Thanks

The establishment of an eco-refurbished house as a centre of excellence in a sustainable building has been a dream for nearly 10 years, and now it is reality. It has involved a huge amount of work and not a little frustration.

We could not have done it without:

Heeley City Farm, which bought the former Dawsons' "Pikelet Bakery" - a piece of local history in itself, having baked pikelets and doughnuts for probably over 100 years.

Yorkshire Forward, the Regional Development Agency for Yorkshire and the Humber, which provided a large proportion of the capital funding.

Sheffield City Council, which sponsored the purchase and installation of the Ground Source Heat Pump which heats the Centre.

Yorkshire Water, which sponsored the purchase and installation of the rainwater harvesting unit which provides rainwater to flush the toilets and water the garden.

Keep Sheffield Warm, who insulated the cavity wall in the ground-floor extension.

A host of hardy volunteers, who did all the ripping-out of the old building, hacking off plaster, dropping ceilings, removing everything - and got very, very filthy and tired in the process. They then came back again when the builders had finished their works, and helped put everything back together! On top of all that they helped with the preliminary schedule of works, designed the web-site, produced the display material, ferried Nick to hospital when he broke his ankle, and fitted out the interior of the building. All he had to do was sit back and watch!

Some came individually, and some came in groups. Apologies to anyone we may leave out. Your contribution was still invaluable. Thanks to you all:

• Steve Beacon
• Giles Bennett
• Mark Boyles
• Jonathan Brown
• Steve Brown
• Dan Butlin
• Danny Challenger
• Peter Conn
• Pete Dyal
• Merrick French
• Ant Graham
• Martin Hall
• Ant Harman
• Jodie Harrison
• Peter Hughes
• Jo Ives
• Harry Marshall
• George Munson
• James Nutter
• Jake O'Melia
• Rosy O'Sullivan
• George Pethers
• Ceris Probert
• Philip Ridsdale
• Helen Sharma
• Sheffield University Conservation Volunteers
• Osama Sherif
• Mark Speight
• Jon Vardy
• Margaret Vesey
• Felicity Vinken

Allen Tod Architecture, who listened to our 'green' ideas and put them into a proper scheme.

Bernard Williams Associates (Quantity Surveyors)

Arup Sheffield (Structural engineers)

Managing CDM

Thom White & 'White Horse Green People' landscapes (0114 2500613)

T & C Williams (Builders) Ltd (0114 255 7387) who carried out the main building works to an incredibly tight timescale, with sympathy for our 'Green' aims and with good humour. They also met some of the cost of the Sheep's wool insulation.

Eco Heat Pumps, who provided the Ground Source Heat Pump at a discounted price.

Tuff Roof/Solatube, based on nearby Broadfield Road (0114 2556767), who donated the light-pipe installed in the Green Living Room.

Recovery Insulation, based in Sheffield, who provided the Innotherm recycled cotton insulation at a discount.

Second Nature, who provided the Thermafleece Sheep's wool insulation at a discount.

Rainharvesting Limited,who gave a discount on the rainwater harvesting unit, and their sister company The Green Shop, which gave discounts on the natural paints we used.

The Green Building Store,which offered discounts on Boron-based timber treatment and natural paints.

Century Plastics, (0114 242 2144) who provided the polycarbonate glazing for the Trombe Thermal Wall.

Natural Building Technology, who supplied wood-based under-floor insulation.

Graham Plumbers Merchants (0114 250 1122) who provided the hot water cylinder at cost.

John Beardmore at T4 Sustainability, who built the Domestic Energy Use model and provided much free advice and goodies.

Hebden Bridge Alternative Technology Centre who built the wind-power models and the 'Energy Bike'.

Mark Baker of the Green Business Network, who supplied an enormous quantity of reclaimed pallet timber for everything from stud walls to external walkways to most of the furniture!

Carnyx Renovations, who designed and built that furniture (Peter Conn - 0114 274 9431).

Energy Consultancy Services of Sheffield who did the SAP rating for the building (Paul Thompson - 0114 235 3833).

Sheffield Environmental and Horticultural Training (0114 2582075) who provided students to do external work as part of their NVQ training,

Solar Utilities Ltd of Rotherham, who will be installing the solar water-heating system.

Colleagues at Heeley City Farm and SYEN who endured a mountain of things including:

• Listening to Nick moaning for 3 years.
• Taking part in demolition works.
• Spending several days on a mini-digger.
• Putting up with losing a field for several months
• Giving Nick endless advice and support and occasionally shoulders to cry on.
• Ferrying him all over everywhere when he broke his ankle at the busiest time in his life!

Claire, without whose love, hard work and forebearance none of this would have been possible.

And the rest he's forgotten!