I've just learned a new term "Passive Housing".

Maybe one day all new houses will be constructed this way.

You want to check out Grand Designs. Some on there are great, some a bit hippy but all have their place.

Heat storage and ground pumps (reverse fridge) are good. Plus solar heating and PV and more insulation!

My other half and me have been working on a plan to do much of this.

We want to move into a well insulated eco home with a south facing roof covered in solar panels, maybe have a small wind turbine fitted, have a power wall battery installed and a heat pump for heating. 

Run the house and car from the generated power and if possible go off grid all together.

Grow much of our food in the garden and retire happy, we plan to retire ASAP. 

It's a dream we both have but I think the technology is all there now, it is doable for sure 

Is your back up to farming? Mine give's me gyp just doing the gardening.

Wind is fine but research before jumping in. As far as I know, you can't sell back wind generated but you can PV. Though things may have changed.

There is a lot you can do with your existing property. Even growing veg etc. Even if we don't save much, it's fun and gives you a warm hug to eat your own produce. Gets you out in the fresh air too.

Thing is we don't want to waste time and money here at our bungalow, we both want to move away from the town and into some fresh air and do it while we are both still able to, been looking at properties for a good while now and done a lot of research on the tech needed.

I'm serious when I say we want to retire, I've seen what it's like getting old, not good, if we can do this while still being relatively young, become close to self sufficient, get away from the insane rat race, to us it would be the perfect life.

Quote from: Snowcrash on March 03, 2021, 21:20:43 PM
Is your back up to farming?

Gets you out in the fresh air too.

We have been walking 4 to 5 miles a day for a good few years now and getting fitter for it, should be ok but yes, we would need to work up slowly, get the house fitted out first with all the tech and then move on to the growing of veg but the house comes first. 

Hey! I know it's a dream but that's what dreams are for 

Dreams are great and don't ever let anyone take them away from you.

One caveat...as a Latino friend of mine once told me, "A monkey doesn't let go of the vine until he has a firm grasp of another one."

Make sure you are financially ready to "retire" to this land of acreage and high hopes and dreams.

There is nothing more discouraging than taking that leap only to find out that unforeseen expenses are now going to impose an even greater hardship than you had suffered before!

All in good time. Those who fail to plan...plan to fail.

I wish you guys the very best but make haste slowly (don't miss any steps...or any vines).

Art, wise words indeed 

This plan (dream) isn't going to happen in the very near future and it's got to be done right.

Old English proverb:

QuoteMighty oaks from little acorns grow