IT would be fair to say that Tony Almond takes his work home with him.

For the past four years, the 49-year-old from Welwyn has run his own consultancy business, Planet Energy Solutions, advising and encouraging homeowners to install low carbon energy systems in their homes.

And he certainly practises what he preaches.

Tony and his wife Pat have spent thousands of pounds converting their house in Carleton Rise into a state-of-the-art eco home, and have entered two categories in this year’s Hertfordshire Green Awards.

Among the modifications made to the Almonds’ house are a �15,000 electricity generating system and a �5,000 hot water heating system, while Tony and Pat grow all their own fruit and veg in the garden.

They also keep bees, which produce around 100lbs of honey each year, as well as chickens, which provide eggs and also the manure that the Almonds use for compost.

“They say it’s difficult to be green; well it isn’t that difficult,” said Tony, a dad of two.

“You just have to give up a few things.

“You have to make a choices; do you go on a foreign holiday or do you stay at home and grow veg? We do go away for long weekends, we just don’t spend �5,000 on a holiday every year.”

“Anybody can do it – you just can’t do it and live the high life.

“It’s a long-term investment, but it’s time people started considering doing this.”

You can see the house for yourself throughout the Welwyn Festival week, as Tony and Pat will be holding open evenings every evening between 6.30pm and 9pm.

In addition, the couple have just been accepted as the 50th member of the Sustainable Energy Academy, and to celebrate they will be holding another open day at their home this Sunday.

Call Tony on 01438 712398 for more information.

n For more about the Hertfordshire Green Awards go to www.hertsgreenawards.co.uk