The items listed below gives a basic insight into some of the available possibilities for energy saving and the use of environmentally friendly and sustainable materials and products in building projects.
External building design
- Orientate buildings and terraces so that principle rooms capture maximum solar radiation (ideally within 30 degrees of south)
- Shelter surfaces from the cooling effects of the wind e.g. landscaping using native species in direction of the prevailing wind
- Incorporate rainwater butts in downpipes and use permeable surfaces around buildings
- Use vitrified clay pipes which have a less harmful production process than PVC and can be recycled at a later date. PVC is less easily disposed of.
- Use recycled or new concrete slabs rather than asphalt paving
The building fabric
- Use recycled materials - second hand bricks/tiles/slates, crushed concrete hardcore etc.
- Increase insulation beyond the minimum requirements of the Building Regulations in walls roof and floors
- Mineral wool and expanded polystyrene insulation uses less production energy and produces less noxious emissions than extruded polystyrene and polyurethane
- Softwood timber frame construction requires less material than traditional construction
- Use timber windows and doors rather than UPVC
- Use high quality untreated softwood rather than hardwood for doors and windows (preferably one with a Forest Stewardship certification)
- Use European softwoods from a renewable source rather than hardwoods
- Use argon filled double glazing which has a lower emissivity for less heat loss
- Waterbased or natural paints and stains will not threaten the painter's health or the quality of the air
- Use draft excluders to reduce heat loss through doors and windows
- Use local materials that do not have to be transported long distances
Building services
- Use condensing boilers
- Lag existing hot water tanks and pipes
- Install dual flush WCs
- Provide solar energy panels for water heating
- Install temperature controls for different parts of the house e.g. thermostatic valves
- Use low energy lighting
- Install whole house ventilation systems with heat recovery units
- Do not extend heating into a conservatory
- Consider installing a greywater recycling system