Since Neil and Susan started to discuss energy-efficient measures for their self-build house, the Centre for Alternative Technology (CAT) has received numerous enquires about the subject. CAT's Amanda Roll-Pickering explains how the centre, based in West Wales, helps the Neil and Susans of this world:

"Over the past three decades, CAT has gained an international reputation as a ground-breaking educational and research centre where people live and work with positive solutions to many of the world's environmental problems. Our mission is to inspire, inform and enable.

As a leading eco centre, CAT has to practice as well as preach the principles of sustainable development. Our buildings are as much working displays as the solar panels and wind turbines more commonly associated with our images. In designing new buildings we try to look at the overall environmental impact of our activities.

At our centre you can see buildings constructed from a range of environmentally-friendly materials. We have examples of traditional slate and timber-frame buildings, popular styles in surrounding Mid-Wales. We also have some rather more unusual constructions, including an innovative straw-bale theatre and Britain's 'greenest public building', our Autonomous Environmental Information Centre, whose walls are built from compressed earth and whose roof carries the UK's largest solar-water heating system.

Those who are inspired by our buildings can find out more by utilising our free information service. We offer information, advice and references on all aspects of sustainable technology, specialising in renewable energy, energy efficiency and environmental. We are especially eager to hear from budding self-builders.

CAT is also the leading place to study environmental building techniques. We have been running residential courses at the Centre for 23 years and have had particular success with our self-build courses. Many course participants have gone on to build their own environmentally-friendly dwellings.

CAT specialises in a combination of classroom teaching and practical, hands-on demonstration. Course participants will visit local eco-friendly building projects and get valuable advice from CAT's in-house team of expert builders, biologists and engineers.

This year our course programme includes two Self-Build courses:

May 7-9 Introduction to Timber Frame Self Build
October 11-15 Timber Frame Self Build"

Other self-build resources

Walter Segal Self Build Trust
Build It
Self Build and Design

Image: Centre for Alternative Technology

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