If you're building a home or planning to do so in the future, it would be unusual not to look into ways to build a greener home. With climate change and energy bills consistently in the news, creating a home that won't have environmental or financial burdens is a key objective for many.
Or, perhaps you're considering ways to make your current property into an eco house, and are looking for upgrades that will help reduce your carbon footprint, while reaping the rewards of lower running costs.
Either way, there are many ways to build a greener home, but how do you decide which meets your objectives, and matches your budget? We asked experts for their best advice and here's what they recommend.
Article continues below1. Start by identifying what sustainable means to you
While the terms sustainability and eco are used a lot when discussing how to build a house, its a vast topic and one that architects recommend you become familiar with before you start working on your plans.
"If we're briefed with building an eco home, we always try to understand our clients' desires for sustainability," explains chairman and creative director at Artel31, Rob Elkins. "The subject is so vast that we find it helps to target our efforts on areas a client may be already passionate about such as carbon reduction, energy efficiency, or plastic usage and toxicity."
Be clear about your objectives when finding an architect. Are you just looking to reduce your energy bills, or are you consciously engaged in using sustainable materials to offset some of the less environmentally-friendly products you might have to use in your build? Decide what 'green' means to you and make a wish-list.
Rob Elkins is the Creative Director and Chairman of Artel31, an architect-led design and build firm dedicated to contemporary and sustainable design. His work focuses on balancing material and craft, with social and environmental responsibility. Several of his projects have been featured in Homebuilding & Renovating.
2. Don't make any plans until you've thoroughly assessed the site
Although you may have a variety of items such as solar PV and other renewables on your list as some of the ways to build a greener home (and ones we'll come onto), there isn't a blanket approach to being able to make them fit with your home. It all starts with the plot you're building on, explains John Everitt co-founder at coombes:everitt architects.
“We always start with a through site analysis, looking at things such as orientation, potential for solar gain and PV / solar panel locations, level of exposure, prevailing winds, possible over shadowing by adjacent buildings, as well as taking into account the trees or land forms that may affect the efficiency of PV and solar panels," he explains.
Once you understand the parameters in which you're building, then you can begin to layer in the more recognisable ways to build a greener home.
John Everitt is a RIBA certified architect and director and co-founder of coombes:everitt architects, an award-winning Cotswolds based practice dedicated to creating beautiful, carefully crafted homes that enhance the way people live. With more than 25 years’ experience as an architect, John’s area of expertise is designing contemporary sustainable homes within AONB and Greenbelt.
3. Think about size before you get carried away
In much the same way that size impacts any alterations you make to your home, it can equally affect your eco home costs. The bigger your home, the more each individual element – eco or not – will cost. So, it can pay to think in a more compact way if you're keen to include as many ways to build a greener home as you can.
"We always start by trying to minimise the size of the build," Rob Elkins tells us. "Clever design can combine spaces which are used for small percentages of the time, and that then allows our clients to make financial savings or invest in a better quality of build."
4. Build with a fabric first approach
Taking a fabric first approach is considered the priority if you're looking at ways to build a greener home. It's placed above renewable energy systems because it doesn’t require you to install anything – the building does the work for you.
Building this way means you’ll invest in the building's envelope to ensure high quality home insulation, airtightness, solar gain and natural ventilation are factored in at the design stage.
You can even build to the strict criteria of Passivhaus standards if you want to ensure your home is as airtight as possible, but, "the essential thing is to make sure the building retains as much energy as possible," says John Everitt, "so make sure the fabric is thermally very good and the air leakage is minimal.
"It is far easier to reduce the amount of energy you need to heat the building by preserving what you use, rather than trying to use renewables to replace energy that is lost through a leaky building.
"We will start the process by considering the fabric of the buildings," he continues. "Will it be traditional masonry or timber frame? More recently, our bespoke home designs are being delivered using insulated concrete formwork (ICF) systems or SIPs panels. These generally provide better thermal performance and improved airtightness."
5. Combine renewables for the best results
Next on the list of ways to build a green home are of course your renewable energy options. Building a sustainable home that doesn't include them isn't really an option, but what you must do to make sure you benefit fully is take a cohesive and integrated approach, rather than looking at them as a list of piecemeal add-ons.
"We start by looking at the renewable technologies that may be suitable for the site," explains John Everitt. "We have used both ground and air source heat pumps often paired with solar PV panels and batteries, as well as mechanical ventilation and heat recovery (MVHR) systems.
"When combined effectively and integrated into the design of the dwelling from the beginning, these can generate highly energy efficiency properties which are low to no carbon in operation and are very cost effective to run. Albeit they do require a higher capital investment," notes John.
"I would always recommend a heat pump, solar PV and MVHR combination, not only to ensure minimal costs," agrees Rob Elkins, "but also a great quality of internal air."
And while they aren't right for every home, don't forget to take biomass boilers into consideration too.
6. Use natural materials and reclaimed materials
There are great sustainable benefits when building with natural materials as they reduce the need for man-made resources which often require a lot of packaging and transporting.
While reclaimed materials are often used in renovation projects, they’re often overlooked in a new build. They may not be ideal for structural elements, but there are plenty of places where they can make a valuable contribution.
Used roof tiles, floorboards, skirtings, and reclaimed bricks as outer skins to timber frame walls can not only add character but also save on the embodied carbon of new materials.
Even looking at ways of building with straw can provide you with efficient eco insulation and a home that is strong and long lasting - if maintained well it should last more than 200 years. But what do architects in the field favour?
"Timber is such an incredible material which can be used throughout the building from structure to finishes," says Rob Elkins. "It's always number one on our list, and timber framing and natural (biogenic) materials are also much more available and cost competitive.
"We always try to bring elements of regenerative architecture into all our buildings," continues Rob, "and we also love to reclaim materials such as stone and clay as they bring a great sense of history or soul to a new building."
“We tend to look for materials that have a low level of embodied carbon, use an element of recycled materials, are durable and low-maintenance and where possible are locally sourced," says John Everitt. "Often, we use timber ensuring it is FSC certified; and engineered timber can be used for structural elements. Some of the ICF systems we use contain a high level of recycled timber to create the formwork too. A lot of the projects we work on are in the Cotswolds and surrounding areas, which means we can use a lot of locally sourced Cotswold stone.”
Don't forget too that timber framed homes are light, often meaning simpler (and less expensive) types of foundations are required.
Take lifecycle and longevity into account too
"Longevity is another key consideration when designing sustainable homes," says Johnny Pearce, co-director at Oltco. "Selecting durable materials with a long service life reduces the need for replacement and minimises waste over time.
"Looking at the full lifecycle of a product, from raw material sourcing and manufacturing through to installation and maintenance, can significantly reduce a project’s embodied carbon as well," he adds.
John Pearce is the Co-director of Oltco, the UK's leading sustainable resin-bound business. His journey began with a degree in Public Relations and Media, followed by launching a drink brand and consulting in the brewery industry. His further experience as an Account Manager honed his skills in sales, marketing, and strategic decision-making, leading him to partner with trusted friend Tom Stringer in 2010 to co-found Oltco. John and Tom shared a vision of building a value-led business, with complementing skill sets that drive Oltco’s success.
7. Make sure you think about roof type
As well as the materials used to create the structure of your home, it's also important to consider all areas of the construction, including the type of roof, notes John Everitt.
“Many of our contemporary home designs feature flat roofs, often to help the building sit more comfortably within the surrounding landscape, particularly in AONB and conservation areas.
"Flat roofs make ideal green roofs, so they have become integral to many of our sustainable home designs. Yes, they help reduce visual impact," says John, "but they can also support biodiversity, add an extra layer of insulation and help manage rainwater run-off, which are all part of creating a sustainable home inside and out.”
8. Don't forget to take your driveway and hard landscaping into account
"When building a sustainable home, much of the attention understandably goes towards insulation, renewable heating systems and high-performance glazing. However, outdoor spaces such as driveways, patios and garden paths should be considered with equal care," says Johnny Pearce.
"With planning policy increasingly encouraging the use of Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS) and more responsible water management, permeable surfaces are becoming an important consideration in both new builds and renovations," he explains.
So exactly why is your outdoor landscaping considered one of the ways to build a greener home?
"Traditional impermeable paving can contribute to surface runoff and place additional pressure on drainage networks, particularly during periods of intense rainfall. By contrast, permeable systems allow water to drain naturally through the surface and into the ground below, helping to reduce flood risk and support more resilient garden design," expands Johnny.
How the materials you use are made, can also increase the sustainability of your outdoor spaces.
Oltco's Recycle Bound, for example, is a resin bound surfacing solution designed to utilise waste plastic that is already in circulation. The system incorporates recycled waste plastic, including items such as straws, bottles and packaging, into a durable aggregate mix, giving discarded materials a practical second life. To date, the equivalent of more than one billion plastic straws have been reused within installations across the UK, with this number growing daily.
"By reducing reliance on new materials and embedding recycled content into long-lasting surfaces, projects can lower their overall material impact without compromising on performance," continues Johnny.
In the same way you consider how big a house you really need, "it is also worth questioning how much hard surfacing is truly necessary," he says. "Avoiding non-permeable paving, integrating rain gardens or soakaways, and designing levels to guide water into planted areas can all help create a more climate-conscious scheme. Combining permeable surfaces with complementary soft landscaping, tree planting and shaded areas in an eco-led garden will support biodiversity and make better use of natural rainfall.
"Ultimately, sustainable homebuilding should be approached holistically," says Johnny. "When outdoor surfaces are designed with water management, durability and responsible material use in mind, they can make a meaningful contribution to the overall environmental performance of a home, ensuring that sustainability extends beyond the walls and roof to every part of the property."
9. Small measures matter too
Building an eco home isn't just about finding the big ways to make it greener though. Small measures matter too, and can be invaluable whether you're starting a self build, renovating or extending.
Collect rainwater
By collecting rainwater and reusing it, you will reduce your need for using excess water from the mains.
If you don't want to spend a lot, you can install a water butt in your garden for as little as £30 and use the collected rainwater to irrigate your garden.
If you are after something more substantial, you could go down the route of installing a rainwater harvesting system which could allow you to collect enough rainwater for car washing, toilet flushing and even clothes washing.
Switch to LED bulbs
Using of the best LED bulbs is an easy way to help make your home more energy efficient. The low cost of LED lights, the tiny amount of energy they use, the variety of shapes available and light quality they offer means that there is no reason to install anything else.
Manufacturers claim longevity for LEDs of 20,000 to 50,000 hours which, for a lamp that is used for four hours per day, gives a lifespan of 14 to 34 years. Install a good quality one and you may never have to buy another.
Invest in smart heating
Save how much energy you use with a smart heating control system that allows you to determine when, and to what temperature, each room is heated.
This can help to minimise your home’s heating demand, and it’s worth considering in any rooms that you don’t plan to use every day.
Minimal cost options
Draught proofing - seal up cracks and gaps with foams and tapes around windows and doors to help keep heat in and save energy.
Insulating pipes and hot water tanks - use pipe wrap or foam pipe sleeves to insulate water pipes and wrap an insulating jacket around a water tank to keep water warmer for longer.
Turn your thermostat down - even if you are unable to do any of the above, by just turning your thermostat down by 1°C you can reduce your energy consumption.
FAQs
Does it always cost more to build a greener home?
“There is an increase in capital cost in terms of physically building the property," confirms John Everitt, "and there are generally slightly higher design costs because there needs to be more coordination between architect, contractor, renewable teams and so on, to ensure building form and fabric, as well as the renewable technologies proposed for the project, are well integrated and work together.”
"It shouldn't be, but specific high levels of energy efficiency can add a small percentage to the build cost," adds Rob Elkins, "but this is then saved during its lifespan.
"However, most sustainable and regenerative designs should be achievable on a standard budget. Economic sustainability is another fundamental element in the wider ecological and human improvement we're looking to make. It needs to be mass market if it's going to make a big difference!"
What are the benefits of building a greener home?
"It's the single largest expenditure of money and carbon most people are ever likely to make and it's a huge opportunity to do better," says Rob Elkins. "If you recycle, it's a drop in the ocean, but building sustainably, or hopefully regeneratively, could save as much carbon as you will use in the rest of your life – just through a single action.
"Personally, I also see it as the perfect chance to create a healthy and efficient home," he adds.
Rob Elkin's final advice for making sure the time you put into finding ways to build a greener home brings benefits?
"Find the right contractor as there is a fair account of reticence in the sector. You need someone passionate about building better," says Rob, "and someone who is open to new ideas, as many of the technologies are evolving rapidly.
"Ask yourself what your build can do to improve its environment and community," he concludes, "and you'll be surprised how much difference you can make."
Seeking some more ideas? Take a look at these inspiring eco homes, and if you're embarking on a smaller home expansion project, take a look at all the ways you can build a greener extension.
