EDITOR’S LETTER

Claire Lloyd has been a member of the Homebuilding & Renovating team for 15 years. She’s currently in the midst of another renovation.

The Homebuilding team and I never cease to be amazed by your self-builds, renovations and extensions, and all the readers’ homes in this issue perhaps serve to showcase the mix of projects we feature. One of the highlights this month is a barn conversion, completed to Enerphit Plus standard (page 154). The homeowners took a very active role in its build and their resulting home is not only designed to use minimal energy but actually generates more electric than it uses — thanks to solar photovoltaic (PV) panels and battery storage. It’s a great example of how individual homeowners like you are really leading the way when it comes to creating low-energy houses.

On the theme of generating energy, solar panels seem to be having a resurgence at present. Even Octopus Energy – whose comparatively generous export tariff is worth a look if you already have solar panels – are now entering the market, offering installations. It’s a topic we will continue to look at over the course of the year, but this month we’re tackling installation over on page 167.

Finally, for the renovators amongst us, this issue is all about some of the key design and build challenges you might face. From ideas for transforming an ordinary bungalow into something rather unique (page 60), to giving a drab 1970s property a 21st-century makeover (page 114). On a more practical note, we’re also covering the ins and outs of knocking down load-bearing walls (page 85), relocating a kitchen (page 125) and insulating a late 20thcentury home (page 175). We hope you feel inspired.