“What really swung it for Beattie Passive was the fact that you said you could build any design to Passivhaus standards”
Neil Jenkin
Self builder in Cheddar
We chat with self builder Neil Jenkin about his Passivhaus standard project in Cheddar, Somerset.
What made you decide to build your own home?
It was something my wife and I had always talked about, so when an opportunity to get a plot presented itself, we dived headlong into it. We were excited at the prospect of realising a long-term dream.
What led you to selecting Passivhaus as a construction method?
When we were looking into build systems we were aware that climate change is becoming more and more of a problem. Because of that, we chose Passivhaus as we wanted to build a house that is as environmentally-friendly as possible.
How did you hear about Beattie Passive and why did you decide to approach us?
We initially found Beattie Passive on the Internet, and then met up with your salesman at an exhibition to talk through our project. We really liked the principle of the system and the way Beattie Passive operated, so we went from there. The thing that really swung it for Beattie Passive was the fact that you said you could build any design to Passivhaus standards.
How would you rate the overall energy efficiency of your self build in Cheddar?
We would give it 5/5. Relatively speaking, we’ve only just moved in, but we didn’t need our central heating on at all in March when we saw our neighbours using theirs, so we’re expecting our bills will be significantly lower.
How does your experience of living in a Passivhaus compare to living in a traditional home?
It’s much more comfortable. And a lot cheaper!
