Around 7% of UK energy consumption, and 9% of CO₂ production, is produced by the building and construction industry. However the energy required to build an average house is only 5% of that required to sustain the house through its lifetime, so it is worth spending extra time, and extra money, in choosing the right materials for the house that will limit its environmental impact through its life. When embarking on housebuilding or DIY the three priorities from an environmental perspective are:

•     energy efficiency
•     Sustainable building
•     Water conservation

The key principles of sustainable building are:

•     Avoid environmental damage – including to people and wildlife
•     Use local materials and resources
•     Minimise energy use in material production and the building process
•     Choose materials that are right for the location
•     Choose materials for cost and recyclability

BRE (the Building Research Establishment) has an online bookshop, described as “one of the world’s biggest online construction bookstores”. Titles are on the expensive side, but compared to the total cost of a large project, and the potential savings that can be made, the cost of a book or two is insignificant. A few potentially useful titles are:

‘The Green Guide to Housing Specification’ (£49.35, downloadable)

‘Sustainability and Green Issues Pack’ (£40)

‘Energy Use and Efficiency Pack (£37.50)