Jim Pritchard - Building Renewable

A stylish straw bale living room. There is a long, narrow window high up on the far wall and a wood burning stove set in a fireplace with rounded plaster corners. The room is furnished with a blue corner sofa and wood coffee table. The ceiling has wood panelling and a woven bamboo light shade. There is a TV in the corner of the room and the space is open plan, with another room visible to the right. Beautiful wooden posts and beams can also be seen with prominent grain. Across the bottom are the words "Straw Bale House Interiors Awesome Straw Bale Decor Tips."

Straw Bale House Interiors – Awesome Straw Bale Decor Tips

ByJim Pritchard February 21, 2023July 3, 2024

Straw bale house interiors can be finished in several ways. But which is best? We check out the top finishes and sprinkle in some decor tips!

An image of sheep's wool insulation placed between wooden joists in an attic. There is in icon representing water damage with three water drops in the middle of the picture and the words "Sheep's Wool Insulation and Water Damage" across the top.

Sheep’s Wool Insulation and Water Damage: Key Facts To Know

ByJim Pritchard February 20, 2023September 22, 2024

The issue of sheep’s wool insulation and water damage is something many people ask about because wool is a natural material and they think this makes it more susceptible. In this article, we tackle the common questions and bust a few myths in the process.

An image of a part-built straw bale house. The load bearing frame is visible and the bales of straw are stacked inside under cover thanks to the roof already being in place. The words "Straw Bale Construction Types - Pros and Cons of Each Type" are written across the bottom of the image.

Straw Bale Insulation Sustainable Architecture

Straw Bale Construction Types – Pros and Cons of Each Type

ByJim Pritchard February 19, 2023September 13, 2024

There are several straw bale construction types in use today. This article presents the most common approaches and describes the pros and cons of each.

A screenshot from YouTube of a couple building an underground root cellar from earthbags. Across the bottom of the image are the words "Can You Build an Earthbag Home Underground?"

Earthbag Sustainable Architecture

Can You Build an Earthbag Home Underground? (4 Examples)

ByJim Pritchard February 18, 2023June 23, 2024

Can you build an earthbag home underground? In this article, we answer that question, and give examples to illustrate the reasons for our conclusions about this interesting combination of building techniques.

Wool Insulation

Fire Risks and Sheep’s Wool Insulation (Critical Points)

ByJim Pritchard February 17, 2023September 19, 2024

Insulation is an essential part of any building, helping to maintain comfortable temperatures within the home. Questions are often asked about fire risks and sheep’s wool insulation. We answer them in this article.

Wool Healthy Buildings Insulation

Birds and the Bees: How Animals Like Your Wool Insulation

ByJim Pritchard February 16, 2023July 16, 2024

Wool insulation is a great way to make your home more thermally efficient. However, some people worry that using a natural material like wool might attract pests and vermin. Let’s find out if that’s really true.

An image shown blown-in and batt insulation being installed. The batts are placed between the wall studs and are held there by friction. The blown-in insulation comprises small particles that are blown into the space between the wall studs, starting from the top. The particles are held in place by a mesh that is stapled into position across the wall studs. The background to the image is a closeup of a sheeps fleece and across the top of the image are the words "6 Great Companies That Make Sheep's Wool Insulation."

Wool Insulation

6 Great Companies That Make Sheep’s Wool Insulation

ByJim Pritchard February 15, 2023March 19, 2025

Sheeps’s wool has excellent thermal properties and is growing in popularity as a building material, but are there many companies that make sheep’s wool insulation? We answer this question and more.

Wool Insulation

Havelock Insulation: A Review of Their Wool Insulation

ByJim Pritchard February 14, 2023March 13, 2025

Havelock Wool is the company behind the Havelock Insulation brand, but what is wool insulation and why should you use it? We investigate this and other questions.

A construction worker wearing a checked shirt, protective glasses and glove, and a yellow hardhat. He also has a toolbelt around his waist and is holding a spirit level. The background is a bamboo wall and there is a twig of bamboo in the bottom left corner and a house icon in the bottom right. Across the top are the words "6 Bamboo Homebuilders To Check Out For Your Next Build"

Bamboo Sustainable Architecture

6 Bamboo Homebuilders To Check Out For Your Next Build

ByJim Pritchard February 13, 2023October 12, 2024

Our list of bamboo homebuilders helps you find the right company for designing and building your bamboo home. We list six of the best companies around today. Click here to learn more.

A row of bamboo huts on stilts with pent roofs and a covered decking area that overlook a spectacular view of a misty plan below. Across the top are the words "The 11 Coolest Bamboo Houses In The World (to Visit)."

Bamboo Sustainable Architecture

The 11 Coolest Bamboo Houses In The World (to Visit)

ByJim Pritchard February 11, 2023June 30, 2024

Do you want to visit some of the coolest bamboo houses in the world? Bamboo houses are fantastic places to stay and are some of the most eco-friendly buildings on the planet. Check out our list of the 11 coolest bamboo houses!