About Green Where It Suits

Real-world experience from a Portsmouth homeowner who's invested over £13,000 in energy efficiency upgrades and tracked the results for 5+ years.

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Who I Am

I'm Daniel Wake, a homeowner in the Portsmouth area of the UK. I live with my family in a 4-bed detached house built during the copper shortage era, and over the past several years, I've transformed it into a significantly more energy-efficient home through a series of carefully researched and executed projects.

I'm not a heating engineer, electrician, or professional tradesperson—I'm a homeowner who researches extensively, knows my limits, and tackles projects I'm confident I can complete safely and effectively. For everything else, I work collaboratively with skilled professionals.

My Approach to DIY Projects

Before attempting any project, I spend significant time on YouTube learning from experts and understanding the proper techniques, safety requirements, and potential pitfalls. I only take on tasks where I feel genuinely competent after this research phase.

This means some projects I complete entirely myself (like loft insulation or draught-proofing), while others involve collaboration with tradespeople where I handle aspects I'm confident with and leave the technical or regulated work to qualified professionals. For example, during our central heating replacement, I hung all 10 radiators myself after a plumber taught me the technique, but all gas work and system commissioning was handled by Gas Safe registered professionals.

Track Record: £13,000+ Invested, 45% Energy Reduction

Since 2020, I've systematically upgraded our home's energy efficiency, investing £13,149 in materials, professional services, and equipment across multiple projects:

Major Projects Timeline

  • 2020: Loft Insulation (£598) - DIY upgrade from 50mm to 350mm, foundation for all future efficiency improvements
  • 2020-present: Rainwater Toilet System (£200+) - 5 years of operation, 26,000+ litres harvested, ongoing data tracking
  • 2021-2024: Complete Central Heating Replacement (£6,682)
    • Radiators: £682
    • Boiler (Vaillant Ecotech Plus 826): £3,475
    • Plumber labour: £1,530
    • Asbestos removal: £1,500
    • Gas valve and chemicals: £195
  • 2022-2024: Phased Window & Door Replacement (£7,164) - Strategic phasing across three years for manageable cash flow

Results That Matter

All these investments delivered measurable, real-world results tracked over multiple years:

  • 45.4% reduction in gas consumption (weather-normalized data)
  • From £1,166/year to £636/year in heating costs (based on Ofgem Oct-Dec 2025 price cap)
  • £530/year ongoing savings on energy bills
  • 26,000+ litres of water saved through rainwater harvesting
  • Humidity control mastered through combination of lüften technique and dehumidifier use

Why "Green Where It Suits"?

This isn't a site about being perfectly eco-friendly or following every green trend. It's about practical choices that make sense for real people with real budgets and real constraints.

Some of our projects save money directly (rainwater toilet, metered water supply, heat curve optimization). Others had longer payback periods but solved quality-of-life issues (double glazing eliminated draughts, dehumidifier stopped mould).

I believe in being honest about trade-offs. Lüften (strategic ventilation) reduces humidity for free but wastes heating energy—I explain both sides so you can decide if it suits your situation. Our kitchen got colder after installing an efficient boiler—I document why that's actually a sign the system is working properly, and share the simple workaround we use.

My Philosophy: Real Experience, Honest Data

Every article on this site is based on projects I've personally completed or products I've genuinely used for extended periods. You won't find:

  • Theoretical advice I haven't tested myself
  • Exaggerated claims or "revolutionary" products
  • Sanitized success stories that hide the failures and complications
  • Recommendations for products I haven't personally used

Instead, you'll get:

  • Real costs - exact figures for materials and labour, with timeline context showing how prices have changed
  • Real data - 54 months of gas consumption, weather-normalized analysis, measured flow rates, humidity readings
  • Real complications - asbestos discoveries, wet vac disasters, plumber disagreements, app issues
  • Real trade-offs - honest about what worked, what didn't, and what I'd do differently
  • Lessons learned - including the mistakes, so you can avoid them

UK-Focused Content

All content is written specifically for a UK audience:

  • UK spellings (colour, organisation, litre, metre)
  • UK products and suppliers
  • UK building regulations and standards
  • UK weather context (coastal Portsmouth climate)
  • UK energy tariffs and water rates
  • UK-specific challenges (Victorian/Edwardian housing stock, asbestos in older homes)

What You'll Find Here

The site covers three main types of content:

How-To Guides

Step-by-step processes for projects I've completed, with real costs, timeline, photos from the actual installation, and detailed lessons learned. Examples: rainwater toilet system, loft insulation, heat curve optimization.

Product Reviews

Honest assessments of products I've used for months or years, with specific performance data, real-world testing results, and clear recommendations about who should or shouldn't buy. Examples: Meaco Arête One dehumidifier (1+ year), SwitchBot Meter Plus (months of calibration testing), Vaillant Ecotech Plus 826 boiler (extensive use data).

Techniques & Methods

Practical approaches to common problems, with explanations of the science, when methods work vs. when they don't, and free or low-cost solutions prioritized. Examples: lüften (strategic ventilation), radiator sizing for low flow temperatures, heat curve philosophy.

Transparency About Monetization

This site includes affiliate links for products I genuinely recommend based on personal use. I'm an Amazon Associate and earn from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you. I also include referral links for services like Octopus Energy where I've had positive experiences.

I only link to products I've actually bought and used. If I recommend a dehumidifier, it's because I own it and have tracked its performance. If I link to a water flow meter, it's the one installed in my rainwater system. This means you sometimes won't see links for every component—because I didn't buy them online or can't find the exact product anymore.

Why Trust This Site?

Because every claim is backed by evidence:

  • Photos from actual projects - not stock images, but real process photos showing the work being done
  • Tracked data over years - 54 months of gas consumption, 5 years of rainwater harvesting, months of humidity monitoring
  • Specific numbers - not "saves money" but "£75 saved over 5 years" with full methodology
  • Honest about failures - wet vac spraying black water on white walls, communication breakdowns with tradespeople, app issues causing heating problems
  • Context for decisions - why I chose one approach over another, including constraints (budget, time, family needs)

Property Context

Understanding my property helps contextualize the articles:

  • Property type: 4-bed detached house, UK coastal location
  • Building era: Built during copper shortage (compression fittings era)
  • Occupants: 4 people (humidity challenge context)
  • Typical indoor humidity: 70% RH without intervention → 55% RH with Meaco dehumidifier
  • Starting point (2020): Original windows (except bay), old central heating system, 50mm loft insulation
  • Current state: Modern double glazing throughout, complete new heating system, 350mm loft insulation, optimized heat curve

Get In Touch

I'm always happy to answer questions about the projects I've completed or discuss your own home improvement plans. You can reach me through:

If you find the content helpful, consider supporting the site on Ko-fi. Your support helps cover hosting costs and motivates me to keep creating detailed, honest content.

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