Sustainability
If you're a homeowner or a residential landlord, there are many ways to make your home or property more green, efficient and eco-friendly. We want to offer you all the information you need to make your home more sustainable.
What is a sustainable home?
As energy used in homes often comes from the burning of fossil fuels, a sustainable home significantly reduces the use of these by focusing on ways to make a more positive impact on the environment.
Imagine your home was equipped with the most energy efficient improvements, to the point where you didn't grumble every time a bill hit your door mat. You may have already considered new ways to keep your home warm, or have created living spaces that were environmentally friendly. It is never too late to make small changes to your home, no matter its age or build.
What is wrong with the current efficiency of the housing sector?
In 2020, the housing sector was sadly responsible for emitting 67.7 metric tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent. This is a 9% rise since 2014 and accounts for over a fifth of all UK CO2 emissions.
A huge reason for these large numbers is the amount of energy people use in their homes. We live in a country where the vast majority of the UK's existing housing stock was built long before environmental standards, and so by 2040, the Government predict the residential sector to be the largest consumer of energy.
Moving forward then, we must ensure that any future developments are up to green standards, and that our existing homes are cushioned with sustainable care – quite literally.
How do new homes offer more energy efficiency?
New homes are generally being built to be more energy efficient. Existing UK houses have an average EPC rating of D62, but the average rating for a new build is B84. This equates to a staggering 2.7 few tonnes of CO2 generated per house per year.
New builds come with a more satisfactory regulation on the amount of insulation and efficient heating systems. As a result, in the second quarter of 2021, 85% of new homes in England and Wales were EPC bands A or B.
How can I make my home more eco-friendly?
One thing we do at Sandersons is appreciate the value of a home that goes some way to protect the planet. Ideas may include, but are certainly not limited to:
- Solar panels – can aid in the lowering of your carbon footprint and protecting the environment
- Wall and loft insulation – Keeps the heat in and the cold out – saving you money
- Draught–proofing windows and doors – Seal unwanted draughts and stop your heat escaping
- Energy efficient boilers, such as combi boilers – these can save you between 20-35% annually on the cost of your gas bill.
- Install a smart meter – Encouraging awareness of the energy you use can cut your usage by up to 15%
- Switch to low energy bulbs – It makes sense to use 90% less electricity for ten times the amount of time
A great way to see if you can make savings on your current home is to use the government's Energy Efficient Calculator. You'd be surprised!
We don't think it is ever too late to make smart changes to your home, after all, a little goes a very long way.
Our Land and New Homes team work with a wide variety of builders who are committed to building greener, more energy efficient homes. If you would like further information please contact us on 01622 577 577.
