OK so I need serious building/eco/green help

[Katymac]

I am building a nursery (I think)
I want solar panels
I want rainwater harvesting
I want a log/pellet burner
I want economical heating
I want to superinsulate

I want everything I can damn well have
I will need to source grants
I will need loads of advise

Please help??

[mummyscaryhouseonthehill]

Bump for you hope someone can help

[JackieNoHeadJustABloodyStump]

You might be able to get information from the Building Research Establishment (BRE) and the Energy Saving Trust (they also have a database of grants here ).

[JackieNoHeadJustABloodyStump]

You might also find something via the Carbon Trust .

[GeorginaA]

Katymac - do you have Forest Schools in your area? I'm hazy on the details, but I know the nursery ds2 goes to have set up a second nursery with some sort of eco school/Forest School status and may have got extra grants (and quicker planning permission) as a result?

Forest Schools

[JackieNoHeadJustABloodyStump]

If you want something a bit light to read that will give you some information on some of these technologies, it might be worth reading this book - did you see the tv series with them in, making their house as 'green' as possible?

[PretendFriend]

katymac, Leicester's not too far from you, is it? Could you visit this place?

[JackieNoHeadJustABloodyStump]

Oh yes - The Centre for Alternative Technology is probably worth a look too - unfortunately they're probably too far away from you, but they run courses.

[PretendFriend]

Aha, apparently km has been there Jackie - she mentioned it on her wind turbine thread

katymac will be the Mumsnet Green Queen by the time she's finished!

[JackieNoHeadJustABloodyStump]

Do you know, I was just reading that thread, PretendFriend and noticed that too. Oh well - sounds like she's getting well clued up on all this stuff.

[Katymac]

Goodness me - I go on a course and come back to all this.....wow thanks - I have loads of reading to do

[Lio]

Services Engineers Max Fordham LLP are pretty hot on this. Perhaps when you do secure some funding you could use some of it to spend on some time with them? Also your architect should be switched on enough to know about how best to orientate and mass the nursery (the ones I work for are good at this )

[Katymac]

Ummm....architect?

[Lio]

oh, did you mean a nursery as an extension to your house? the architects i work for build day nuseries, you know, like sure start centres, leapfrog etc

[Katymac]

Like a log cabin in a field........for about 30 children

[Lio]

who's going to design it/make sure it won't fall down or leak/make sure it meets building regs, has the right no. of toilets etc? do you know what the planning authority will think about it?

[Katymac]

The log cabin company build it to Building regualtions

The planning application I do with the plans from the log cabin company plus the measurements my dad (a structural engineer) makes and marks out the parking and outside areas.

Toilets are 1 to every 10 children
Floor ratios to children are within guidelines

Disabled access & toilet are covered along with staff toilet & staff room (small problem with where to put the log burner atm)

Oh hell do I have to have an architect - that's a fee I hadn't anticipated

[Lio]

No! Sounds as if you are doing fine, had no idea such log cabin people existed and sounds like you are going into it with your eyes wide open re legislation. I'm sure people like the log cabin co, your planning authority, Ofsted or whoever will talk to you (without any fee) if you do want to check anything - they must be used to giving the correct advice. I just sound curt when typing one-handed (baby now asleep, hoorah!). And I imagine the council will be delighted to have another nursery provider in the area, this is a growing market. I look forward to following your success, Katymac

Btw, I am guessing that you have already figured out that being green often costs more up front, but as you say, you are going to be looking for grants and I'm sure this is a good time to be doing it - the govt wants to be seen to be helping people like you. Perhaps the log cabin people could tell you about their other customers who have done a similar thing - it would be good to be forewarned about the costs they incurred that they hadn't anticipated.

[PretendFriend]

Low carbon buildings program from the dti - they do grants.

energy saving trust

solar trade association

greenenergy.org

another ecohouse (in the Peak District)

[Lio]

At the risk of raising more things that you've already thought of, have you checked with the Planners that they are OK with building in that area and are happy about the size/type of building you have in mind. Will it create extra traffic, during construction and when in use and do they mind? Is there any info they will want you to provide that you might not have thought of yet?

[Katymac]

The planning chap is going round (hopefully next week) to look at the site and see if it's suitable

Howeverthere is an existing building & there is an existing entrance from the road

Thanks for all the reading Pretendfriend

[Katymac]

Do you think solar hot water will provide enough hot water for children to spend all day wahing their hands

Will the water be too hot in the summer and need to be mixed with cold

What do you can those electric heater thingies you have in kitchens to heat hot water?

[Katymac]

Pretendfriend I LOVE you there is a grant for 50% of all "green" stuff (eh heating/hot water ect)

Oh WOW

I'm so excited

[Lio]

oh good, existing building and entrance sounds in your favour.

[Katymac]

It's a breeze blaok barn with an asbestos roof - so it shouldn't cost too much to take down (fingers crossed)

[Lio]

me again, did you see eco-house column in guardian weekend mag? if not i will tell you relevant bits.

lio