What green features should you consider when buying or renting a property?
As we are all increasingly aware, the way we choose to live impacts climate change and the planet that is our home. For many of us, a large part of our personal environmental impact relates to the properties we live in. So, if you are an environmentally aware homebuyer, have you thought about what green features to consider when buying or renting a property? This article suggests features you may wish to consider when visiting houses or flats with the intention of buying or renting, in order to reduce your carbon footprint and lower energy consumption.
You may have watched programmes such as Grand Designs which often feature new builds with a focus on being as green as possible. But for most of us, the reality is we couldn’t afford to have a purpose-built house. Additionally, sometimes the best way to be eco-friendly is to buy an older house and refurbish it, adding as many environmentally-friendly features as possible. Why? Consider how many resources are saved by buying and converting an existing house instead of tearing it down and building a new one. A green house can be renovated and refurbished to be more environmentally friendly at a lower cost than you’d pay if you’d build one from scratch.
Mark Walton, director of Walton Robinson in Newcastle, says:
“It is refreshing to see the number of people who are now considering the environmental impacts of the properties they buy or rent. An increasing number of people are also buying older houses and flats in need of repair and refurbishing them in a sympathetic and eco-conscious way. This is a particularly good route for younger people trying to get on the property ladder as they can buy something more affordable and put their own design stamp on it while also adding important environmentally-friendly features in the process.”
Data shows that the average British house produces over 2.4 tonnes of CO2 annually, which is too much. And the bad news is that even if everyone makes efforts to reduce pollution, household emissions are going up every year. So let’s consider what we can do.
Energy Performance Certificate (EPC)
Energy Performance Certificates are required in the UK whenever a property is built, sold, or rented.
An EPC gives a property an energy efficiency rating starting from A, the most efficient, to G, the least efficient, and is valid for ten years.
Housing stock in any specific area is likely to have similar EPC ratings if they were built around the same time unless they had had considerable modifications over the ensuing years.
Although an EPC is a really good indicator, we suggest you look a little deeper and look out for specific green features – or lack of them – when buying or renting a house.
What is an eco-friendly house?
Green properties are defined differently, according to who you ask. Typically, a sustainable house is made from eco-friendly materials, with low-impact construction methods, and allows you to reduce energy consumption to lower your impact on the environment and cut costs. There are many aspects to consider when buying or renting a property.
Eco-friendly materials in the construction
If you at looking at newer houses, ensure materials used in the construction are made from cleverly manufactured, recycled, or sustainable materials if you want to reduce your impact on the planet. Similarly, these considerations should apply if you are refurbishing an older property.
Whilst the source credentials of these materials may not reduce ongoing environmental impacts such as power consumption for heating and lighting, the embedded carbon used in making the raw materials used in construction should always be a top consideration. Sustainably-sourced materials are always a green option, especially when you use them as alternatives to more traditional materials which are historically energy-intensive in production.
Nowadays, many options exist when picking materials for a green building. Besides living in an eco-friendly house, another advantage of carefully checking the building materials is that they impact the indoor air quality. Some paints, wall coverings, and types of carpeting release pollutants harmful to your health. Ask the constructor to provide you with the list of materials used or ensure natural, healthier alternatives if you buy an older house and renovate it to meet eco-friendly requirements.
Houseplants can help mitigate levels of chemicals released from synthetic materials and furnishings, but it’s best not to have such materials in your house in the first place if possible.
Is it a passive house?
The passive house concept is popular on the market because it respects a series of standards that have the goal to maximise energy efficiency. The concept counts on using design elements that reduce the heating and cooling needs. When you inspect a house, look for the following features
Insulation: there are many options for insulation depending on the original design and fabric of the house. Some homes can benefit from wall insulation, for example, but one of the most basic forms of insulation is loft insulation. But not all insulation is created equal, so do check how old it is and what materials have been used, and any certification available. If you are renovating an older property, there are often grants available towards insulation projects.
Windows: the style of windows and glass used will make a great deal of difference to energy consumption. Do remember that standards of double glazing have altered immensely over the years so something that was considered good quality 20 years ago would not compare to modern double or even triple-glazing. Windows installed within 10 years should have appropriate certification.
House envelope: consider the roof, windows, and walls to determine if they provide a high degree of airtightness, especially if you live in a northern climate. Because a house is effectively sealed it doesn’t mean it will feel stuffy because the ventilation system, which is an intrinsic aspect of a passive house, will allow the air to circulate.
Orientation: the orientation of the house and windows allow you to take advantage of solar warmth, light, and heating and lower your electricity bills.
A passive building allows you to enjoy a house with steady indoor temperature, high indoor air quality, and low energy requirements.
Thoughtful landscape
A sustainable house is green both on the inside and outside. Have a look at the landscape to determine if it attenuates the property’s impact on the environment.
– Does it allow you to manage rainwater? If it comes with a garden, the house should feature a system that allows you to collect water runoff from the roof and use it to water the plants. If that does not already exist, it is normally quite easy to add.
– Does it limit the number of impervious surfaces? When landscaping the outside space, the constructor should have created a space that allows rainwater to penetrate the soil. This will provide the plants with natural nutrients and avoid flooding. Ask them if the green spaces, parking areas, and driveway have a permeable top-coat that allows water to percolate into the bottom one.
Consider the garden. If you like gardening, you will probably enjoy adapting the space to ensure it is wildlife-friendly and adaptable to local weather conditions. But if gardening isn’t your thing, avoid purchasing a property that has a big, high-maintenance garden that might tempt you to hard landscape and/or use artificial grass. A patio area to enjoy meals and a glass or two of something is always good to include, but a concrete and synthetic garden is not good for nature, for the environment, or for you.
Does the house have solar panels?
Even though the British government closed the incentive scheme for installing solar panels a few years ago, they are still one of the best ways to save energy and money and lower the level of carbon emissions the property produces. If the house has solar panels, ask the constructor to provide you with the paperwork because you need to figure out if they are solar thermal panels or photovoltaic solar panels.
Photovoltaic panels capture the sun’s energy and convert it into electricity you can use and store to power your house appliances. You can even use it to power the lighting system, but it highly depends on the kettle’s size.
Solar thermal panels can be used to heat water, which is great if you want to save energy and lower your electricity bills. It would be best if your house has both photovoltaic and solar thermal panels because they allow you to save more energy and limit your impact on the planet.
The bottom line
The ultimate goal is to have a zero-energy house that means that the total amount of energy your property uses is equal to the renewable energy it creates: these are properties that enhance wellbeing and promote comfort and health for the family whilst also mitigating environmental impacts. We hope our article has been useful and you now have a better idea of what green features to consider when buying or renting a property