I've been fascinated by environmentally friendly living for a few years now. I'd love to make the house as eco-friendly as possible. From looking around the web, I've discovered that it's possible to use solar power and a wind turbine to generate all the electricity you'd need, and of course, we could get a water butt to conserve rainwater for feeding plants and flushing toilets and so-forth.
I used to have a link to a website which detailed all the steps you'd need to switch your electricity supply over from the National Grid to solar/wind power but it's gone missing. Basically the costs involved were astronomical. I think we worked out that it would take about 20 years for an autonomous system to start saving us money!
The one thing I think we could possibly do is get a tankless water boiler. This is basically a box on the wall which only heats the water as and when you need it, saving a load of space in the house and cutting down the cost of running a fuel-guzzling immersion heater. If the boiler ever breaks down and needs replacing, I might suggest it to the landlord - probably have to offer to pay for it, but it'd be worth it.
I've always said that if we ever win the Lottery, I'd get us an eco-friendly house built, or convert one. I'd love to live in a Roman Villa, or even a Hobbit Hole! I'd love to buy something like two acres of land and create an artificial hill with our comfy cosy hobbit hole running underneath it! I can't draw for the life of me, but one thing I've done from an early age is very roughly sketch my dream home. I once toyed with the idea of a house built into the side of a cliff - the very idea of having gigantic full length windows which looked directly out over the sea! The majesty! Oh just imagine the view!
Most of the houses I designed were underground, which is odd considering my adoration of natural light. When I lived in a flat in the City Centre, one of the first things I did (mainly thanks to being on the 6th floor and pretty much completely private) was take down all the window coverings, and the bedroom door, replacing the door with a long blanket and leaving the windows, which were satisfyingly large, naked.
The flat was east-facing, so only really got the evening light, but what light it got was excellent - and it was entrancing to watch a storm arriving. We once had a huge thunderstorm whil I was living there. I spent the whole storm standing mesmerised on the balcony, just revelling in the incredible light show!
The three years I spent there were my halcyon years. The summers were balmy, the winters were cosy, my life was ful of friends, pubs and clubs. I took my first solo holiday - to the Phoenix Festival in 1996 to see David Bowie, Skunk Anansie, Cypress Hill, and best of all, The Sex Pistols! I had everything I wanted and nothing I didn't. I didn't even get a fridge or a cooker until six months before I moved out. I covered the walls with posters or (in the bathroom) silly underwater-type doodles.
It was my batcheor pad and I miss it to this day. I went to see it demolished, which was spectacular and moving. If it wasn't for the fact of the vast dustcloud which enveloped us thirty seconds later, I may have shed a tear.
I miss those days, a simpler, freer life than the one I'm leading now. I suppose we all do at some point or other, we all look back at our formative years and reminisce about a time before kids, before responsibilities and duty tied us to a life we wouldn't have chosen otherwise.
One day I hope to get that freedom back. I just hope I'm not too old to enjoy it when it happens. Meanwhile, I'll just keep putting my two pounds a month on the Lottery and crossing my fingers.
