reduce your bills

How would you like to live in a house with no utility bills? Right about now that probably sounds good - especially given how volatile energy prices have become.

That's why homes that don't rely on the grid for their energy demands are becoming big business at the moment - and are a focus for housebuilders and architects alike.

While sustainable, green builds have long been the marketing tool of choice, in a recession we can see the idea of 'no-bills' living taking precedence. Fortunately for our ever-beleaguered planet, they are usually one and the same. Last year, housebuilder Ilke Homes announced that it was teaming up with Octopus Energy to build the UK's first homes that promise zero energy bills for their residents.

The modular housing company aims to do this by combining a well-insulated. structure with low-carbon heating systems, powered by solar panels. The fabric of the home will reduce the need for much heating in the first place, but when it is required, the likes of air-source heat pumps can be run by solar power, ensuring that neither gas nor electricity is required to fuel the home (as long as your solar array is designed to meet your home's needs).

However, it's this idea of reducing reliance on appliances that is particularly interesting. We're all well aware by now that, for those elements of our home where using appliances is largely unavoidable, we need to be making more energy-efficient decisions. LED lighting, for example, should be used throughout the home, while we should be choosing fridges with the best energy rating and have our washing machines set to low temperatures. But what if, through the design of your home, you could further reduce the need for energy-consuming appliances?

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