Greener houses, the environment, affordability, cost Savings.

Introduction, why are green homes being built.

In the new century Britain has been faced with rising populations, pollution and shortages of housing. This could not go on for much longer without the government intervening. A lot of the housing that is being built to counter shortages have been criticised for the poor effect they have on the environment. I read in a recent article on new builds and the problems that new buyers have after buying and reclaiming from builders. The other option is traditional housing that is over 100 years old. These houses look good and are of good structure however suffering in lack of efficiency.

I am an assistant at first associates.co.uk. Since I have started I have experienced surveys on Victorian, Georgian, and post war properties. The sorts of problems we find with thermal insulation can be to do with cold draughts and insulation in the roof. Insulation and lack of ventilation in roofs have been important things picked up by the chartered surveyor to write in our reports. This is a common defect.

Green houses next 10-15 years

In the next 10-15 years the U.K is set for an exciting time of new construction in house building. This will counter the problems of efficiency use and the effects houses have on the environment.

The government has said that homes should be 25% more efficient by 2010. By 2013 they will be 44% more efficient and by 2016 they aim to have them at 100%. The solution is that of Eco Houses. They are set to reduce carbon emissions of our homes and help the effect on our environment. They are set to push the boundaries on sustainability.

What do Eco Houses Look like?

Many eco houses are pre-fabricated. This means they are erected onsite. This is a bit similar to the furniture we buy at IKEA. We can expect to see a lot of housing being lowered to the ground on a crane. A recent lighthouse development of barn style houses is one form. The initial form of savings will be to the developers of the building. As they are starting from scratch parts can be ordered to exact size. Anything that is not used in construction can be recycled easily. This idea will help the creation of masses of houses on one site at a quick pace. The Greenwich peninsula is an illustration. King span office for example has a contingency plan in place to build 30,000 homes in the next few years. This is a construction building company which provides structural solutions such as access floors, insulation and ventilation. These are important elements in conserving energy.

King span offsite is one of the best performers in producing 100% more carbon free houses in a recent development they built the first commercial house to achieve a level 6 score. The government has a new rating system similar to the way we rate washing machines (A-G)! This is to assess how well the houses are being built to efficiency. Overall houses are given a superficial rating of up to 133 and eco are up to 119. The advantage of this is that houses over a rating of 6 will be exempt from stamp duty.

Eco houses rely on energy they produce themselves. For example they can use a mechanical heat recovery system. This is similar to a box in an attic which helps to such remove stale poor quality air out of the house and uses a pump to bring warm air back in. This is more efficient in that it recycles the existing air to create heat. Insulation and ventilation is the key in construction. The result is more control in virtually an airtight building.

Energy saving techniques.

I investigated a few other companies that are responsible for creating the new technologies that we need. They are helping new developers and builders construct new houses.

Spacover is a company that uses a complex system of pumps, processors and pipes in the ground to heat the rooms and provide water. These do rely on energy to drive the pumps but are 40% less energy using than conventional heating and water systems. Energain is a thermal mass panel with energy saving and temperature control properties. It installs on walls and ceilings coated panels that absorb heat and release it from the atmosphere it absorbs it from. Energain is helping us radically reduce our carbon foot print (energy per head). It even received a grant recently from the European commission. Eco Play U.K has helped recently helped produce a house which recycles water through collecting and cleaning bath water to use in the flushing of a toilet. An increasing number of new developments will use wireless heating to help measure energy and water usage, The system also helps turn lights and curtains off remotely again helping make life easier!l

As mentioned insulation will be a top issue for these houses, one such example is the Eco Lighthouse build. These are highly insulated and energy efficient using greener roof panels. Biomass boilers take energy from wood and a wind catcher for ventilation as an example. This is a unique form of barn style housing. The Greenwich peninsula is another example of a development using different kinds of roof panels.

Any potential hotspots to buy?

The first energy saving or solar house was built in bradville which is based in Milton Keynes and the energy foundation has its headquarters in the town. A house in Milton Keynes would cost as little as forty thousand in 2006. Areas such as these may rise in value if they maintain to build according to sustainability.

Any drawbacks of eco housing?

The problem with Eco houses is that the cost effectiveness will be passed onto customers in a premium. An Eco house may cost 25% more than an identical new build but have energy bills of 100 per year, Instead of say 800 per year! So even though they are more expensive, more will come into development and eventually the prices will drop. If you really care about the environment and your bills it looks like a worthwhile investment.

Prince Phillip recently visited a 7.5 Million Eco development in Huddersfield and was very pleased. The overall effect on the environment is definitely a good one. In the sacrifice of green belt and Brownfield sites it looks like a good form of compensation for our towns and cities that will loose their beautiful greenery.

There is a point to note however in observing new constructions. Like so many past developments in the U.K it is important developers plan accordingly. Such important factors would be if the properties are south facing in areas of exposed wind and poor Brownfield sites. A lot of these sites are contaminated and from past developments been of harm to the environment so it may be better not to build here. However there are little developers can do if they cannot gain green belt.

What if I can’t afford an Eco House?

Not to worry, but it would be advisable some argue to incorporate tighter ‘greener’ measures into our existing living instead. Alistair bar of capital for homes is starting to use such greener systems. For example adapting the windows to double glazed argon filled panes, fitting new condensing boilers and insulation in the roof. Recently I called my local council for a test on the insulation in my roof. They called in some contractors who recommended I increase the insulation of my room by greater thickness. This would help achieve less heat loss. He also carried out a thickness test in the cavity wall to see if any insulation would be useful there. In light of the future energy demands of the HIPS packs this is a good tip.

Other measures to enforce in your homes to make them greener could include the following:

1. Turn down the thermostat by one degree.
2. Use low consumption A++ rated appliances and use an area in the house to dry clothes rather than a tumble dryer.
3. Reduce artificial light in rooms by having living rooms on higher floors to increase light entering.
4. Install metres in the house to measure how much energy you are using
5. Enquire with local council on insulation within the cavity walls and in the roof. For a price on average of 200.00 you can reduce/ fuel bills by 120.00. Grants may be available from the local council.
6. Install a new boiler which will give out fewer damaging gasses and cut bills considerably.
7. Use lower energy light bulbs that use 80% less electricity.
8. Turning off appliances will mean they use less electricity in the house.
9. Installing solar panels in houses. Some Houses like the old Victorian ones cannot have this as planning may not be allowed.

These cost on average 8000.00 however you can claim grants of up to 50% from the government. Whatever happens we need to move with the times otherwise we may be excluding ourselves out of the greener market and therefore pricing ourselves out of an up and coming market.

The Daily Mail.

RICS Watts Pocket Handbook.

The Times.