Covered area outside

The family has a good set up for separating and storing all their recycling in this area. Asked where to recycle plastic bottles – Ecover ones can be refilled. The area is lit with a double fluorescent light – recommended removing one of the strips. This is an ideal area for line drying clothes in the winter, either on clothes horse, or on a ‘Shelia Maid’, but please do check the strength of the roof supports before installing!

Garden

The garden is a low water use garden, with plants specifically chosen for their drought hardiness. The beds are well mulched to help reduce water loss from the soil.

There is a single water butt from the shed roof – recommended fitting second and possibly a third onto remaining down pipes to collect water off the back roof and off the kitchen extension roof

(slim line ones are available to fit behind back door). These are available from Wessex Water – see water saving offers on the Wessex Water website.

© Sylvaine Poitau

Shed

Large walk in shed – full width of garden – had previously been used as a workshop – had 4 double strip fluorescent lights – recommended removing a number of these and only having one, possibly two lights remaining – but both with single lights.

If using a hose pipe – should have a water meter.

Green waste is currently collected into old compost bags and taken occasionally to the local recycling centre to be added into the green waste there. Recommend getting a compost bin from the Local Authority so that the small amounts of garden waste can be composted. These are available at a discounted rate with free delivery.

Washing was being dried on washing line. Family has a tumble drier – and only use in wet weather. It has been reported that it is more energy efficient to dry clothes in a tumble drier as opposed to drying them on radiators. Drying clothes on radiators results in a lot of addition water being released into the atmosphere, this can contribute to condensation and damp problems.