Building an eco-home is a dream for many people. With constant narratives about global warming, climate change and the environmental impact every second of our daily lives has, it’s not surprising that many people want to do their bit.
There is a lot to consider when deciding whether building an eco-home is for you – but many of these features can be added to the house you already live in! Eco-homes can have various components and features added to them, from energy efficiency to eco-friendly landscaping. Keep reading as we discuss 8 essential things to consider when building an eco-home.
1. Energy efficiency
One of the main drawing points to an eco-home is making it energy efficient- helping both your wallet and the environment. This means that your home will not only preserve energy but also make it low-cost and reduce your energy consumption and waste.
Examples of how to make your new eco-home energy efficient include:
High-quality insulation
High-quality insulation reduces the transfer of heat from inside your home to the exterior of the building. This means that when you heat your home, it will stay warmer for longer without needing to constantly have the heating on. Insulation also helps the exterior of your home stay cooler in the warmer months. Combined, high-quality insulation reduces your reliance on heating and cooling systems in your eco-home, reducing your energy bills and wastage.
Timber cladding is a great way to add additional insulation to your new eco-home – it’s durable, sustainable and, most importantly, helps regulate the temperature inside your home.
Energy-efficient windows and doors
Energy-efficient windows and doors work similarly to high-quality insulation. Often known as ‘double glazing’, energy-efficient windows and doors reduce heat from inside your home escaping, as well as external temperatures from getting into it. This will then reduce energy wastage and costs.
Passive solar design
Passive solar design in your home means having large windows and natural light sources. With passive solar design, you can maximise natural daylight entering your home, reducing the amount of money and energy you would spend on having internal lights on. Passive solar design can also increase the warmth of your home, through the natural light entering; reducing heating costs and energy wastage.
Use of energy-efficient appliances and lighting
Energy-efficient appliances and lighting are specifically designed to reduce the amount of energy they consume when in use. This means that you can still use your favourite appliances, tools and gadgets, as well as have the lights on around your home, without worrying about energy costs and usage.
2. Renewable energy sources
Renewable energy sources are another great way to reduce your energy consumption and bills, within your eco-home. Renewable energy sources are ways in which you can create energy yourself, without taking from the environment, and save money instead of paying for energy.
Some renewable energy sources include:
Solar panels
Solar panels are something you can add to any home but are more often than not seen scattered across eco-homes. Solar panels work by harvesting sunlight, typically from on top of your roof, which in turn generates electricity. This conversion of sunlight to electricity is free and completely renewable.
Wind turbines
If you have an eco-home with land in an ideal location, and the appropriate planning permission, wind turbines could be a way to generate free electricity. Wind turbines work by converting wind energy into electricity, which again is completely free and renewable.
Geothermal heating and cooling systems
A relatively new innovation, geothermal heating and cooling systems harness the temperature of the ground which rises from the earth’s crust. These systems are usually buried 4 to 6 feet underground and work with a loop system, often filled with a liquid of water and antifreeze. The heat transfer liquid in the system is heated from the temperature of the ground and carried into the home – transferring the heat into warm air. In cooling mode, the system takes the warm air from the home and transfers it to the fluid, into the ground.
This system can achieve high levels of energy efficiency and requires very little energy or cost to run, whilst also having a longer durability compared to regular HVAC systems and being completely renewable.
3. Water conservation
Conserving water in your new eco-home is not only environmentally friendly but will also help you save money on your water bills. The different ways of conserving water will reduce the amount of water you waste in your home, whilst also making use of renewable and greywater waste.
Some ways that you can conserve water in your eco-home include:
Low-flow fixtures and efficient plumbing
Low-flow fixtures and efficient plumbing systems will help you reduce water consumption and wastage, whilst also reducing your water bills. Low-flow fixtures mean that your water systems will only distribute water at a slower rate, meaning you don’t overuse water. Efficient plumbing systems ensure that you aren’t wasting water through leakages, as even small leaks will impact your water consumption and costs.
Rainwater harvesting systems
Rainwater harvesting systems are just as they sound – they collect rainwater outside of your home, which can then be purified for drinking water or used around the house for other means. By conserving water this way, you are harnessing the use of renewable water supplies, without the need to depend on traditional water systems – in turn reducing water costs and wastage.
Greywater recycling
Greywater is essentially dirty water – water that has already been used. This could include water from the shower, washing up, or cleaning produce. This can be done manually, or you can install greywater recycling systems within your eco-home. By using eco-friendly and biodegradable products when initially using the water, you can then recycle the water for flushing the toilet, gardening, car washing and more – all whilst reducing water wastage and costs.
4. Sustainable materials
A huge part of building an eco-home is using environmentally friendly and sustainable materials to do so. By using these sorts of materials, you cut down building costs whilst also helping the environment.
Ways to use sustainable materials when building your eco-home include:
Use of recycled or reclaimed materials
Using recycled or reclaimed materials when building an eco-home helps cut down costs on purchasing new materials, whilst also reducing demand for new raw materials. Raw materials will often cost more than recycled or reclaimed materials, but they will also reduce the environmental impact of resource extraction.
For example, composite driveway gates are made entirely of recycled wood and plastics, making them an incredibly eco-friendly addition to your new eco-home, alongside various other benefits.
Locally sourced materials
Locally sourced materials also have both an environmental and cost-efficient benefit. Locally sourced materials will cost far less to deliver when building your eco-home. However, by purchasing locally, you are also reducing the environmental impact of transportation.
Sustainable wood
Using sustainable wood when building features of your eco-home is so important. As we know, wood is not a renewable resource, and deforestation is at its highest. By choosing to use sustainable wood, such as cork, reclaimed wood and FSC-certified wood, you can be sure that your eco-home is doing its part in the fight against climate change and deforestation.
5. Waste reduction
Reducing waste when building and living in your new eco-home is what makes it all worthwhile – because being eco-friendly is the point of your home! Waste reduction can also help you save money along the way – by choosing to reduce, reuse and recycle as much as possible.
Some of the ways you can implement waste reduction into your new eco-home include:
Construction waste recycling
Construction waste recycling is highly beneficial when building an eco-home because it minimises the environmental impact of the construction process. Recycling construction waste, including materials like concrete, wood, and metal, reduces the volume of materials sent to landfills, as well as reduces the demand for new raw materials.
If you’re able to reuse construction waste in the building of your home, you are decreasing the environmental impact much more, as well as saving money in the process.
Implementation of a composting system
Implementing a composting system when building your new eco-home is incredibly environmentally friendly. Composting helps divert organic waste, such as kitchen scraps and garden trimmings, from landfills, reducing methane emissions and promoting sustainable waste management. The resulting compost will then serve as a nutrient-rich soil conditioner, for your garden and home growing, omitting the need to purchase store-bought and/or synthetic fertilisers.
Minimisation of single-use materials
Minimising the use of single-use materials during both the construction of and in your daily living in your eco-home has huge environmental benefits. Single-use materials contribute to excessive waste and resource depletion. By opting instead for durable, reusable, or recycled alternatives in construction, such as metal roofing or reclaimed wood, and by avoiding single-use items in daily living, such as disposable packaging, you can reduce your carbon footprint massively.
6. Landscaping and outdoor considerations
Part of building your new eco-home also includes building an environmentally-friendly garden. The considerations you put into designing your garden will have a huge impact on the ecosystems around it, as well as helping you cut energy and water consumption and costs.
Things to consider implementing when building your eco-home’s garden include:
Native and drought-resistant plants
Native and drought-resistant plants are something important to consider when building your eco-home. By incorporating native species into your garden, eco-homes can create landscapes that harmonise with the natural environment, promoting biodiversity and supporting local ecosystems. Additionally, drought-resistant plants reduce the need for irrigation, helping in your efforts to conserve water – saving on water wastage and bills.
Permeable surfaces
Permeable surfaces in a garden are beneficial when building an eco-home due to their positive impact on water management and the surrounding environment. Permeable surfaces, such as permeable pavements, gravel, and pavers, allow rainwater to infiltrate the soil rather than creating runoff. With this natural drainage, permeable surfaces support plant growth and minimise disruptions to the local ecosystem, whilst also helping in your efforts to conserve water.
Design that promotes natural cooling and shade
Having a design in your eco-home’s garden that promotes natural cooling and shade in a garden is highly beneficial. Strategically placed trees, shrubs, or other vegetation can provide shade to your eco-home, reducing the need for mechanical cooling systems during hot seasons. This not only lowers energy consumption and costs but also decreases associated greenhouse gas emissions. These designs can also add privacy to your garden, alongside external structures.
7. Smart home technology
Smart home technology is entering every home across the UK, from gate access control to wifi-linked security cameras. When building your eco-home, you want to look for smart technology that can help keep your home as environmentally friendly as possible – without the hassle!
Examples of eco-friendly smart technology you could add to your eco-home include:
Energy monitoring and management systems
Energy monitoring and management systems are a great thing to consider installing when building an eco-home. These systems provide real-time data on your energy usage, allowing you to identify patterns and opportunities for conservation. Energy management systems also often include automated features, allowing for the optimization of heating, cooling, lighting, and other appliances; reducing unnecessary energy usage. Overall, energy monitoring and management systems result in lower utility bills and decrease your eco-home’s environmental impact.
Automated systems for lighting, heating, and cooling
Automated systems for lighting, heating, and cooling your eco-home are a really beneficial thing to include when building. These automated systems enhance energy efficiency by allowing you to have precise control over your usage. Automation can optimise settings based on who’s in the house, the time of day, or external conditions, ensuring that energy is only used when and where it’s needed. This can then contribute to cost savings by reducing energy consumption.
8. Long-term durability
You’re not building an eco house just because you fancy it – you’re building a home for yourself and your family. With all the effort you are putting into making this house a home, as well as being environmentally friendly, you want to ensure that your home is going to last.
Some ways you can ensure the long-term durability of your new eco-home include:
Use of durable materials
The use of durable materials when building your eco-home is really what’s going to make it last the tests of time. Durable materials have a longer lifespan, reducing the need for frequent replacements or repairs. This longevity minimises resource consumption over time, making a hugely positive environmental and cost-efficient impact over time, whilst also contributing to the overall resilience and structural integrity of your new eco-home.
Regular maintenance
Regular maintenance is also going to positively impact the long-term durability of your new eco-home. Consistent upkeep ensures that your eco-home’s energy-efficient systems remain in optimal condition; maintaining the home’s overall energy efficiency, reducing the need for excessive energy consumption and lowering utility bills. Regular maintenance also prevents small issues from escalating into more significant problems, thereby extending your eco-home’s lifespan and minimising resource use and waste, associated with repairs and replacements.
When purchasing from The Expert Gate Company, gate installation and servicing is part of the package; with a dedicated maintenance team responsible for ensuring your new eco-home’s gate is always safe and working as it should.
Looking for more ways to improve your new home? Check out our blog for more home, garden and driveway inspiration. Or get in touch with The Expert Gate Company for driveway gate advice.