Building goes green for the future

With the announcement in March that Siberia and the Arctic Circle have started to melt, preventing climate change is increasingly a priority.

Research for the World Wildlife Fund’s (WWF) One Million Sustainable Homes campaign has shown that if everyone on the planet were to consume natural resources and generate carbon dioxide at the rate the UK does, we will eventually need three planets the size of Earth to support us.

UK homeowners need to reduce carbon dioxide: dwellings consume three times more energy than private cars, and energy use in non-domestic buildings is increasing as fast as fuel for air travel.

Eco-homes for all

Eco-housing is potentially big business and could transform the construction industry.

But can the Government and the construction industry bring sustainable homes from the fringes of the housing industry and into the mainstream?

The UK construction industry has already responded with the launch in February this year of the UK Green Building Council.

Its mission is to dramatically reduce the environmental impact of buildings by radically improving the way they are designed, built and maintained.

The demand for ‘green’ construction products is stimulating innovation and competition in the market to develop lower environmental impact products.

Concentration is on improved insulation and energy efficiency.

Environmentally-friendly materials

New homes on green developments are being built with environmentally-friendly products and materials, including timber from sustainable forests.

They feature high levels of thermal insulation in the walls, floors and roofs, high-spec double glazing, low-flush toilets and water-efficient taps.

“This used to be seen by the construction industry as a niche market,” says Claire Wilson, sustainability co-ordinator at government-funded agency Sustainable Homes.

“But research shows that there is a demand from consumers and they will buy these homes if they are available,” she continues.

A price worth paying

This was confirmed by a survey carried out by the Energy Saving Trust, which reveals that seven out of 10 Britons believe that homes boasting energy-saving features are worth paying more for.

Almost half of respondents said they would be willing to pay an additional £5,000 to £10,000 for a green home built to high environmental standards.

Homes with features such as high levels of insulation, double-glazing and energy-efficient boilers could be more attractive to buyers, and sell quicker.

Developers show commitment

At present, most green developments are small, featuring up to 30 homes.

But change is imminent, with design and construction companies starting to differentiate their services by creating eco-friendly buildings only.

"We are poised. We are getting there," says Dominic Grace, head of development and investment at international property services group Savills.

“Developers are having to show real commitment to eco issues.”

Investors take sustainability seriously

The Government and mortgage lenders are playing their part in meeting the challenge of sustainable development.

Regulations came into force on April 6 2006 to improve the energy efficiency of UK homes resulting in savings across newly-built homes and existing buildings that could total as much as one million tonnes of carbon per year

While in February this year, the UK's largest mortgage provider, Halifax Building Society, launched a mortgage offer that will only be available on homes from companies topping the WWF’s Sustainability Benchmarking survey.

This is paving the way for a new era of sustainable living in the UK.