Green home improvement trends
The publicity surrounding the threat posed by climate change should give everyone plenty to think about when it comes to their personal carbon footprint. Government estimates suggest that more than a quarter of the UK's carbon emissions come from domestic properties, so a good starting place for reducing your adverse impact on the environment is with green home improvement projects.
While some house builders now favour green construction techniques and green architecture for new projects, the vast majority of the country's housing stock does not have the kind of energy-efficient and water-saving features seen in modern eco homes.
Most homeowners will find plenty of changes they can make to their properties in order to make them greener, ranging from simple DIY tasks to major jobs which will require the help of qualified tradesmen. You are also likely to discover that helping the environment is not the only benefit of carrying out green home improvement work.
Combining green home improvements with stylish design
A recent study by Halifax revealed that the amount of money people are spending on home improvements is rising, as more families choose to do up their existing homes instead of attempting to climb the property ladder.
However, much of the work was cosmetic rather than specifically designed to improve the energy-efficiency of homes, with decorating, garden upgrades and new bathrooms among the top-five most popular projects.
There is no reason why this type of work cannot be a green home improvement. You could use environmentally-friendly natural or low-VOC paint for a simple redecoration job, or go organic in the garden.
Overhauling your bathroom has the potential to be a really green project, as you can include water-saving features such as dual-flush toilets, flow tap aerators and water-efficient showerheads. As five per cent of the UK's carbon emissions are generated by heating water in domestic properties, the benefits of saving water are clear.
The best projects for increasing the value of your home are ones that add space, such as extensions and loft conversions, providing they are done well and finished to a good standard.
These can easily become green home improvements, as long as you plan them that way from the start. Make sure they have good levels of insulation and use as many green raw materials as possible. Ask your builder for advice about how best to incorporate sustainable building products and whether it will be possible to use recycled or reclaimed materials in the project.
Using green home improvements to save money
Two of the biggest barriers dissuading homeowners from going green are a lack of awareness about what can be achieved and perceptions about costs.
Some basic research will help you to overcome concerns about both issues. Organisations such as the Energy Saving Trust will be able to provide you with information about the kind of environmentally-friendly products available and which green home improvements are the most effective.
While the only accurate way to ascertain whether green projects are more expensive than more traditional ones is to obtain quotes from reputable tradesmen, your research should be helpful when it comes to comparing those estimates. When deciding what is the most cost-effective way to complete a project, it is important to remember to consider the financial benefits, as well as the initial expense.
For example, installing a high-efficiency condensing boiler could reduce your annual heating bill by more than £200 a year throughout its expected 12-year lifespan, meaning it will pay for itself. And according to figures compiled by the Energy Saving Trust, fitting loft insulation or cavity wall insulation will pay for itself within two years.
Not all green home improvements have such a short payback period, but if, for example, you need to replace your windows, it makes sense to consider whether the reduced energy bills associated with choosing double glazing with low-emissivity glass would make the total cost of installation and ownership lower than the alternatives.
How can Rated People help with your green home improvements?
If you want your green home improvements to be effective, both financially and in reducing your property's carbon footprint, it is important that the work is done to a high standard, which means finding reputable tradesmen is crucial.
Rated People can simplify the process of identifying the right workmen. Register with the site and post details of your project free of charge, and Rated People will introduce you to up to three tradesmen interested in supplying you with a quote.
You will also find ratings from other Rated People users who have already given work to the tradesmen, which will help you to judge whether they are right for the job.
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