As the demand for new housing continues to grow, so does the need to create more affordable homes. A recent report by Rightacres suggests that 42% of new household formation in the UK is due to higher prices and limited choice of properties. With that in mind, as part of the government’s commitment to tackle climate change and reduce carbon footprints, new build projects are embracing green technologies to reduce energy consumption and cut carbon emissions.
Fortunately, developers are already seeing the benefits of incorporating the latest innovative building technology into new home designs. (Also, you may consider to get an idea of how much your house is worth and work accordingly to make it energy efficient.) In this article, let’s take a closer look at what that means for future properties and how it could lead toward a greener future.
Green roofs:
When it comes to green technologies for new build properties, it’s difficult not to start with the most obvious: green roofs. Not only are green roofs beautiful to future residents, but they can also help to reduce the amount of rainwater that flows into sewers. This prevents a large amount of carbon from being released into the atmosphere. Further, green roofs extend the lifespan of rooftops by two or three times.
Other popular green technologies for new build homes include photovoltaic panels, solar hot water systems, heat pumps, and geothermal systems.
Passive house initiative:
Passive house is a technique that aims to create low-carbon, healthy houses. It’s a design method that’s increasingly becoming the standard for new build properties. This technique works by reducing air infiltration and increasing air ventilation. It also incorporates intelligent controls, such as sensors and smart meters that help reduce energy consumption and increase energy efficiency. Many passive house properties are also built to be low-energy consumers. And as a result, most have high-performance windows, doors, and roofs that can help reduce carbon footprints and increase the comfort of future homeowners.
Smart metering and controls:
With the increasing adoption of smart meters, energy consumption can be monitored and managed more effectively. With this in mind, more and more property developers are opting to include smart meters in their new build homes. While it’s not possible to retrofit this technology into older properties, it’s possible to integrate it with your existing electricity and gas meters. This way, you may monitor energy consumption (at an individual property level), manage it remotely, avoid energy wastage and ensure that energy bills are within budget. Smart meters are becoming more affordable each year, meaning that you could see them becoming more commonplace in new build homes shortly.
Lighting and Ventilation:
When it comes to lighting, it’s important to remember that each individual fixture plays a vital role in determining a building’s carbon footprint. That’s why using energy-efficient light fittings, such as LED bulbs, is essential. They are also great for helping to reduce energy bills as they consume less energy than traditional incandescent bulbs. Similarly, it’s worth looking at your ventilation system. While it might seem like a minor factor, it’s important to remember that each room can significantly impact energy consumption.
Building Information Modelling & Construction Management:
As far as construction management techniques go, BIM (Building Information Modeling) is increasingly becoming the norm in new build developments. This modeling is essential to ensuring that newly built projects are as energy efficient as possible. It also helps to better understand the building design process and reduces the risk of future costs and delays.
There’s no denying that there’s a lot of potentials to creating a greener future with the introduction of green technologies in new build properties. However, the most significant factor that influences a home’s carbon footprint is the size of the home itself. That’s why it’s important to remember to design your home to suit your lifestyle.
Bottom line:
As we move towards a more sustainable future, more and more people are becoming interested in environmentally-friendly properties. Thankfully, green technologies are already being incorporated into new build homes. And while these might not be available on every new build development, they’re becoming more common these days.
The good news is that despite their relatively high upfront costs, these systems can save money in the long term. And in many cases, they’re also good for the environment because they save energy and allow us to live in healthier homes. If you’re interested in green technologies for new build properties, it’s essential to talk to your developer about these options.
