Call Us: 0118 946 9146 | Email Us: info@ecohousestore.co.uk
Call Us: 0118 946 9146 | Email Us: info@ecohousestore.co.uk
You’ve probably heard that we’re attempting to live in an eco-friendly world. When it comes to your home, you want to make sure that it is as eco-friendly as possible. Although the term “eco-friendly” has many different meanings, generally speaking, it refers to a house that is built using materials that are sustainable and energy efficient. This means using materials such as recycled wood or being aware of how much energy your appliances use and trying not to waste any electricity when you can help it. In this guide, we’ll show you how to build an eco-friendly home that also looks great and feels comfortable.
Eco-houses may take a variety of forms, and some or all of the following characteristics could be included in them.
The Fabric-First approach is a building philosophy that prioritises the insulation and air-tightness of a building’s envelope over the installation of renewable energy technologies. The idea is that by ensuring a well-insulated and air-tight building, the energy demands for heating and cooling the building will be reduced, thus making the home more energy-efficient and reducing its carbon footprint.
In this approach, the focus is on designing and building a high-quality, well-insulated building envelope, which includes the walls, roof, floor, and windows. This is achieved through the use of high-quality insulation, air-tight construction techniques, and efficient heating and cooling systems. Once the building envelope has been optimised, renewable energy technologies, such as solar panels, can be added to further reduce the building’s carbon footprint.
The Fabric-First approach is seen as a more cost-effective and practical way to reduce the environmental impact of a building, as it addresses the biggest energy demands of a building first, rather than relying on renewable energy technologies alone. It also provides a more comfortable living environment, as it helps to regulate indoor temperatures and reduce energy bills.
The Fabric-First approach includes:
Using solar power is a great way to reduce the carbon footprint of an eco-friendly house. There are several ways to utilise solar power in a home, including:
Solar panels: Solar panels are the most common way to generate electricity from the sun. They convert sunlight into direct current (DC) electricity which can be stored in batteries or converted into alternating current (AC) electricity to power household appliances.
Solar water heaters: These systems use solar panels to heat water for use in showers, baths, and for washing dishes. They can significantly reduce a home’s energy usage and costs.
Solar-powered ventilation: Solar-powered ventilation systems use energy from the sun to ventilate a home, reducing the need for electricity or gas-powered systems.
Solar-powered lighting: Solar-powered lighting systems use energy from the sun to light homes during the day and can also be used to charge batteries for night-time use.
It’s important to consider the local climate when choosing the right solar power systems for an eco-friendly home. In areas with low levels of sunlight, it may be necessary to supplement the solar power system with other sources of energy. Additionally, it’s important to choose high-quality, durable solar panels and components to ensure reliable performance over time.
Solar photovoltaic panels capture the sun’s energy and convert it into electricity, which in turn can be used to heat your home and power electrical devices. These are typically installed on your home’s roof and will generate power during daylight hours. The panels are able to generate power regardless of how sunny or cloudy the weather is, although they do produce more electricity on sunnier days. Electricity generated during daylight hours can be stored in batteries, so you can use it at night.
The Government’s Smart Export Guarantee (SEG) ensures that any excess power you don’t use can be sold into the national electricity grid.
The main advantage of solar energy is that it allows you to improve your home’s sustainability by generating clean electricity. Also, because solar panels generate electricity from sunlight, they can help you reduce your reliance on the grid and even cut your electricity bills.
With most solar panels and battery storage, you can save as much as £700 a year on average on your electricity bills. You’ll also have the option of paying for it over time with different payment methods.
Lime render is a traditional building material that has seen a resurgence in popularity due to its sustainability and eco-friendly characteristics. Here are some of the benefits of using lime render in an eco-home:
Carbon-Neutral: The production of lime is considered carbon-neutral for several key reasons. Lime is more eco-friendly than concrete, the manufacturing process produces considerably less carbon dioxide. Also, during the drying process, lime will re-absorb any carbon dioxide produced, helping the environment even more. In its production and use, lime mortar is a truly eco-logical building material.
Uses Less Energy: Compared to cement, limestone is burned at a much lower temperature during the production process. Lime is burned at 900°C as opposed to cement, which is burned at 1300°C. Because of this, it uses less energy to produce and is, therefore, more environmentally friendly. Lime mortar production is relatively sustainable, providing no pesticides are used; it will therefore cause little damage to our air quality, water supply, land or soil.
Durability: Lime render is a long-lasting material that can endure harsh weather conditions and provide a strong and stable surface for many years.
Moisture Regulation: Lime render is highly permeable, allowing it to regulate the humidity levels in a building by absorbing and releasing moisture. This can help to maintain a healthy indoor environment and prevent issues like mould growth.
Low Maintenance: Lime render is low maintenance and does not require frequent repainting or upkeep.
Versatility: Lime render can be applied to a variety of surfaces, making it a flexible and versatile building material.
Aesthetics: Lime render is available in a range of colours and can be used to create a range of textures and finishes, making it an attractive choice for the exterior of an eco-home.
Lime may be used as an excellent building solution for ecological buildings requiring carbon-neutral or even carbon-negative materials.
The environmental benefits of using lime mortar as opposed to concrete or cement are substantial. At the end of life, lime mortar can be completely recycled. When evaluating the lifetime cost and environmental impact of a building, it is important to consider how much waste the structure will produce. Lime is the clear winner when compared with concrete options.
The popularity of triple glazing amongst eco-homes has led to a rise in the number of homeowners converting their windows into this type. Triple glazing is a type of window construction that uses three panes of glass instead of the typical two. Here are some of the benefits of triple glazing:
Improved Energy Efficiency: The extra layer of glass in triple glazed windows helps to reduce heat loss, making homes and buildings more energy efficient. This can result in lower heating and cooling costs.
Better Soundproofing: The additional layer of glass in triple glazed windows can help to reduce the amount of noise that enters a building. This makes triple glazing ideal for homes or buildings located in noisy areas.
Increased Comfort: The extra layer of glass helps to reduce drafts, which can make a room feel more comfortable and reduce the amount of heat lost through the windows.
Enhanced Durability: Triple glazed windows are typically stronger than double glazed windows and are less likely to break or become damaged over time.
Improved Security: Triple glazed windows are more difficult to break, which can provide an additional level of security for homes and buildings.
Reduced Condensation: The extra layer of glass in triple glazed windows can help to reduce the amount of condensation that builds up on the windows, making them easier to clean and maintain.
Overall, triple glazing can provide many benefits in terms of energy efficiency, comfort, durability, security, and reduced condensation.
Firstly, we hope we’ve helped you to understand how to better equip your eco-home. With an eco-home, you can enjoy a higher quality of life. You can also help to reduce your carbon footprint and thereby protect the planet. We hope that you’ll take the time to consider all the benefits that come with an eco-home. Making the decision to build a home in this way is a great way of protecting our planet and any assistance you require, we can help you.
Lime mortar is a viable alternative to cement, providing similar structural benefits and environmental advantages. Lime mortar may be used in conjunction with other materials such as steel to create sustainable buildings that are both durable and beautiful. The durability of lime mortar has been proven through centuries of use and is particularly well-suited for the construction of sustainable buildings.
When compared with cement, lime mortar offers a number of benefits including a lower carbon footprint, decreased waste production and the ability to be recycled at end-of-life.
