Sustainable homes for a net zero future

The roofs over our heads contribute a great deal to climate change. From the materials needed to build houses to the energy needed to heat or cool them, residential properties are responsible for 17-21% of energy-related carbon emissions globally. Housing will play a considerable role in reducing carbon emissions to net zero by 2050.

Eco-friendly buildings aren’t just good for the environment. They can also significantly enhance occupants’ well-being, offering improved air quality, natural lighting and better thermal comfort, as well as long-term savings in lower energy and maintenance costs.

We look at five areas to consider for a more energy efficient home:

Whether you’re building a new home or embarking on renovations to an existing house, there is much we can all do to reduce the impact of our homes on the environment.

1. Retain heat
Heat in our homes is generated from numerous passive sources – the sun, body heat, cooking and even pets. Retaining heat can be achieved through installing double glazing or different methods of insulation to lofts, internal and external walls and floors. The use of extractor fans with heat recovery to pre-heat fresh incoming air is also a big benefit.

2. Use sustainable building materials
There are various ways to ensure the products and materials you use are as green as possible. Re-using and recycling existing bricks and timber is one obvious method. Ensure all new materials are sourced locally and consider natural products, such as sheep’s wool insulation. Always check the product’s origins and carbon footprint, for example look for FSC certification on new timber. Whole life carbon should also be considered, as some higher value products, such as steel and concrete, have a higher embodied carbon, but will last longer.

3. Install efficient heating
With the move away from fossil fuels, there are various low-carbon heating systems available. These include air, ground or water heat pumps, which transfer heat to or from a source outside of your home. Installing an alternative boiler, such as a biomass, electric combi or micro-CHP system can generate heat more efficiently. Solar energy can also be used through solar panels to provide electricity and hot water.

4. Building form and air tightness
Most of us live in older homes which can suffer from draughty windows, doors and lofts. Fewer gaps in the structural envelope mean less heat is lost to the outside world and is generally easy to address. Most older homes will benefit from masonry construction, which serves to temper temperature variations, but will not retain the same heat as a modern home. With new buildings, consider orientation – increasing the amount of glazing and providing rational building forms to minimise heat loss. Shading to glazing is also important, to prevent overheating in higher insulated and airtight homes.

5. Green architecture
The key is to provide low energy homes and then add green energy products. These include photovoltaic panels to generate electricity, battery storage, solar water heating and reclamation. Water use and retention can be achieved with green roofs, which are also an aesthetically pleasing feature, and will help improve air quality and reduce a building’s temperature.

Building to last provides one of the most sustainable approaches. High quality, flexible design will always provide a sound starting point. Coupling this with the use of quality and durable materials will mean a home lasts long into the future.

John Everitt, director of coombes:everitt, said: “We believe sustainability starts with good design and this doesn’t have to mean increased costs. We design buildings that are thoughtful and sympathetic to the environment, whilst enabling our clients to derive maximum enjoyment from their home and surrounding landscape.”

Whatever your project, coombes:everitt architects can offer advice on sustainability, with an in-depth knowledge of all aspects of modern technologies from passive building design, use of solar energy, ground/ air source heating, use of low carbon materials, natural ventilation and the general efficiency of your home.

For more information or to discuss your project, Toby Coombes  t-coombes@ce-architects.co.uk or John Everitt j.everitt@ce-architects.co.uk