Written by Carly Freestone | 27th March 2024

Lifestyle

Going Green - Eco-friendly Home Renovations

Twenty years ago, building sustainably was far from mainstream, now it’s on everyone’s conscience. Many of our clients want to find a beautiful home, but they also stipulate that it must be green too. Read on for tips to achieve a stylish home renovation that doesn’t cost the earth, and discover four stylish Eco homes, all currently on the market with Michael Graham.

Eco-friendly properties

Non-toxic walls

A lick of paint is a fail-safe way to refresh tired walls, but Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) in paint are damaging to the environment and can cause dizziness, nausea, and headaches. Most big building supply stores now offer low-VOC or no VOC paints, but double check the label, especially when painting a child’s bedroom. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex famously painted their baby’s nursery at Frogmore Cottage with The Organic & Natural Paint Co’s non-toxic and eco-friendly vegan paint, infused with rosemary and eucalyptus oils which help cleanse and purify the air. Some house paints use casein - a protein derived from milk - or beeswax as a binding agent and many use ingredients that have been tested on animals. Vegan paints avoid these products and never test on animals. www.organicnaturalpaint.co.uk www.earthbornpaints.co.uk

 

Siberian larch clad Barefoot Barn was built in 2020 under the guidance of a renowned Feng Shui practitioner who collaborated with the vendors and architect to map the energy of the barn. The home draws on natural energy lines to maximise creativity and flow, and the Little Greene eco-paint colour palette used on the walls reflects the areas of Water and Earth. Sustainable products include Ted Todd wood floors and Fired Earth limestone. https://michaelgraham.co.uk/property/rps_mig-BUC240054

 

Flooring

Tiles are a great solution for the eco-interior designer. Natural, high-quality stone tiles from sustainable quarries are the most environmentally friendly choice as they last for years with little maintenance. UK company Fired Earth is now an acknowledged authority on colour and pattern, with a  philosophy of offering beautiful, authentic products made from honest materials. When choosing a wood floor, check that the wood is sustainably harvested and made with non-toxic adhesives and finishes. www.greenbuildingsupply.com www.reclaimed.uk.com

Prairie Barn in Pirton in Hertfordshire is a recently completed barn conversion with eco features including an air source heat pump which powers underfloor heating, and triple glazing throughout, contributing to an A rated EPC report.

https://michaelgraham.co.uk/property/rps_mig-HIT230316

Green Energy

40% of the energy used in a typical home goes on heating so if you are building a new house or converting a barn, now is the time to invest in a heating system that saves money as well as fossil fuels. You really do not have to spend that much to cut your bills and reduce your consumption of fossil fuels. Look into ground source air pumps or air source heat pumps which work by extracting heat from the ground or air outside your home and using it for radiators or underfloor heating. If you are investing in a boiler, Biomass boilers are the cheapest boiler to run and the heat they produce is carbon neutral. www.energysavingtrust.org.uk

 

Mangrove Lodge in Lilly, Hertfordshire is a former lodge house which has been extended and completely renovated throughout with particular attention paid to eco features. Solar panels on the south facing garage roof are connected to a battery to store the electricity, there is an EV charging point, and an air source heat pump on the side of the house. The EPC rating is an impressive A. https://michaelgraham.co.uk/property/rps_mig-HIT240017

 

11 Fowlers Drive in Bedfordshire is a modern five-bedroom eco house with an air source heat pump, solar panels, battery storage, and an EPC rating of A. It also has a 10-year guarantee dating from 2022. https://michaelgraham.co.uk/property/rps_mig-HIT230251

 

Kitchens

One of the saddest sights for anyone who hates waste and cares about the planet is a skip full of kitchen units and granite worktops, all being ditched in favour of the hot new trend. Why not contact a supplier who will take the old kitchen away in part exchange for a new one at a fraction of the retail price? The Used Kitchen Company (slogan, Skip the Skip) is the original and largest online marketplace for used and ex-display kitchens. Their website lists designer kitchens at a fraction of the retail price and with appliances often included. www.theusedkitchencompany.com www.usedkitchenexchange.co.uk/product-category/used-kitchen

 

Efficient appliances

Home appliances devour energy and rack up the bills to prove it. A renovation is the perfect time to consider eco-friendly replacements for appliances you use the most. Focus on upgrades that are both financially and environmentally efficient; an eco-washing machine will slash your bills and reduce environmental damage in the process. Now is also a good time to contact your local water provider to find out more about water saving devices, like water efficient shower heads, which are often provided free of charge. www.ofwat.gov.uk/households/your-water-company/map

 

If you are looking for a home that is energy efficient or have a home to sell, we would love to help. Contact us now to discuss your requirements or book a free valuation here.

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