Many eco-homes are these days designed with comfort and even luxury in mind, demonstrating how it is possible to enjoy modern living while using less energy and water.
Earlier this year, The Guardian presented a list of its top 10 eco-homes in the UK. These new, innovative and stylish properties demonstrated just how far eco-design has come. Here are some of the key features of the homes that may inspire you to move into your own eco-home in the future.
Ground Source Heat Pump
A ground source heat pump is an effective way to provide heat to a building, and this was one of the features used in various eco-homes on the list. The pump draws natural heat up from below the ground from depths of up to 70 feet, and it helps to keep the property at a constant temperature throughout the year no matter how cold it gets outside.
Insulation
Insulation is one of the key areas for saving energy, and energy companies like npower often recommend it as one of the most effective ways to cut energy usage and bills. Eco-homes often take it one stage further by using natural materials
For example, one of the eco-homes used sheep wool insulation in the roof, and another used natural straw bales and a turfed roof to reduce heat loss.
Solar Power
Solar water heaters were used in one of the eco-homes to cut down on energy costs, making it an effective way to cut energy bills. You don’t have to live in an eco-home to make use of solar power, and people all over the country are now installing panels onto their roofs.
Rainwater Harvesting
We waste huge amounts of water every year, but rainwater harvesting, like that used in two of the homes in the Guardian’s list, can help to significantly reduce the amount of water used. Water is often captured using a cistern, and the water can then be used for flushing toilets or even in the washing machine.
Compostable Toilet
Flushing the toilet uses up precious water which could be saved through the use of a compostable toilet. The presence of such toilets in the eco-homes on the list demonstrates how they can be used in a modern, comfortable home to save vast amounts of water every year.
Larder
A simple larder is often all that is needed to get rid of the need for a fridge freezer. One of the eco-homes has a north-facing larder, which is also ventilated, to keep the food chilled without the need for power of any kind.
Natural Lighting
One of the simplest ways to reduce energy use is to cut down on the need for lighting by making the home naturally lighter. Some of the eco-homes used large skylights in the roof, and others used white floors and translucent walls to reduce the need for electric lighting.
Living Green Can Be Comfortable Too
As you can see from these features, there is no reason why green living has to be uncomfortable. Eco-homes have come on a long way in the last few years, and now it really is possible to live a low-carbon lifestyle in comfort. So could it be time you thought about moving into an eco-home too?
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