If you’re thinking about building your own home, you’ll probably be focusing on priorities like where to build, how many bedrooms, what size plot, the style, and appearance; all the elements that make a home-build so appealing. Most people who want to build their own homes are more interested in making it their dream dwelling than anything else, and factors such as foundation materials or drainage requirements come a way down the list. However, whether you take much of an interest in green energy and ecologically sound building practices or not, very few people would be blasé about saving money where it was possible.
Does building green genuinely save money?
When products like solar panels and ground or air source heat pumps were first introduced to the market, they were far less efficient and more expensive than they are now.
For instance, early examples of solar panels would have taken twenty-five years on average to save you enough electricity to pay for themselves, which is a considerable long-term investment. As with any technology, it tends to be pricey when it’s first launched, but as the market grows and technology develops, prices come down and are more within reach of the average family.
Modern green energy solutions are highly efficient and can be installed for a reasonable cost, which means that it won’t take you so long to reclaim the investment – and you could well produce enough energy to sell some back to the power company and make some money on the deal.
What are the best green technologies to include in a new build?
There’s no definitive answer to this question because technologies are continually improving and developing, plus there is the site, location, type of home, and your personal requirements to consider as well. Solar panels are one of the easiest and most reliable systems to include, as they’ve been in development for decades now and new materials and designs are highly sophisticated, even able to operate even in low light conditions. If you want to know about the recommended solar panel products currently on the market, you can read more now at specialist installers’ websites.
If you live in a location that has more wind than sun, or your plot has a source of free-flowing water, then wind or hydroelectric power may be an efficient option to consider. These technologies are more often associated with big power companies than individual homes, but smaller systems are now available that can be a viable option in the right situation.
There’s a lot to be said for making your house as green as possible as it’s being built, as this is far more cost-effective than installing systems once the build is complete. For example, underfloor heating provides even, controllable heat that uses less energy than a traditional system of radiators, and it’s straightforward to install during a building project. However, as the pipework is set into the concrete of the floors, once the house is built it’s a major undertaking to dig up the floors and install it post-build. If you’re designing a home of your own, it’s worth going green and future-proofing your house against potential energy shortages.
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