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24 September 2014
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Planet Devon

Richard Crosby and a glass of well water
Richard with a glass of well water

Richard's green house

By Laura Joint
The Crosby family from Broadclyst in East Devon are doing their bit towards saving the environment - and are saving loads of money at the same time.

When Richard Crosby dug a well in his garden, most of his mates laughed at the idea.

But it's Richard and his family who are having the last laugh - they're saving around 拢1,500 a year thanks to their 'green' lifestyle.

Richard, his wife Anne, and their children Edward, 7, and 15-month-old Alexander, live in one of the greenest houses in Devon.

Richard Crosby
Richard outside his 'green' home

Richard built a water tank in the garden, which collects rain water. They also recycle the water they use, and Richard has installed a 'non return to sewer' meter. Rather than pump their used water down the sewers, they use it to water the garden.

Finally, in May 2006, Richard went one further and dug a well in his garden. The water from the well is filtered and used for everything except drinking.

So water from the well is used, then recycled for the garden. And that's not all.

Richard's 14-inch roof insulation and thatched roof means he can switch off the heating in January.

And his car runs on used sunflower oil.

"It's easy being green," said Richard, who has been a policemen for 22 years. "There are three golden rules: Don't do everything at all at once; fit it into your lifestyle; and don't spend a lot of money on it.

"We've been in this house since 2002, so this has taken five years or so. I've got young children, so I wanted to do something for the environment - something for their futures.

Richard looking down his well
Reflective: the well is Richard's biggest project

"We're saving water and energy. It then dawned on me that we were saving cash as well. The cash you save for each individual thing you do, you can pump into doing more eco stuff.

"There is an initial outlay - for the electric pump to water the garden, for example. That's 拢50 to 拢100. But afterwards, you're saving a lot of money every year. And you are doing your bit for the environment.

"We're not completely green here, but I am doing what I can to fit in with my lifestyle."

Digging the well was the most ambitious project: "Broadclyst is built on a prehistoric flood plain, so I knew there would be water down there. And I noticed other wells in the area.

"I just got a JCB and dug a hole and there was the water, about 10ft down. It's cold and sparkly. Why use drinking quality water for flushing, showering, and doing the washing? It's very wasteful.

"We've got 120cm of water in the well at the moment, so won't be running out this year because of all the rain we've had. The well cost 拢600, so you get money back very quickly."

Richard puts sunflower oil into the filter tank
Richard puts sunflower oil into the filter tank

On the other side of the house to the well, Richard has built a 'fuel station.' This is basically a tank, into which he pours gallons of used sunlower oil - which would otherwise have to be disposed of by his work canteen.

He pours the used oil into the tank, via a home-made filter made out of a cotton towel. This removes the bits of cooked food, so the oil comes out clean and ready to be pumped into his car.

A tax has to be paid to Inland Revenue, but the money saved by using sunflower oil pays for the car's running costs and two holidays a year.

"This is the way forward," said Richard. "If it's there, why not use it? If you've got water, use it. If you live in a windy area, why not use that to harness power? It's commone sense, really.

"I think we've just become very lazy in that it's very easy to get everything off the mains.

"The funny thing is that your house feels much more cosy as well, living like this."

Richard's next project is to get solar heating, but he's after your help with this: "If there's anyone out there who knows how to fit solar panels to a thatched roof, then I'd love to hear from them."

* Take a look at the photo gallery, linked from this page.

last updated: 23/04/07
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shaun thomas
Hi Richard, you will need a few lengths of flat bar(70mmx5mm)which you push through the thatch from the inside at a downward angle. Bolt the inside end to one of the beams. The outside piece is then an easy base to mount a bracket onto. You can do the same with the piping by using a piece of reinforcing bar to pierce a lead hole . Make sure you angle it at a descent downward angle.

alec
well done for being so green, i admire you

LOUIS
dit you find a way to install a solar heater on your thatch roof

Vera Reason
I use all my washing up water to put on the plants in the tubs in my garden, and am very careful to turn off all unwanted lights in my flat. I also use as many low wattage bulbs as possible. As I am a pensioner and now a widow, I try to use public transport whenever possible,saving petrol and also seeing other people who use the same buses as me. I recycle as much as I can, and try to encourage the other flat residents to do the same. It is not so hard for me to do these things as I was brought up during the war when nothing was wasted if it could be re-used.

Gill
Richard you are an inspiration. Now help please - have been looking at pv cells and wind turbines but all I have looked at seem very expensive - 拢6000 - 拢7000. I am struggling to find good independent advice. Does anyone know of a green energy guru who knows that not everyone has loads of money.

Ann Blackledge
Well done Richard, I have heard all about your inventions through my friend, your mother who in her own way walks every day to the shops, grows her own vegetables etc. and a conservationalist in her own right.

Simon Bates
What a star! Inspirational stuff! For myself, I cycle into work every day, a round trip of about 3 miles. Keeps me fit, costs me about 拢30 a year in bike maintenance, and is carbon neutral. Would like to see more people on their bikes!

Mark Hedge
We recently moved from Newton Abbot to Ohio and I built a new home which we power entirely with solar panels and use a windmill to pump all of our water from a deep well. We heat entirely with wood and have a tankless gas water heater.My current project is a wind powered generator to charge my battery when the sun is not shining. We have a septic system for sewage treatment and our only utility 'bill' is the gas for the stove and water-heater. It is the way forward...

John Dyer
Very interesting, I think Richard is lucky to be able to have a well, I am near the top of a hill so that is not likely to work for me. however I am planning to install a wind generator and solar hot water panels, plus 3 - 4 thousand litres of rain water collectors. Already completed full double Glazing, cavity wall insulation, wood burning stove, condensing boiler and an electrnic thermostat/timer, and replaced as many light bulbs with low energy ones, plus all new electrical goods are chosen for energy efficiency.

Angela McGahan
Richard is wonderful, I think I am in love.

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