Air Source Heat Pumps (ASHPs)
Installing a heat pump to run your central heating is one of the most effective ways to reduce your carbon footprint.
Air source heat pumps (ASHPs) are an efficient way to reduce fossil fuel consumption, particularly in conjunction with underfloor heating. They work by absorbing heat from the outside and transferring it into your home.
The gas boiler ban is currently making its way through parliament. It is expected that a full ban including retrofit will come in to force closer to 2025.
Advantages:
- Low carbon footprint, low running costs, low maintenance, can be used for heating and cooling, easy installation, long life span and no fuel storage required.
Disadvantages:
- Higher installation costs, will require a well-insulated home to begin with and a lower heat supply than boilers which may require larger radiators.
Ground Source Heat Pumps (GSHPs)
No need for a main line gas supply! GSHPs extract the heat from the ground outside and transfer it into your home to heat your radiators or underfloor heating. It can also heat water stored in a hot water cylinder for hot taps and showers. The temperature is consistent irrespective of weather conditions.
The installation costs are usually quite high as there is a requirement for hundreds of metres of coiled pipe buried into a trench in the garden or a long loop placed in a narrow, deep borehole. The internal equipment requires more space compared to an ASHP.
Advantages:
- Low running costs, energy efficient, environmentally friendly, provides cooling and heating, Eligible for grant funding and increases property value.
Disadvantages:
- High initial installation costs, bulky inside equipment, high servicing costs.
Sedum Green Roof
There are considerable benefits of installing a green roof:
- Boosts thermal performance – The roof provides additional insulation reducing heating needs in the winter (saving money). The plants absorb the suns energy & reduce the temperature in the summer so less need for air conditioning.
- Reduced carbon footprint – Linked to the above. Heating and air conditioning create CO2. Less CO2 is generated with a green roof thus a reduced carbon footprint.
- Improved air quality – The plants help convert the CO2 into oxygen. With a green roof you are contributing to air purification.
- Supports wildlife and habitats – The green roof is perfect for attracting birds & other wildlife to create a thriving eco-friendly habitat.
- Noise reduction – The green roof acts as a sound barrier. It absorbs the sound thus provides a quieter environment.
- More successful planning applications – Supports sustainability policies so is more likely to pass.
- Improved drainage
Solar Photovoltaic (PV)
Solar electric panels, known as photovoltaics (PV) capture the suns energy and convert it into electricity that can be used in your home. Generating energy in this way offers reduced energy bills and generous financial incentives from your energy provider.
Solar panels have reduced in price by 80% since 2010, making solar PV a cost effective solution to achieving sustainability and meeting building regulations.
Solar energy can be stored using batteries so you can use energy stored to avoid peak energy costs.
Advantages:
- Solar energy is energy supplied by nature – it is thus free and abundant! Minimum maintenance and low maintenance costs, provides green energy (no harmful greenhouse gas emissions), export tariff available (Smart Export Guarantee SEG payments).
Disadvantages:
- Initial investment (however, this is paid back over the life of the panels). Disposal of PV panels currently are not particularly eco because as yet they are unable to be recycled. We are sure this will change in the coming years.
Wastewater solutions
There are several products available to provide solutions for your wastewater. One of which is the BioBubble domestic waste water solution installed on our EcoHouse project in Yapton, West Sussex. Waste water from the property is transferred into the underground BioBubble where the water is treated so it can flow directly into ponds, rivers, streams, bog gardens & ditches etc.
This solution treats to a high standard whilst being kind to the environment.
Rainwater harvesting
Rainwater is collected from the roof and stored in an underground tank, it is possible to halve your water usage!
Untreated rainwater can be used to flush toilets and feed your washing machine. An outside tap is usually connected too.
On average, toilets use 33% and washing machines 17% of domestic homes water.
