Whilst our homes are of course built with our health and comfort in mind, environmentally friendly housing also looks at the bigger picture of how that home impacts on its environment. This does not mean that the home has to be any less comfortable or suited to modern life, but environmentally friendly housing takes into consideration what effect the building has on the environment and seeks to reduce any negative impacts.
In reality environmentally friendly housing is not an official phrase with an exact definition, but the EcoHomes certification from the Building Research Establishment seeks to define homes which can be considered ‘kind’ to the environment. The EcoHomes assessment rates the environmental qualities of new and renovated dwellings in Scotland , and has three stages for building developers. It applies only to renovated properties in other parts of the UK (although the new BREEAM Domestic Refurbishment standard comes into effect during 2012) with the Code for Sustainable Homes applying in the case of new homes. In the first instance they consider the building specification followed by the energy and water efficiency of the homes. The final stage takes into account issues such as the site’s ecological value and transport. For more information on the EcoHomes assessment of environmentally friendly housing visit their website www.breeam.org/ecohomes.html
If you are looking into environmentally friendly housing in terms of your own home, consider the following ways of making your home more eco-friendly.
If you are building your own home think about whether you could incorporate natural materials such as a timber frame or wool insulation and try to capture as much natural light and heat as possible with additional glazing in a southerly direction.
Grants are available for many other energy efficiency and renewable energy measures. Insulation is one such area which is key in making your home more energy efficient. Why not complete a free survey below to see if you are eligible for a grant.
