With emissions on the rise and the climate emergency becoming more severe by the day, millions of UK homeowners are interested in building, or moving into their very own eco-house.
These are properties that produce very little, or no, carbon emissions and are considered by many as the future of the construction industry in the UK and across the globe.
If you are considering building an eco-house there are several key things you need to consider. Bear in mind that even new builds that are subject to all sorts of eco-regulations these days are not considered eco-houses and you will need to go above and beyond when building your home.
The good news is that you don’t need to compromise on design, style, or comfort if you get it right, and, of course, you want need to worry about an energy bill any time in the next few decades.
Eco-homes are about saving the planet, but they are also about becoming energy independent and protecting yourself and your family from the uncertainty of global energy prices.
Sounds like something you could be interested in? Good, because this article won’t be much use if it isn’t!
Read on to discover 3 of the most important things to consider when building your very own Eco-house.
You might need more than double glazing
Eco-homes are heated by eco-sources such as Solar panels and Air or ground source heat pumps. Whilst these technologies are fantastic, they do not produce heat as efficiently or quickly as a gas boiler or similar.
This means that in order to keep your home at a comfortable temperature all year round, you will need to have the very best insulation and energy efficient construction.
Double glazing is widely considered as a must for the modern home for this very reason, but if you want to use zero fossil fuels whatsoever, you might need to go one step further.
The best double glazing companies Ayr, now offer TRIPLE glazed windows that produce exceptional U-Values and limit the heat that can pass through them to an absolute minimum. These are one of the best possible investments that you can make if you are building your own Eco-Home.
Natural Ventilation is Key
We have just talked about keeping heat in your eco-house, but what about letting fresh air in? Ventilation is vital for a safe and healthy home and you need to consider how natural ventilation will be achieved.
Cross ventilation is now a key component of eco-house design and should be discussed in depth with the architect and property developer when designing your dream eco-home.
Buy the most energy-efficient appliances possible
The less energy you use, the easier it is for your renewable technologies to meet the energy requirements of your home.
That said, you don’t want to be limiting yourself or having to alter your lifestyle due to a lack of sufficient energy. The answer? Installing appliances with an A+++ efficiency rating only.
