Soft halo

Day 146 #365DaysWild

The first clear night of the winter. Light pollution from the city like a soft halo around the horizon.

We’re not down to zero yet but winter has arrived. 

After dinner we talk together of how privileged we consider ourselves to be in this house we’ve built. So well-insulated. Using energy we’ve generated on the roof. Heat generated from cold air.

During a cost of living crisis with UK homes amongst the worst insulated in Europe, our home is uniformly warm. And so air-tight there aren’t draughts.

The chance to build our own home was given to us by my sister Judith and husband Roger. It had always been Rogers dream to build his home. After visiting the Hockerton eco-home project in Nottinghamshire, our out-of-reach dream was to have our own eco-home.This came together when we bought the site of our two homes in 2010.

To be able to achieve that eco-home goal in 2013 when we finally moved in was massive for us. Although we currently rely on the grid for electricity during the dark months, we are 60% self-powered. Cabling infrastructure prevents us increasing power generation on site.

When I return from a pre-breakfast walk each morning the warm air that greets me feels like a warm bath.

And my old mum next door is cosy too with her room thermostat set on a sweltering ‘sub-tropical’….

Our home defines us. Our personal commitment to combatting the climate crisis is clear.

Not complacent or showing off. But proud of it.