What is your opinion about sheep wool insulation?

My wife had always wanted to celebrate her 50th birthday in New York, but with Trump in power she cancelled the trip. I wonder how many other people are staying away from the USA? www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026...

In-person tickets are now sold out for our 2026 Healthy Buildings Conference - but virtual tickets are now available for the presentations in Sessions 1&2. Join us online on 26th February - 13:30 to 16:45. asbp.org.uk/healthybuild...

We have just discovered why we are off the internet (and will be for about a week). Thieves have stolen about a 1km of copper cable. Unbelievable. It does feel like the UK needs to get tougher on crime.

'#Trump will be gone in three years': Top Democrats try to reassure Europe. Personally I think he's not going to go quietly. It still amazes me that he got re-elected at all, particularly after he tried to manipulate the election result at the end of his last term. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Madness.

not me running around the living room screaming 'it's here! it's here!' can't wait to dive into my buddy @ecominimalnick.bsky.social's book congrats, nick!

England's planning system can seem confusing. It draws on national statutes, secondary regulations, local plans, neighbourhood plans, case law and appeal decisions. So what does this mean if you're seeking planning permission for a replacement dwelling? www.houseplanninghelp.com/396 #SelfBuild

NEW PODCAST: Mark Doodes from Mark Doodes Planning is my guest this week as we talk about getting planning approval for a replacement dwelling. www.houseplanninghelp.com/396 #DreamHome #SelfBuild

Who watched Guy Martin's show last night? There were lots of good sections. My favourite part was his experiment around #airtightness. What happens when you keep a cup of coffee insulated and airtight but forget about #ventilation and moisture management? Condensation. "Wet as an otter's pocket!"

I think we're all interested to see how this programme has come out! It's on tonight.

Last year I was lucky enough to do some filming with Hannah Dixon from Progress in Practice. And Ward Grove went on to win at the Exemplar Sustainable Buildings Awards. youtu.be/YKT6BpnGDN8?... Next week one of her projects will be on the telly! #Retrofit #EnergyEfficiency #HealthyHome

I don't know whether it's gradual policy changes made after Grenfell but is it becoming harder to use natural materials? Is Building Control putting up more barriers? Or is it harder to insure an ecological building? In my latest podcast I chat to Dr. James Glocking. www.houseplanninghelp.com/395

I'm looking to talk to people for a piece I'm writing about tiny homes. Would love to hear from you if you live in a tiny home, have designed or built one, love the idea of tiny homes or hate them. If you're interested respond to this or drop me a message! #journorequest #helpareporter #tinyhomes

I can't say I watch Channel 4 too much these days, but this is certainly in my diary. www.passivhaustrust.org.uk/news/detail/... #Retrofit #EnergyEfficiency #Housing

Anyone who has spent time perfecting an #airtightness layer may be wondering whether there's a quicker way? There is in the form of a water-based, atomised polymer which is delivered when the building is pressurised. But is it something that will come back to bite us? www.houseplanninghelp.com/394

Water damage - whether from burst pipes, roof leaks or flood ingress - is the most common home insurance claim. So does this all get more serious if our homes are built with natural materials? I chat to Dr James Glockling this week on the podcast. www.houseplanninghelp.com/395 #Housing #EcoHome

NEW PODCAST: How easy is it to insure a natural building? Dr. James Glockling is my guest. www.houseplanninghelp.com/395 #NaturalMaterials #Housing #Insurance

A coworker took this from her apartment. I haven't seen a crowd this size before. Maybe the first Women's March? But it was much much warmer that day. ICE OUT OF MINNESOTA!

It was great to see the Warm Homes plan go live in the last couple of days. Architect Maeli Baeli was one of the experts on the Retrofit System Reform Panel, and a couple of months ago I caught up with her. www.houseplanninghelp.com/392 #Retrofit #Renovation #HealthyHome

Looking to chat to homeowners today that had defective insulation installed under the botched Energy Company Obligation scheme. If this is you, or someone you know, get in touch (DM or email in bio). #journorequest

I would love to speak with parents who are going low-tech and not allowing their teens to have phones, social media, etc. How has it impacted your family, your kid, and yourself? #journorequest Also, do you have a landline?

Just watched Mark Carney's extraordinary speech at Davos. A brilliant response to the orange narcissist Epstien pal pedo. Truly worth a watch. www.youtube.com/watch?v=btqH...

I don't know about you folks, but as the world tips further into geopolitical chaos, violence and lawlessness, I'm finding it REAL hard to feel like work matters these days. This piece by @mashagessen.bsky.social is a clear-eyed no bullshit take on where we are and what we do. Gift link:

First new #Marketing #Passivhaus episode of the year, with Dr. Wolfgang Feist, founder of the @passivhausinstitut.bsky.social and co-originator of the #PassiveHouse standard. Listen to the full episode here => marketingpassivhaus.com/episodes/dr-...

Carney's speech is brilliant. Here is a transcript. I suspect we will be feeling some serious pain in Canada shortly from the reaction open.substack.com/pub/paulwell...

Has anyone tried this approach to air sealing? Or are there good reasons why you haven't? www.houseplanninghelp.com/hph394-could... My concerns are still with escaping microplastics and not having a specifically designed airtightness layer. #Airtightness #Passivhaus #SelfBuild

This should be really good 👇

Who's on a land search in 2026? If you are, then you might find some of these tips useful. www.houseplanninghelp.com/390 #SelfBuild #EcoHome #BuildingPlot

It’s time to seriously reduce or eliminate consumption of US goods/ investments/ services

Am I alone in being unhappy that @torontomet.bsky.social ties us to Google and even acknowledges that it is subject to US "freedom act" legislation in these crazy times? Isn't there a Canadian option?

I'm nearly 50 and I still seem to cut myself shaving every so often. [Sigh; and dabs himself with a piece of tissue.]

It's the old divide and conquer. This is the bit where we need to stick together or it all goes wrong. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article... P.S. Taking over a country is invading.

What are the pros and cons of embracing an automated air sealing approach to #airtightness? I explore this in my latest podcast with Hugh Franklin from Aeroseal UK. www.houseplanninghelp.com/hph394-could... #SelfBuild #Passivhaus #Housing

Look what's just arrived in the post today! I'm hoping to bring Jon and Nick onto the podcast soon.

Bob Prewett and Marion Baeli are top UK experts when it comes to #retrofit and so at the end of last year it was lovely to see what their own project was like. www.houseplanninghelp.com/392 #Renovation #EnergyEfficiency

I'm looking to speak to DIY / trades experts for part of an upcoming PR campaigns. E.g. plumbers, electricians, handyman. Will be fully referenced / credited. Get in touch - [email protected] #journorequest #prrequest

The #Passivhaus methodology works because it is a whole system approach. One aspect that can be challenging is #airtightness. Are there simpler ways of delivering airtightness, such as automated sealing, or should we be wary? www.houseplanninghelp.com/394 #PassiveHouse #EnergyEfficiency

What makes a building good? My good friend @ecominimalnick.bsky.social and Jon Broom have distilled decades of experience between them to write this book. Recommended for anyone interested in efficient, elegant sustainable design

George Monbiot wrote this about Johnson’s unsuccessful attempts to warp British democracy in 2021. But we are way, way past such a moment regarding the Trump Administration. #r4today #Fascism #autocracy @georgemonbiot.bsky.social

I can't believe I used to respect Elon Musk. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

If you're a low energy builder, what would you make of doing the bulk of your air sealing during a blower door test? This week on the podcast I'm finding out more about AeroBarrier. www.houseplanninghelp.com/394 #SelfBuild #Passivhaus #EcoHome #Housing

Help Amanda's Family after Arson Attack In Finglas Fire chuffed.org/project/help...

This is so heartbreaking, and at the same time Amanda Uwase's bravery is so inspiring. Was just reading a piece by @wilwheaton.net to #LookForTheHelpers. Hard to find hope for humanity in the face of such violence, but her courage helps keep hope alive ❤️ ht @saytheirnamesir.bsky.social #speirgorm

Ex-Minnesota Governor Jesse Ventura: “We’re a 3rd world country now. I know. I’ve been to ‘em. I spent 17 months in SE Asia while the draft dodger was playing golf… that’s what happens in a dictatorship. In comes the military. That’s what’s happening here.” 🇺🇸

www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2026/0... Broad daylight with witnesses and video from 3 angles.

If you're angry about the idea of paying for oil company opex in Venezuela to produce petrocaca that the market doesn't need and the climate cannot take, you're going to be furious about the amount you already pay to keep fossil fuel companies even viable www.theguardian.com/business/202...

Unhook ourselves from oil and gas and we unhook ourselves from dependency on dictators, autocrats and expansionist regimes all over the planet. Renewables and other low-carbon energy sources are not just good climate sense. They are also good political sense.

38 Degrees does spam you with a lot of emails when you're subscribed! However, this is so important. Trump is acting outside the law in Venezuela. Keir Starmer must speak up, not stay silent. Cowboy diplomacy puts us all at risk. ✍️ Sign the petition: 38d.gs/jqhz

I have been working through @parismarx.com ’s guide to getting off US tech, slowly because I am so deep into the Apple world, but today’s events just gave me a big kick in the butt to get it done. disconnect.blog/getting-off-...