Champagne Hard Hat PR Event!
Urban Base
Oh Yes!!!!
I invited many of the key people who helped to make this project happen to a celebration event, just to say a big ‘Thank You’ for all of the support.
There was an excellent turn out and a warm atmosphere sharing positive feedback and a certain reminiscing of the battles needing to be fought to bring the project to a high standard.
What struck me was how these people were strangers to me just 18 months earlier and yet now I feel that they are valued colleagues, who observed on the outside, the emotional ‘roller-coaster’ of the build. I always knew they were there, behind me, wishing me well and on my side. Only in desperate times did I phone them to share the trials and tribulations of the construction industry; with my constant need to stay focussed, uncompromising on standards, responsible.
Some things are on-going in the development so I am not sure that I would class this as finished. The statistics are still being taken as part of the Site Waste Management Policy, because I am interested in how the house performs, and I love doing graphs!
We have had 97% recycled waste for the last part of the build. From the start for the first 8 months we had 100% recycled waste and exceptionally low usage of water and electric.
Because I have gone for 100% low energy lighting by using cfl’s or led’s we are hoping to continue to keep the electric usage to a minimum. Solar panels heat 60% of the water, which also supplies the underfloor heating. This is topped up by a wood pellet biomass boiler. The PV panels will generate electricity. Any surplus will be sold back to the supplier. I have chosen EDF for this.
It is great to have a design idea and a hypothetical formula that you think will work and then see it working and all coming together.
Grants???
As part of the renewable technologies we are eligible for grants to the sum of 2500k. ‘Great!’ I hear you say. Not so fast! Because I am not in a ‘commercial’ band, the grants available are quite small and to be honest, meaningless. I have been offered 500 towards the biomass. The restrictions on this are as follows; you have to buy from a registered supplier and installer. It also has to be a biomass on the list of approved stoves. I was excited when I knew the installer and the biomass that I wanted was on the product list. The issue is that these installers charge a fortune to install. So it is cheaper to have an unregistered installer and not claim the grant.
‘Well, that’s just the biomass example, isn’t it?’
‘Nope. That’s the same for the wind turbine and solar panels.’ I feel that I demonstrated a disproportionate commitment to the renewable side of energy harvesting. The grants have not supported me in this instance. If the government want to see more householders investing in renewable technologies, then there needs to be a genuine incentive in place.
Show Home Now Open!*
What a privileged position to be able to show people around the main house that was my design. Prospective buyers can now see for themselves the quality of finishings inside the house and the beauty of modern, spacious living, that also cares for the environment. Work with nature, not against. One plot has been sold on day 1, but this client knew me and my abilities. Others would have to take a huge leap of faith to come on board before the main house was finished.
In line with ‘see differently, think differently’, I am hoping to offer lifestyles to people that will change them and their perception of what is of value. My development is understated in a way, with very little ‘bling’; but the houses are truly stylish! I found a car made by Toyota who had a similar branding and idea to my development…..Less is more! I am currently in talks with Toyota, to see if they will come on board, in some capacity. Not many property developers offer a free car with the sale of a house!
*Check Upmarket - Urban Base Estate agents for details