Going Green: Eco-homes are a Growing Market in Britain
With global warming's causes and consequences a daily topic in the media, it seems that everyone is jumping aboard the green train to 'do their bit' for the environment these days - and rightly so. One of the many initiatives of this overall green movement is the concept of eco property.
For a home to be classified as an eco, or environmentally friendly property, it must have a number of features that reduce the tenants' overall environmental impact. Homes are assessed using six criteria: energy efficiency, water efficiency, surface water management, site waste management, household waste management and use of materials.
In older properties, where major structural changes are unfeasible, other criteria can be used to make a property more environmental friendly and allow it eco status. Buildings that are constructed from natural materials, such as timber, use wool insulation and organic paints may will help it to qualify as green property. In addition, reliance on National Grid energy can be supplemented or replaced altogether by using solar thermal hot water heating systems on the roof, photovoltaic panels, a wind turbine or wood fired central heating.
Savings on water can be made by using rainwater for flushing the toilets, or a grey water system that collects waste water from sinks and showers and can be reused to water the garden. Additional energy savings are gained by higher than normal levels of insulation, large amounts of glazing to invite natural light and a passive solar orientation, where a house benefits from a southerly orientation gaining free light and heat.
Britain's housing stock is fairly ineffective in terms of its energy rating. On a scale of 1 to 120, the average house in the UK rates at just 45. All houses built after 1995 were built to new standards of 80 and in 2002 the minimum energy rating was raised further to 100.
In light of increasing environmental awareness, interest in green property has grown and there are now a number of estate agents dealing solely in green property. As might be expected due to the relatively new concept of eco homes, the current choice is limited, yet you can find green property in Kent, Herefordshire, Hampshire, Norfolk and even on the Isle of Skye.
It is expected that new government legislation that encourages the building of eco homes by granting tax breaks and VAT reduciton on energy efficient goods - such as low energy light bulbs and double glazing - will also lead to people converting their homes into more environmentally friendly zones. This will help to tackle rising energy demands, reducing CO2 emissions and ultimately global warming.
Related Tags: green homes, eco homes, environmentally friendly houses, eco property, property in kent
Elisha Burberry is a freelance writer who loves her job and the occasional glass of red wine.
Your Article Search Directory : Find in ArticlesRecent articles in this category:
- 5 Reasons to Buy Jasper Real Estate
Jasper is a small town in North Georgia and it is growing rapidly. Since North Georgia Foreclosures - Ellijay Real Estate
Ellijay Georgia has always been known for it's outdoor activities and seasonal festivals. Downtown E - How to Deal With Blocked Drains
A blocked drain is an occurrence that happens eventually to all households. You may have experienced - The Benefits of Hiring a Plumbing Consultant
Your dream home may not always be brand new, with fresh paint and home essentials. There are certain - The Worst Mistake You Can Make When You Apply to Rent a Home
A whole new class of people has become renters and potential renters in America during the last thre - State of Individual Real Estate Markets
Everybody is well aware of the hit that the real estate market has taken over the past three years. - Thoughts on Avoiding the Landlord Trap
I've heard several people say they would never invest in a multifamily rental property because they - An Idea to Increase the Bottom Line of Your Investment Property
Are you pretty sure that you've already maximized the income coming from your property? If you've cl - Finding the Value of a Piece of Investment Real Estate
There is a lot of confusion about how much investment property is really worth. We'll look at three - Arkansas Land For Sale - Search Engine Optimization and Your Website
If you have Arkansas land for sale and are interested in advertising it on your website I have a few
Most viewed articles in this category:
- How High Did Home Prices Really Go
The U.S. Census Bureau released data on Tuesday that revealed where the nation's hottest markets wer - New Homeowners Tips for Household Safety
With so many items on their ¡°buying a home¡± checklist, few homeowners take into considerati - Truth About VA Foreclosures
Many people now days are finding themselves out of work and not being able to make the mortgage paym - Avoid Rookie Real Estate Investing Mistakes
When Robert Kiyosaki, author of the Rich Dad book series, bought his first property he was, of cours - Finding The Perfect Roommate On Craigslist
Craigslist, Roommates, and The Concerns Craigslist is "great" when it comes to looking for housing - The Forgotten Secret To Selling Property - Simple, Quick And Cheap
Why spend big dollars trying to get people to drive a long way to see your house, when your best pro - Get Amazing Results Selling Real Estate Online
This is the age of the internet. Why not take advantage of the widespread use of the internet to ad - Dallas Real Estate Information
In the United States, Dallas is considered as the second leading state according to the area. If any - The Largest Private Equity Indian Real Estate Deal
In the largest private equity deal won by the real estate sector, Morgan Stanley Real Estate has inv - Fractional Real Estate Ownership
Fractional ownership of vacation ski condos is growing in popularity. Park City Utah a popular ski t