House building is easy-?...what about out in the Shetlands

ivan burit · House building is easy-?...what about out in the Shetlands

If you ever thought that house building was easy, taking in consideration your choice of new build, your design, your eco friendlyness.
OK, then how about if you HAVE to make your house stay warm in the cold wind, stay put in the high winds, stay warm when the sun does shine.
If you wanted to build on basicaly granite rocks.
What do you do.
In tendring, we have it so easy in where we want to build, ok we have our new local plan, but so does everywhere else.
Look at the Shetlands, and how they plan for its extream weather conditions.

http://www.shetland.gov.uk/develo.../TheShetlandHouseFinalVersion.pdf

Now you know why they look a bit different to our new builds.

pepsi

I must admit that I love the Scottish Islands and would not hesitate to move there if family circumstances would allow.

I think that a lot of what is contained in their planning information also holds valid for builds anywhere.

The landscape, location, design and siting should always be considered with a view to minimal impact to wildlife, maximum gain from localised energy creation, suitable materials to ensure the building can handle weather conidtions with the minimum energy requirements etc.

Take into the above the idea of ensuring that the completed building blends in with the landscape rather than screaming against it and I think they are talking major sense which should be adopted generally.

Unfortunately, because all our build is handled by developers who are in it for major profit and have such a powerful voice, we will never reach these giddy heights of sensible build.

The simple fact that the government asked builders/developers to build energy efficient new homes rather than legislated to ensure they would says it all.

ivan burit

"The simple fact that the government asked builders/developers to build energy efficient new homes rather than legislated to ensure they would says it all."

pepsi, from a non builder, but ex engineer, i look at the "nuts & bolts" of buildings.

the way the Shetland homes are built to capture all available heat/ sunlight, to be double insulated at its back from the cold-cold winds, to be cut into the earth / rock at its back to also shield it, seems very logical to me.
I also noticed that the example planning applications featured home wind turbines.
How many local applications for them have been turned down....