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I made it onto the Built List
There are awards and then there are awards. This one took me completely by surprise and, to be honest, I think it’s only just sinking in. The Built List has been put together by LMC, a PR agency specifically for the Built environment: ‘The Built List 2026 spotlights 100 of these influential individuals. They are the change makers, innovators, thought leaders, campaigners and advocates who are passionate about addressing the industry’s current challenges and priorities.’

Judith Leary-Joyce
11 hours ago3 min read


Do heat pump work? It’s all in the installation
We’ve had our heat pump for four years. It’s worked fine and we’ve been saving 75% of our energy usage – so nothing to complain about there. As far we knew, all was as it should be. Sure, there were cool patches in the day, but it was so much better than our house had been for the past 43 years, who were we to complain? We knew next to nothing about heat pumps, so assumed this was to be expected. We didn’t know what we didn’t know and we had no idea of the questions to ask.

Judith Leary-Joyce
Apr 244 min read


Would you go for solar and EV if it meant no more big fuel bills?
Fed up of prices rising at the petrol pump? Then consider an EV and solar and let the stress melt away.

Judith Leary-Joyce
Mar 253 min read


Mouldy house for the foreseeable or dusty, messy house now?
Would you rather live with mould than bear the mess of renovation? There are pro's and con's to both, find out more here

Judith Leary-Joyce
Mar 233 min read


Can I trust a builders quote?
Do your homework before accepting a quote from any builder. Study the quote carefully - the fewer surprises the better

Judith Leary-Joyce
Mar 213 min read


Condensation is telling you something – you just need to listen
Condensation and mould is a big problem in many homes. Keeping the air moving is one of the main ways to reduce it and live more comfortably. Find out how to do this, both as a tenant and a homeowner.

Judith Leary-Joyce
Mar 184 min read


I'm learning about heat pumps the hard way - now you don't have to.
Heat pump installation is one of the main reasons they don't work. First step - getting the heat calculation correct. Find out what happened to us, so you can learn from our mistakes.

Judith Leary-Joyce
Feb 154 min read


Insulation can be a poison chalice – if you leave it to the builder
Not all insulation is the same. Builders will use synthetic materials that will keep you warm, but not cool. Natural materials will do both.

Judith Leary-Joyce
Jan 252 min read


Thinking about a heat pump? You need to get out of the way!
Thinking of having a heat pump? Then you need to learn how to use it. Homeowners can be part of the problem if heat pumps don't work well enough.

Judith Leary-Joyce
Jan 123 min read


Is renovation always gut wrenching?
It’s tempting to be put off by the horror stories that appear on social media. Four years in, no loo, freezing cold and still finding rot and damp. You know the sort of thing. Fascinating to watch, but stops you ever biting the bullet yourself. But it doesn’t have to be that way. It is possible to take it one step at a time to suit your appetite for chaos and your budget. We completed a deep retrofit - finally I’ve seen both sides of the story. We did a combination – biti

Judith Leary-Joyce
Jan 13 min read


The joy of Panto - what better way to finish off the year!
Never been to a Panto? It's quintessentially British. Silly in the extreme and great fun. So find yourself a Brit and get them to take you in 2026

Judith Leary-Joyce
Dec 29, 20253 min read


How do I know my house will be warm with a heat pump?
How to know my house will be warm with a heat pump? Make sure you find an experienced, confident installer

Judith Leary-Joyce
Dec 16, 20253 min read
NEW BOOK
What the Builder Won't Tell You
Are you ready to transform your home into an energy-efficient, healthy, and comfortable sanctuary—but unsure who to trust or where to start? Discover the insider knowledge that builders rarely share in this comprehensive guide to home retrofit and energy efficiency.
Buy the book from Amazon or any good bookshop.




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