| With global warming's causes and consequences a | | | | can be reused to water the garden. Additional energy |
| daily topic in the media, it seems that everyone is | | | | savings are gained by higher than normal levels of |
| jumping aboard the green train to 'do their bit' for the | | | | insulation, large amounts of glazing to invite natural |
| environment these days - and rightly so. One of the | | | | light and a passive solar orientation, where a house |
| many initiatives of this overall green movement is the | | | | benefits from a southerly orientation gaining free light |
| concept of eco property. | | | | and heat. |
| For a home to be classified as an eco, or | | | | Britain's housing stock is fairly ineffective in terms of |
| environmentally friendly property, it must have a | | | | its energy rating. On a scale of 1 to 120, the average |
| number of features that reduce the tenants' overall | | | | house in the UK rates at just 45. All houses built after |
| environmental impact. Homes are assessed using six | | | | 1995 were built to new standards of 80 and in 2002 |
| criteria: energy efficiency, water efficiency, surface | | | | the minimum energy rating was raised further to 100. |
| water management, site waste management, | | | | In light of increasing environmental awareness, |
| household waste management and use of materials. | | | | interest in green property has grown and there are |
| In older properties, where major structural changes | | | | now a number of estate agents dealing solely in |
| are unfeasible, other criteria can be used to make a | | | | green property. As might be expected due to the |
| property more environmental friendly and allow it eco | | | | relatively new concept of eco homes, the current |
| status. Buildings that are constructed from natural | | | | choice is limited, yet you can find green property in |
| materials, such as timber, use wool insulation and | | | | Kent, Herefordshire, Hampshire, Norfolk and even on |
| organic paints may will help it to qualify as green | | | | the Isle of Skye. |
| property. In addition, reliance on National Grid energy | | | | It is expected that new government legislation that |
| can be supplemented or replaced altogether by using | | | | encourages the building of eco homes by granting |
| solar thermal hot water heating systems on the roof, | | | | tax breaks and VAT reduciton on energy efficient |
| photovoltaic panels, a wind turbine or wood fired | | | | goods - such as low energy light bulbs and double |
| central heating. | | | | glazing - will also lead to people converting their |
| Savings on water can be made by using rainwater | | | | homes into more environmentally friendly zones. This |
| for flushing the toilets, or a grey water system that | | | | will help to tackle rising energy demands, reducing |
| collects waste water from sinks and showers and | | | | CO2 emissions and ultimately global warming. |