Sustainable Homes Are Becoming More Popular

According to a building expert, sustainable homes are now becoming more and more popular among homeowners wishing to renovate their properties.

The director of building merchant Buildbase, John Drennan, said that making improvements to the eco friendly credentials of homes has now become far more popular than ever before.

He said that “Everyone, not just the professional contractor, but the very basic DIYer, is very interested.”

He added that people are interested in a wide range of measures, ranging from solar power to harvesting rainwater and more – whatever helps to reduce carbon footprints.

Installing eco friendly materials such as double glazing is also becoming more and more common in both new and older properties. Double glazing creates a layer of air between the window panes, which traps in heat and leaves homes naturally warmer. Not only do measures like this keep the home more comfortable, they also reduce the need to turn up the heating so high.

The comments from Mr Drennan have come just as the British Property Federation announced that it has joined a coalition that calls for VAT rates to be cut on housing improvements, to help stimulate business.

The coalition, called ‘Cut the VAT’, is asking for VAT to be dropped from 17.5 percent to only five percent. The argument is that this would further encourage people to take up eco friendly renovations, helping the government to meet its carbon emission reductions targets and also homeowners who can’t afford costly repairs.

Low Carbon Council Houses Announced in Swindon

Swindon has recently announced that work is to begin on its first new council house program in 25 years.

The development will consist of 13 two and three bedroom properties, which will include a focus on cutting down on carbon emissions and bringing residents energy efficiency properties.

The Homes and Communities Agency has provided a grant of £778,000 which will go towards the development and help the Swindon Borough Council get things going.

Councillor David Renard said that building these homes is an exciting development for the area, as well as for the tenants who will eventually live there. He stated that ‘Swindon is again leading the way by building these council houses to such a high environmentally friendly standard’ and that many more developments are planned.

The properties will make use of a number of measures to make them as eco friendly as possible. This includes eco friendly materials such as uPVC double glazing that helps to prevent as much heat escaping the home through the windows. On top of this, it is also planned for the properties to make use of photovoltaic panels that can generate electricity for the homes.

Solar panels are also going to be installed separately to pre-heat hot water. Hemcrete walls will be used as a way of absorbing carbon dioxide throughout the lifetime of each building. As a result, emissions will be reduced and energy bills will be far cheaper.

Sustainable Housing Project Announced for Camden

Camden Council has recently announced the shortlist of architects who will be competing for the position of designing sustainable housing for one of the estates in the borough.

The sustainable housing will be located at the Maiden Lane estate, following an investment of £500,000 in December 2009 that will help to get the work off to a great start.

Local Councillor, Chris Naylor, who is executive member for homes and housing strategy at Camden Council, called the project an ‘exciting opportunity’. He added that there is a real need for environmentally friendly homes in the area, especially when it comes to larger families.

Measures to be included in sustainable buildings are eco friendly construction techniques and insulation in walls and lofts. Double glazing is also an important way of keeping homes naturally warmer to reduce energy costs. This is extremely important as more and more people are now living in fuel poverty.

This announcement has followed the news that North London council will be creating a second ‘eco house’ with £150,000 of funding from the government.

The Green Building Press reported that the project is following from a recent success story, where retrofitting in homes successfully meant that carbon emissions were cut down by 65%.

This second eco friendly home, which is a Victorian terraced property built in the 1880s, could cut down on emissions by around 80 percent if it makes use of such techniques mentioned above, as well as renewable energy generators.

Energy Efficiency Being Discussed in Europe

Energy efficiency is set to be one of the main issues for European Sustainable Energy Week, which is running until 26th March.

In total, 28 countries from Europe are coming together for the event, which is promoting sustainable energy, through a series of nearly 90 events that will be held in Brussels.

The UK already prides itself on being one of the most active governments when it comes to energy efficiency. They recently introduced a new scheme that will help residential properties improve their eco friendly credentials through methods such as double glazing in windows, and insulation in lofts and cavity walls. They are also promoting further implementation of renewable energy strategies.

Guenther H Oettinger, the European Commissioner, says that ‘energy efficiency and renewable energy can be a powerful factor of economic transformation and contribute to a positive, smarter vision for the society of the future.’

He also added that the future of Europe as a continent depends on reducing carbon and employing more green measures.

In the UK, feed-in tariffs for clean energy systems will be starting out from 1st April 2010, and the use of technologies such as solar panels and wind turbines could even help homeowners to make money from the excess energy they produce.

Can Conservatories Help You to Save Money?

A recent report carried out by uSwitch.com has found that energy debt in the UK has recently hit £728 million, and that 5.5 households (21%) are now in debt to energy suppliers. On average, each household owes about £132. This is partly down to a long, cold winter, though it also appears that energy prices are on the up – making it more important to act now to help reduce energy costs.

You have probably heard of the standard measures of reducing the heating costs of your home: double glazing, cavity wall & loft insulation, replacing your boiler and so on. However, conservatories could also be a great way of saving energy if you also want to make a fantastic improvement to your home at the same time.

Conservatories make use of the sun’s natural heat to become warm spaces. This means you’ll have a sunny place to go that doesn’t require heating, even in the colder months. On top of this, you’ll also be adding an extra living space if you feel as though your house should be extended. Because of this, conservatories can help to increase the overall value of your home.

Conservatories come in a whole range of different styles to suit just about any home and any use. When combined with uPVC glass, they are extremely eco friendly and easy to maintain.

If you have been thinking about getting a conservatory for a while but have been unsure due to the costs, then now could be the time – not only will you be giving yourself extra space, and increasing the value of your home, but you’ll also have the opportunity to use the natural heat of the sun and save money on your heating.

New Energy Policy Unveiled By the Conservatives

The Conservatives have recently unveiled their plans to overhaul the current energy policies of the UK, if they take power at the next election. The plan includes 12 new steps that would be put into play, which include securing energy supplies and improving energy efficiency of buildings.

Leader of the party, David Cameron, said that the new policy is a ‘long-overdue reform of British energy policy’ that will help to minimise costs to consumers.

The plan includes a number of measures, such as micro-generation, waste heat capture, biomass and biogas, and combined heat and power. On top of this, there will also be a green investment bank that will include green bonds that support investment into low carbon and energy efficient technology. A new planning process would mean limits on carbon prices.

The policy also speaks about a ‘Green Deal’ which would help to improve energy efficiency in properties across the country. This would include measures such as double glazing to help make homes more energy efficient as well as to save homeowners money on energy bills. An energy internet would mean that homeowners could keep better track of what they are using.

The Combined Heat and Power Association have welcomed these plans, calling it ‘a progressive and pragmatic agenda’. The plans have also been praised by Friends of the Earth, after they have recently been pushing for a green investment bank.

Construction Industry Will Benefit from Low Carbon Transition, According to Report

The Low Carbon Construction Innovation and Growth Team (IGT) has recently issued a report that highlights the opportunities that will open to the construction industry as a result of the UK making a transition towards becoming a low carbon economy.

The IGT claim that there are four main areas opening up to the industry, as long as challenges and barriers to the opportunities are lifted effectively.

The government is currently promoting schemes that involve retrofitting of properties through energy efficient technology such as double glazing, that can cut down on heat lost through windows by half. On top of this, the government is also pushing renewable energy technology, such as solar panels, to cut down on emissions by 80 percent by 2050.

The opportunities for the construction industry, according to the IGT, are a ‘huge programme of work’ which could last for around 40 years. There is also the option to reform the way the industry works, to increase opportunities to export, and to get future generations more interested in working in the industry ‘with a noble cause’.

Paul Morrell, Chief construction advisor, said that ‘no one should underestimate the sheer scale of the opportunity the transition to a low carbon economy will offer the construction industry’. He added that it is one of the biggest changes that the industry has seen since the Victorian period.

This interim report from the IGT comes after London was recently declared to be a Low Carbon Economic Area. This will help to encourage growth in the construction sector as a way of meeting stricter requirements for energy efficient properties.

Expert Encourages Insulation of Homes

A recent announcement that London is to be held as a Low Carbon Economic Area for energy efficient buildings has been followed by recommendations by an expert – he claims that retrofitting is a good way of improving the energy efficiency of homes.

Director of the National Home Improvement Council, Andrew Leech, stated that insulation should be the first step taken when retrofitting properties.

Leech stated that cavity walls should be insulated, as well as lofts, to ensure that as little heat as possible is needlessly being wasted through these areas. Insulating properties correctly can also greatly cut down on the costs of energy bills.

Other measures include double glazing. When installed in windows, the heat lost through this area of the home is cut down by half – as well as saving around £135 each year on energy costs.

Leech stated that London ‘can set an example’ by ensuring that all of its existing properties are energy efficient. He also added that other large cities, including Liverpool and Leeds, are carrying out similar measures in order to cut down on carbon emissions.

The government has recently announced plans stating that UK homes will be greatly improved in terms of energy efficiency.

The Warm Homes, Greener Homes strategy states that emissions from homes in the country will be reduced by 29 percent by 2020. This will also work for householders to face rising energy prices.

£30,000 Plan to End Anti Social Behaviour At Church Hall

Brownhills church hall is to be given £30,000 to help end its long lasting problems of anti social behaviour, with newly announced security upgrades.

St James Church Hall will be given a makeover with measures such as double glazing in the windows, a children’s playground outside, and a new fence that will help to improve security.

The church hall has had to deal with a number of issues, including the windows being smashed, litter being left, and gangs of youngsters hanging around the church grounds. Double glazing windows are almost impossible to break, meaning that the church will benefit from extra levels of security, not to mention noise reduction and greater energy efficiency.

Church leaders came up with the fundraising drive, alongside proposals to bring the building up to date and make it more secure. Rev Dave Bishop said that the footpath beside the hall will also be closed shortly.

Funding for these improvements has come from church funds, as well as plans to apply for landfill tax credit funding.

The next fundraising event will be held at St James Church, and is to be a coffee morning at 10am on Saturday.

The church has already seen work to improving its grounds, after dangerous holes were filled in and cemeteries were made safer. Soil was also delivered to burial grounds to help improve the way they look.

Heritage Bodies Not In Favour of Window Scrappage Scheme

Over the last few months, a number if industry bodies have petitioned for the government to launch a window scrappage scheme, similar to the boiler scrappage scheme that gave homeowners money if they upgraded boilers to energy efficient models. However, Chancellor Alistair Darling has recently been urged to resist these calls by heritage bodies.

It has been reported that the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings and the Institute of Historic Building Conversation (IHBC) have both issued a statement saying that such a scheme would not be suitable for certain homes. In particular, they are worried that traditional timber frames would be destroyed at the expense of energy efficiency.

Current laws mean that listed buildings may have trouble getting permission to change their windows to energy efficient uPVC double glazing. However, for most homes in the UK, upgrading to this kind of window can make homes naturally warmer, can reduce energy bills and can make properties look great.

The Glass and Glazing Federation (GGF) originally launched the petition on the Downing Street website to give £1,000 grants to households who want to replace their old windows. The GGF claim that this would support installers and manufacturers, as well as helping to lower bills for householders across the country.

However, director of the IHBC, Sean O’Reilly, has said that this ignores the fact that the scheme could cause damage to more traditional buildings.