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Other methods of making homes sustainable

November 15, 2023

Insulating a house to reduce heat loss

When looking to make your home more sustainable, either from a ground up construction approach or making renovations on a current property there are many options for improving the sustainability and efficiency of your property.

Insulation is a huge factor in reducing heat loss and technology has moved on significantly in recent years. When building from ground up, look at constructing walls and roofing with adequate insulation. This helps to allow a property to breathe but also maintains the heat generated by heat sources. If working with an existing property, look to see where insulation could be added or improved.

Windows and Doors should be energy efficient to prohibit the loss of heat. Double or triple glazing should be considered to properly draught-proof a property. The federation of home builders talk about using a ‘Fabric first’ approach in construction looking at how to maximize the performance of the property through placement of windows for natural lighting, looking at materials used in building to ensure that the property is well insulated.

Rainwater harvesting is an option for those looking to make other savings. A rainwater harvesting system typically reduces mains water use by around 50%. Domestic rainwater harvesting systems work by thoroughly filtering collected rainwater before storing it below ground at a constant, cool, temperature, away from light. It can then be used for flushing toilets, washing machines and for outdoor irrigation. Our Preferred partner is ‘Rainwater harvesting’, and they can be found next to us on stand 144 at the NSBRC.

Image credit https://www.treehugger.com/beginners-guide-to-rainwater-harvesting-5089884

Solar electricity panels, also known as photovoltaics (PV), capture the sun’s energy and convert it into electricity that you can use in your home. By installing solar panels, you can generate your own renewable electricity.

Overall there are many options to consider when building a house or looking to make a property more sustainable and they should all be weighed up and considered when making financial choices. Investing at the start of a project can result in much lower costs in the long term to heat and maintain a property.