Hot air spouted on green issues is a waste of energy

7 June 2010

It’s a theory of mine that technology in cars is generally the forerunner of similar technology in houses.

As proof, I give you air conditioning, sound systems and electric windows - all of which have been standard in cars for years. These features are now found in high-spec houses, although for electric windows read blinds.

Inevitably, at some point we will see the UK’s first fully automatic house and the Technology Faculty at Portsmouth University has been given a grant of £128,000 to research this possibility.

Its brief is to design a house that has a central computer that can spot when a family member is ill or has forgotten to take their medicine. It should also be able to switch off heating systems when rooms are vacant.

Of course, at the heart of this will be voice-activated controls for everything. No more struggling with stiff sash windows - just yell at them.
In luxury cars this is already a feature, with voice-activated phone systems. Unfortunately, in my last BMW this never worked properly and usually dialled someone I did not want to speak to.

So all this is hardly new and some readers will recall The Monkees’ Mike Nesmith who, in the heady days of 1960s flower power, completely voice-activated his Malibu beach villa.

It’s all bonkers - I’d never live in a house made of horse nosh and no lender would lend on one anyway

This was when beautiful people made love not war and Nesmith had all his doors set up to open only on the command ’Peace and love’.
Oh to be a fly on the wall to hear Nesmith coo this lovingly just after a massive bust-up with the missus.

Anyway, in the future all this will inevitably be driven by green issues.

I find it hard to believe that I’m the only one who doesn’t really get all this energy efficiency and environmental impact stuff.

While surveying I’ve never had anyone ask me to comment on a property’s energy efficiency rating because the man on the Clapham omnibus doesn’t understand it and isn’t in the slightest bit interested.

Victorian houses are drafty with solid uninsulated walls and that’s that, particularly as 25% of the UK’s housing stock has solid rather than cavity walls.

The latest eco-home is made of straw. No this isn’t April 1 and ignoring the obvious three little piggies gag I can assure you it’s true.

North Kesteven District Council has built two houses with walls constructed of straw bales. They use wool padding as insulation and recycled glass blocks for foundations.

All windows are triple-glazed and face south for maximum warmth, while the heating system is, of course, solar-powered. Apparently, houses such as this have a 200 year lifespan and astronomical insulation ratings.

I think it’s all bonkers because I’d never live in a house made of horse nosh and no lender would lend on one anyway.

The disbelieving should visit www.n-kesteven.gov.uk/straw for further details.

If you enjoyed this article, sign up here to receive daily email updates from Mortgage Strategy and Follow @mortgagestrat