John Butler
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jbsustbuild.bsky.social
John Butler
@jbsustbuild.bsky.social
Sustainable Building Consultancy.

Geek for Hire. Passivhaus, Low-carbon building & retrofit. Late diagnosed autistic. He/him.

For the music/performance version of me go to @the-woodlouse.bsky.social

https://www.sustainablebuildconsultancy.com
Pinned
Heads-up that I've changed my bluesky handle to @jbsustbuild.bsky.social from @thewoodlouse.bsky.social to avoid confusion with my creative alter ego (@the-woodlouse.bsky.social). It's always possible that this will make things worse, but at least I've tried!
I’ve very much neglected this account. General life pondering and rubbish-talking now happen on my other account. Not sure how many of the Passivhaus/low-carbon/low-impact construction people are still active on here, but just in case: Hello! [waves].
October 24, 2025 at 9:21 AM
Reposted by John Butler
The UK still needs HS2, delivered in full. There's no viable alternative.

Me, from years back, making this point:
July 15, 2025 at 9:03 AM
For better or worse I've shared this from @thedailytism.com on my LinkedIn so I might as well share it here too. I am a sensible professional consultant. I'm also a creator of darkly funny musical shows about zombies (@the-woodlouse.bsky.social ). Both are true! thedailytism.com/advertorial-...
Advertorial: Whaaat? This cishet autistic white dude with beard actually has Edinburgh show worth seeing
A cisgender, heterosexual autistic white guy with a beard has wowed commentators by having an Edinburgh Fringe show that people actually want to go and see on purpose, it has been claimed.  Do Zombies...
thedailytism.com
July 8, 2025 at 2:54 PM
It's national Get That Slightly Squeaky Fan Out of the Loft Day for those of use that don't live in a house where overheating risk was properly considered. It's already 24° in my office but the air movement from the fan helps it feel more comfortable, squeak not withstanding.
June 30, 2025 at 9:55 AM
Reposted by John Butler
This episode is amazing. If you want to know what it’s actually like being autistic (as opposed to the stereotypes) it’s a must-listen. I’m autistic & this episode is just about the most validating thing I’ve listened too, ever.

Also, effing funny. Also the best (wholly justified) righteous rants.
Have you caught up with the latest episode of Autistic Women Oversharing? It’s us vs the AQ test and BOY do we have some feelings!

Play along at home!

linktr.ee/thedailytism
June 7, 2025 at 6:02 PM
This!
I wish the UK gov would focus on tangible improvement of public services and people's lives instead of blaming immigrants.

Where is the positive vision for this country?
a man in a suit is smoking a cigarette and holding a jacket .
Alt: a man in a suit is smoking a cigarette and holding a jacket .
media.tenor.com
May 12, 2025 at 8:09 PM
Migrants have not done “incalculable damage to our society”. People scapegoating, othering, and encouraging hatred of migrants (and others) *have* done that.
May 12, 2025 at 5:04 PM
Reposted by John Butler
UK MPs:

1. The Supreme Court ruling is not "the law", nor has it changed existing legislation.

2. The EHRC's interim update is also not "the law". It isn't even "guidance".

3. The upcoming EHRC guidance, likewise, is not "the law". Again, the legislation hasn't changed.

1/
May 1, 2025 at 12:09 PM
Reposted by John Butler
Love this chart
This chart is internet-famous since Steve Jobs allegedly looooooved it. It shows how much energy (measured in calories) is needed to move objects by weight. A human on a bicycle is outrageously energy efficient. Cycling is the king of transportation!
April 28, 2025 at 1:23 PM
Good things:
1. Finally able to concentrate on work again enough to make progress through the first of several late reports
2. Coffee break in the sun outside my back door, staring at the sky
3. See my first swift of the year gliding about above
4. See a Kite (the bird variety) drifting about above
April 28, 2025 at 1:25 PM
Workspace officially decommissioned until after house move next week! Hopefully up and running again with minimal delay. Brace, brace.
April 4, 2025 at 3:18 PM
Reposted by John Butler
This analogy definitely works if your kid has a disability or health condition that means they can’t get a Saturday job and if they don’t get a Saturday job, you let your kid starve to death
Jeez. Treasury Secretary Darren Jones compares Labour's welfare cuts to cutting his kids' pocket money when explaining the Government's impact assessment

"I'm going to cut your pocket money by £10 a week but you have to go and get a Saturday job"
March 27, 2025 at 8:55 AM
The recording of my recent webinar is now up. It's a an overview of some key retrofit physics and what that means practically onsite for installers and for successful low energy retrofit.

youtu.be/ca1rPFt51a4?...
Dorset Retrofit Reimagined: Building Skills for a Retrofit Future - Webinar 2
YouTube video by Dorset CAN
youtu.be
March 26, 2025 at 10:12 AM
SBUK’s latest webinar, this lunchtime
🚨 Today – 1300 (GMT)

Timber Framing for Straw Bale Construction 🪵📐🏗️

Designing timber frames for straw bale buildings is a skill - Hawkland brings real-world experience to the table.

🎟️ Register here: bit.ly/4hJkGr2
#strawbuilding #timberframing #timber #naturalbuilding #biobasedmaterials
March 25, 2025 at 9:23 AM
Heads-up that I've changed my bluesky handle to @jbsustbuild.bsky.social from @thewoodlouse.bsky.social to avoid confusion with my creative alter ego (@the-woodlouse.bsky.social). It's always possible that this will make things worse, but at least I've tried!
March 24, 2025 at 2:13 PM
Potentially combinations of them all, depending on the day.
What's your early Spring look?

1. pollen zombie
2. pale sea witch
3. frazzled garden gnome
4. feral forest Muppet
March 24, 2025 at 1:59 PM
Watching a very depressing but incredibly useful smoke test video of a post retrofit house. Lots of leakage at floor to wall junction (suspect leakage through floor, and wall not properly sealed to floor), and a fair bit around windows (both through window seals, and join of window to building).
March 18, 2025 at 11:38 AM
Outstanding work here from @thedailytism.bsky.social
“You just seem kind of quirky, you know? Different. Sweet. I wouldn’t say autistic, though.” Harrington continued. “Is it me, or is she getting progressively more purple? And why are her fists clenched?”
You don’t look autistic! Woman looking increasingly pissed off now
An autistic woman who was told that she “doesn’t look autistic” by a man she met eight minutes ago is looking more and more furious by the minute, it has been rumoured.   Emma Bernard, 27, who endured...
thedailytism.com
March 13, 2025 at 10:21 AM
Reposted by John Butler
EPDs & straw 🌾 what do they tell us about embodied carbon? 🌍

Watch our latest webinar with @thewoodlouse.bsky.social
🎥 ➡️ youtu.be/rCIBXu-LKaQ

#strawconstruction #embodiedcarbon #epds #sustainablebuilding #biogeniccarbon
February 20, 2025 at 12:54 PM
Reposted by John Butler
Timber framing or load-bearing straw bale?

🌿🏗️ 25th March, 1pm - 2pm, Hawkland will explore their approach to timber framing for straw bale builds, using their latest project as a case study.

🎟️ Register: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/timber-fra...

#strawbalebuilding #timberframing #naturalbuilding
Timber Framing for Straw Bale Construction with Chris Hawker and Ben Nother
Timber framing for straw bale with Chris Hawker & Ben Nother. Case study, best practices & Q&A.
www.eventbrite.co.uk
March 11, 2025 at 4:34 PM
Latest ‘everything in life can be related back to something Douglas Adams wrote’ moment: managed to include in a talk about retrofit, carbon emissions, and building physics, a reference to Dirk Gently, the importance of a holistic approach and the interconnectedness of all things.
February 27, 2025 at 8:41 PM
Reposted by John Butler
Radio 4 continuity announcer waiting just long enough after the 6 O’clock news failed to appear to make me start to wonder whether the shit had finally *really* hit the fan, apocalypse wise
February 24, 2025 at 6:05 PM
A quick overview of EPDs (Environmental Product Declarations) & a look at what the UK Straw EPD says about the excellent environmental credentials of straw as a building material.

Also covers how biogenic (plant-based) carbon storage *should* be accounted for and a brief look at straw availability
EPDs & straw 🌾 what do they tell us about embodied carbon? 🌍

Watch our latest webinar with @thewoodlouse.bsky.social
🎥 ➡️ youtu.be/rCIBXu-LKaQ

#strawconstruction #embodiedcarbon #epds #sustainablebuilding #biogeniccarbon
February 20, 2025 at 2:24 PM
Imminent! I’ll give a broad overview of how to read EPDs, what goes into making them, and then delve into the low environmental impact of straw
SBUK February Webinar: EPDs & Straw Construction with John Butler.

Wednesday 12th Feb, 1pm GMT.

Learn how straw stacks up! 🌾🌍

Register now! 🔗 www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/sbuk-webin...

#EPD #strawbuilding
February 12, 2025 at 12:06 PM