Observation
As part of the evaluation of my life I started to explore ways to gain an income from the resources I have access to.
One of which is a house with a reasonable sized garden which I am already utilizing the garden to grow my own food.
One of my dreams has always been to build an off-grid eco house, but I could never find the land or indeed afford it.
So can I build one in my garden? This would solve a few problems:
Solution 1
My mum has dementia and my dad is struggling to cope, they could live in the eco house I would be close at hand to assist at
any time. It would give them more freedom but still have back up when necessary .It would also give me space.
Solution 2
I could live there rent out the main house to my daughter providing an income.
Analyse
Boundaries
Parking and right of way there is access to the road but it is owned by someone else, Is there enough space in the garden for a reasonable sized living area?
Money
Do I have the funds to cover a project like this?
Is planning permission necessary and is this going to take time?
Can I pull together a team to help build the project?
Is the input worth the output?
Ok first off I need to analyse if the input will be worth the output
Costing’s
how much will it cost?
Time
how long will it take
Who Labour skilled and manual labour
Planning
How, do I need it?
pie chart
What will I learn from this project?
How to cost up a job
How to work out time line
How to locate people to work as a team
How to locate and bring together a team of skilled experts
Learn to work with a team of skilled people
Look at legal implications
Learn how to build an eco-off grid house
Research
What do I need?
Planning permission
Size of house
Right of way access not really necessary at the moment but would be an advantage
Locate the most productive and efficient of- grid technology
Cheapest way to buy
investigate buying from Europe/grants/self-build
Solar power/photovoltaic
Grey water
filtration system/rain water harvesting drinking water supply
Sewage filtration treatment system
Ground source pump
Patio bio/ fold doors/ triple glazing
Wood burner
Alternative to burning wood, no ready access to wood
Money
Can I get government grants?
Yes there are several incentives offered by the government to improve energy efficiency in your home
See link to the website
Can I get sponsorship from eco companies?
What’s in it for the companies?
Advertising you tube/Facebook /permaculture /community
Ready market for a community
Look at getting hold of seconds or ex demo parts
Utilizing recently acquired skills for the project (resources)
Teaching can I use it to teach eco builds
Planning sessions
Networking
Locating people who already have the relevant skills, thus saving time on researching myself go
straight to the experts and learn on the job by physically building the project.
You tube
documentaries
Obtaining and getting round planning permission loop holes
Building eco
housing skills
Solar power/flat pack/ground source heat pump
improve energy efficiency in your home
See link to the website
Can I get sponsorship from eco companies?
What’s in it for the companies?
Advertising you tube/Facebook /permaculture /community
Ready market for a community
Look at getting hold of seconds or ex demo parts
Utilizing recently acquired skills for the project (resources)
Teaching can I use it to teach eco builds