Eco Homes
What exactly is an Eco home?
Reduce Energy Use and Save Money
Done properly, not only are there huge running cost savings to be made from an Eco build, but also an element of future proofing when it comes to current and proposed government regulations and the future resale potential when you come to sell. For many though, providing a family-safe, non-toxic home and reducing the environmental impact while still enjoying the comforts of modern living remains the main motivation. In selecting an Eco home, many aspects have to be considered: The location and type of the materials, (including where they come from and how they were transported), lighting, appliances, energy, insulation and the conservation of water.
The main priority of an Eco Home is designing it to reduce energy use and therefore production of CO2 (the ‘greenhouse gas’ carbon dioxide which in excess is blamed for climate change), says Chris Herring, national chair of the Association for Environment Conscious Building. Conserving water comes a close second. Some homes include all these aspects; others have selected elements or a mix of several.
Questions and Answers about Eco-friendly homes.
What is an Eco or environmentally friendly home?
Environmentally friendly homes have some features in common, they could include for instance:
- Higher than normal levels of insulation.
- Natural materials used in the building, e.g., timber framed, wool insulation, straw bale walls, organic paints.
- Solar thermal hot water heating systems on the roof.
- Photovoltaic panels on the roof for generating electricity.
- Wood fired central heating systems.
- Rainwater harvesting for flushing the WC.
- Greywater collection (from sinks and bath) for watering the garden.
- Composting toilet.
- Large amounts of glazing to allow lots of daylight.
- Heat recovery systems for space heating.
- Passive solar orientation - where the house benefits from a southerly orientation, gaining free light and heat, this is normally allied to larger amounts of glazing facing south and smaller amounts to the north elevations.
Why are Eco Homes better than conventional ones?
Depending on the type of eco home they are cheaper to run; they should use less energy and therefore have lower carbon emissions; they should hold their values longer; they should outlast conventional homes; they are healthier to live in with more daylight and less off-gassing of chemicals in the building fabric, such as VOCs (volatile organic compounds) in paint, and formaldehyde in MDF (medium-density fibreboard), and better more controlled internal temperatures; they are less harmful to the environment.
Are Eco homes more expensive to buy?
Not necessarily. Some have been constructed for less than the cost of a conventional home, some for more, so in general the price should not be substantially different.
Do Eco homes hold their resale value?
Yes. The experiences of developers and homeowners suggest that they will.
What simple things can I do to make my current home more environmentally friendly?
- Switch to an energy supplier offering energy from renewable sources. Switching takes about five minutes, we recommend Good Energy as they supply 100% green energy and not a mixture as some companies do.
- Switch your light bulbs to low energy light bulbs.
- Ensure that your home is well insulated in the loft and via cavity wall insulation, for more information go to www.thinksulation.co.uk.
- Upgrade your appliances to those with an ‘A’ Rating.
- Install radiator reflector panels to minimise heat loss.
Eco-tourists also are an active target market to rent you home when you are not there.
Life International Homes & Investment has a selection of Eco Homes overseas that incorporate a variety of design features that meet international standards and provide many of benefits to you and the environment.