets where the dealers go, as that is probably where the good stuff is."
Brighton Station Car Park, Trafalgar Street
Earthborn Paints
"I feel very strongly about paints: most are full of toxins, and give off fumes. My range for Earthborn are breathable. They soak up the moisture from the air as well as having no toxins"
Squint
"Save all those little bits of material that aren't good for anything else and use them in patchwork to cover a sofa or chair. It encourages us to become less precious about our belongings."
Brighton and Hove Wood Recycling Project
"I live in Brighton and come here all the time. The great thing about it being local is that the chances are someone will have thrown away something similar to what you are looking for, so there is a good chance you will find a door from the right period, say, or a floorboard the same width as what you need to replace. It's also a bit like a museum – you can see what people think is junk."
Charnwood
"A lot of wood-burning stove designs are rather Victorian in style, but this English company has great contemporary designs. I can pick up wood to burn from the reclaimed yard, and it's much more energy efficient. With a conventional fire, about 80 per cent of the heat goes up the chimney; with the wood-burning stove that 80 per cent is pumped into the room. It also adds character and focus to a room."
Vaillant
"Having a 1960s house is great as there are cavity walls which we can insulate – harder with a Victorian property. We are putting in a new heating system and this company has a really good range of products, such as ground-source heat pumps and solar-heating systems: high quality, efficient and reliable."
You can visit Oliver's own online store offering eco homewares & gifts - http://www.ecocentric.co.uk/
Read the full article here
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