Join the eco revolution

With households representing 44 per cent of the UK’s carbon output it has never been more important to start ensuring our homes are as eco friendly as possible. We can all make a difference to the environment by addressing the ways in which we live and despite common misconceptions this doesn’t have to mean dramatic lifestyle changes. Initial steps can be as small and simple as making sure our electrical appliances are switched off when not in use as opposed to put on standby mode or even washing clothes at a lower temperature such as 30 degrees.

The Carbon Credit Scheme is a government policy intended to encourage people to be more ‘carbon neutral’. The scheme will attempt to reduce the amount of carbon households produce by rewarding people who are more environmentally friendly with Carbon Credit for example, Carbon Zero properties worth less than £500,000 will be exempt from stamp duty saving potential buyers thousands of pounds.

The government is also considering building a number of Eco towns and villages and several building firms are now offering Eco friendly house extensions. Numerous companies such as British Gas and several insurance companies are even now taking steps to ensure they are more environmentally friendly. British Gas, for example, has pledged an Energy Efficiency Commitment and in 2007 the company invested around £90 million on subsidising energy efficient products.
So far this year, British Gas have insulated more than 350 thousand homes, supplied more than 6 million homes with light bulbs and subsidised more than 2.7 million A rated appliances. If you aren’t already with British Gas it might be worth giving their website a look. You can use their tariff comparison page to find out if they can supply you with the cheapest gas.

If you are thinking of creating your very own Eco-house there are a variety of ways in which this can be done without having to dip too far into your pockets. Typically used methods in making a house more eco-friendly include wind turbines, solar panels and double-glazing. Methods such as insulation and double-glazing serve to reduce energy output whilst also saving you money on heating bills. If you install just 270mm of insulation you can reduce your heating bill by as much as £200, there are now also schemes available in which the government will actually help pay to insulate your home.

A further way to help create your own Eco-house is by using eco friendly materials such as eco paint and eco friendly flooring. It is important to ensure that when choosing your resources they are as natural and chemical free as possible, eco friendly carpets are generally made from materials such as organic cotton, wool and hemp and if you are choosing to have natural floors it is best to choose a product like bamboo.

It is estimated that by 2016 all new homes will be carbon neutral and with more and more people rejecting the usual building route of bricks and mortar in favour of materials such as timber and straw there is no better time to start.