Iconic Films

2 for 1 tickets to Singin' In The Rain, this coming Monday. Book now

Navigation - link to other main sections from here

Skip Navigation

From Times Online

January 4, 2008

Ten things you need to know about... making your home more eco-friendly

You don't have to knit your own socks to earn green points - here we give you the facts and the figures to make your home environmentally sound

Jayne Dowle

A step-by-step guide to making your home eco-friendly ¦ Property Guides on Times Online

1. No throwaway comment: Each household in the UK creates around six tonnes of carbon dioxide a year - six times the weight of the rubbish the same household throws away, and double the carbon dioxide emissions the average car produces. The Energy Saving Trust says that the average household could save around two tonnes of carbon dioxide (CO2) a year by making itself more energy efficient.

2. Pick up a hot tip: Most domestic heating controls set the default temperature at 21 degrees C. But if you turn your central heating thermostat down by one degree, you could cut heating bills by up to 10 per cent over a year. Also, for maximum energy efficiency, make sure your hot water tank cylinder thermostat is no higher than 60 degrees C.

3. Be flush with eco-pride: Lavatories use about 30% of the total water in a household says Waterwise, the non-government organisation dedicated to reducing water use. An old-style single-flush lavatory can use up to 13 litres of water in one flush. For a green home, put in a more water-efficient dual-flush (it has a split button in the top) which uses only six litres for a full flush and four litres for a reduced flush (not suitable for older models, check at www.waterwise.org.uk). Or pop in a water-saving device, or “hippo”, often available free from your local authority. And switch to a water meter to gain maximum financial benefit.

4. Water it down: Using the washing machine accounts for 21% of water usage in a typical British home, according to Waterwise. The average water efficiency of a washing machine has doubled in recent years, partly due to top loaders being phased out. In the past five years there has been a 10% increase in water efficiency. However, the “half-load” facility is used by consumers just 20% of the time.

5. Showers are forecast: A five-minute shower can use about a third as much water as a bath says the Environment Agency. Fitting a water-efficient shower head can reduce the amount of water you use by a further 30 per cent (unsuitable for electric showers as it can overheat the water). However – be warned - power showers can use more water than a bath in less than five minutes.

6. Switch on to savings: If you switch to a green energy supplier, your supply will be connected to a renewable resource – see www.good-energy.co.uk. Check the tariff carefully, as there is no legislation yet on green energy. It can mean that your supplier sources – or produces – electricity from purely renewable energy, or a scheme which releases an equivalent amount of energy into the National Grid for the electricity you use. Others contribute profits to eco friendly products or research. Remember – only electricity can come from a renewable source, not gas. Natural gas emits CO2 when burned and contributes towards global warming. Reduce your gas usage to reduce CO2 emissions.

7. Green is the new black: Wayne Hemingway, who set up fashion company Red or Dead before turning his hand to designing houses, says, “it's the zeitgeist, green issues are the new black, they're very trendy.” Think about making the most of what you’ve got . The New Thrift movement takes the old-fashioned principles of “make-do-and-mend” and transforms them for the 21st century. Hemingway says that the only things he buys new are socks and pants.

8. The next big thing for your eco-home will be to install a combined heat and power unit, known as a micro-CHP, or a domestic CHP. A CHP provides heating and hot water through natural gas, but also creates a small amount of electricity as its own by-product (between one and three kilowatts) This typically creates enough electricity to power what are known as “baseload appliances”, ie those which are always running, such as fridges and freezers, and basic lighting. Less electricity from the National Grid is required in the home – so less carbon emissions are produced - and any excess power produced could be sold back to your electricity supplier. Micro or domestic CHPs are not currently commercially available, but various manufacturers are working on it. Contact The Combined Heat and Power Association, www.chpa.co.uk, for more information.

9. Be a green builder: All new homes built in England by 2016 will have to be carbon-neutral. If you are inspired to plan your own eco home, bear the following in mind: the construction industry generates one third of all the waste in Britain, and 20% of new building materials on the average building site are thrown away, the equivalent of 88 Giza pyramids in Egypt. See www.newconsumer.com for advice on eco building plans.

10. Make a profit: Turn your home an eco-home and future-proof its value. The average added value for a well-insulated house can be up to £10,000, says the Energy Saving Trust. It reports that more than two-thirds of buyers now, “look past cosmetic improvements to more important factors, such as the condition of the boiler or the quality of the windows”.

Jargon-buster

Zero Carbon: This describes a building, a home, a vehicle or a human or animal which uses less energy than it generates. For a home, a carbon footprint is calculated for its full life to date, including the CO2 emissions created during the build, and its day-to-day energy needs. This is “offset” by the home’s own ability to produce the energy it needs – through wind turbines, solar panels and other renewable sources.

Renewables: Energy which can be “renewed” through natural means, it includes wind-power, solar energy and hydro-generated energy. It can also refer to a natural resource – such as wood - which is inexhaustible or replaceable by new growth.

Sustainable: This is an over-used and often-misunderstood term. In eco terms, sustainable living actively seeks to minimise climate change, through energy efficiency and the use of renewables; it protects the environment, by minimising pollution on land, in water and in the air; it minimises waste and disposes of it in accordance with current good practice; it makes efficient use of natural resources, encouraging sustainable production and consumption; it protects and improves bio-diversity (e.g.wildlife habitats); and enables a lifestyle that minimises negative environmental impact and enhances positive impacts (e.g. by creating opportunities for walking and cycling).

Bio-diversity: This refers to the number and variety of organisms found within a specified geographic region. In eco-friendly terms it is desirable to promote a bio-diverse environment in order to provide energy and sustenance for the widest possible variety of creatures and plants.

Five useful websites

Lots of consumer-orientated advice on energy efficiency - www.energysavingtrust.org.uk

Directory of furniture,clothing and consumer goods from recycled sources - www.recycledproducts.co.uk

Advice on creating an eco friendly garden - www.gardenorganic.org.uk

National Energy Action campaigns for energy awareness and warmer homes - www.nea.org.uk

Find out what your personal impact on the environment is by calculating your carbon footprint - www.carbonfootprint.com

The urban guide to self-sufficiency - www.selfsufficientish.com