We may all want to do our bit for the environment but just how much is enough? What are the options, how much does it cost, and what are the payback times?

GREEN things we can all do for very little effort and outlay, no matter what kind of home we live in.

LIGHT FANTASTIC

Lighting accounts for around 15 per cent of our energy bills. Energy saving bulbs use up to 80 per cent less than standard bulbs and can last up to 10 times longer, using around one-fifth of the electricity. At around £3.50 each it’s true that energy efficient light bulbs do cost a little more than standard versions, but they will save electricity and money in the long term. Traditional bulbs waste much of their energy by turning it into heat, but energy saving bulbs work in the same way as fluorescent lights with an electric current passed through gas in a tube, which makes the tube’s coating glow brightly. Visit www.earthwhile.co.uk for more information on products such as energy saving kettles and monitoring devices.

HIPPOS AND BUTTS

You don’t necessarily need to invest in serious underground collection tanks to harness the rainwater run-off from your roof. Simply buying one or two standard water butts and positioning them below suitable downpipes will allow you to collect a surprising amount of rainwater. Prices start from as little as £35 for a 190 litre butt, a stand, childproof lid lock and diverter kit. Many councils and water companies will offer these kits at reduced rates, and the rainwater will benefit your garden far more than treated tap water – as well as being totally free. Each person uses around 150 litres of water per day and 60 of these litres are for toilet flushing, so – at just £8.94 for three – another simple way to save both water and money is by adding a toilet-hippo flush controlling device to your existing toilet cistern, which will save three litres each time you flush (www.hippo-the-watersaver.co.uk). The payback period on the initial investment is eight to 12 weeks, and after this you will enjoy a regular cost saving on metered bills of approximately £20 per year. Alternatively, an interflush device can save up to six litres of water per flush (www.interflush.co.uk). Fitted on top of the WC siphon, it connects to the front mounted flush handle and only flushes while the handle is being held down, which means that you use exactly the amount of water that’s needed.

COMPOSTING

According to www.recyclenow.com at least one-third of our household rubbish can be composted and used as a garden mulch to improve the soil and conserve moisture. Most of us already sort our rubbish ready for recycling, so why not reap some of the benefits by taking things one stage further, spending as little as £20 on a composting bin and recycling your own household waste to use on the garden? Include such things as vegetable peelings, teabags and shredded paper, but avoid adding meat products, animal faeces or too many grass clippings, then sit back and wait for some top quality compost. You could even go the next step and buy your own wormery, which will convert kitchen food waste into liquid feed and rich organic compost through the natural action of worms.

FINISHING TOUCHES

Think about using recycled or salvaged materials – timber, bricks and roof slates are all available through reclamation yards. Choose natural, sustainable materials, such as wood and wool, over synthetic products like PVC and try to buy locally wherever possible. Low VOC (volatile organic compounds) paints and stains are available which don’t emit toxic pollutants.

Ordinary paints are manufactured from complex, synthetic chemicals, many of which can be damaging to your health or the environment. Natural paints and stains based on oils, simple minerals and plant products are free of polluting solvents and are available from a number of sources including www.greenbuildingstore.co.uk.
Many of us are now also shunning carpets in favour of low maintenance hard floor surfaces. Carpets can harbour dust mites which induce allergies, and may have been treated with a variety of chemicals. If you decide to buy a natural wood floor instead then choose a product displaying the FSC mark (Forest Stewardship Council - www.fsc.org) and seal it with an eco-friendly wax or wood oil.

GREENER ideas that may cost a little more but will save energy and money in the long term.

INSULATION

If you only do one thing then insulating your home is the top priority. Without adequate insulation around 40 per cent of heat will be lost through the walls and roof of a house. Insulating your cavity walls and loft can therefore significantly reduce utility bills, particularly when combined with double glazing. The recommended 270mm of loft insulation can cost from around £250 to install and will save in the region of £150 each year in energy bills. Cavity wall insulation costs about £500 for a three-bedroom semi and can save £100 per year. Don’t forget to insulate pipes and behind radiators for maximum effect. The National Insulation Association has further details: www.nationalinsulationassociation.org.uk. Grants for cavity wall insulation, of around 50 per cent and above, are available for all home owners and private tenants – whatever your income – and of 100 per cent if you satisfy the eligibility criteria. Go to www.government-grants.co.uk.

If you’re building a new home then don’t just follow current building regulations for insulation – these are a minimum guide and many people opt to double the quantities of insulation in their roof, walls and floors. Make sure that the products you choose are natural and environmentally friendly, such as Warmcel 100, made from recycled newspaper; Isonat, which comes from recycled cotton and UK-grown hemp, or Thermafleece sheepswool insulation. Take care to eliminate cold bridging at junctions and around openings, design airtight detailing to prevent air leaking through the structure and consider how the house will be ventilated if it is totally sealed.

BOILERS

Boilers account for around 60 per cent of all domestic CO2 emissions, and installing a high efficiency condensing boiler with heating controls could save you between £190 and £240 a year and significantly cut your home’s CO2 emissions. The current lifespan of a boiler is 10-15 years and, by law, new gas boilers fitted in England and Wales must now be high efficiency condensing boilers –
which will immediately save you around one-third on your heating bills. Boilers are rated according to how much of the fuel they consume is converted to heat, as a percentage. This rating is called SEDBUK – Seasonal Efficiency of Domestic Boilers in the UK, with ratings from A to G – A-rated boilers being more than 90 per cent efficient and the only ones to carry the energy saving recommended logo. Compare the efficiency of different boilers at www.boilers.org.uk.

DOUBLE GLAZING

Double glazing cuts heat loss through windows by 50 per cent and could reduce your annual heating bill by £80 to £100. By trapping air between two panes of glass, double glazing creates an insulating barrier that reduces heat loss, noise and condensation. The new generation of low energy glazing has argon gas in the sealed cavity between the panes, which offers far better insulation qualities than normal air, and low emissivity glass on the inner pane which reflects heat back into the room. By looking for the energy saving recommended logo when choosing your windows you can be sure they are the most energy efficient, as the whole window (frame and glass) is assessed on a rating of A-G by the British Fenestration Ratings Council (www.bfrc.org). One of the most important elements of any ‘green’ house is actually free. Orientation of the building on its site – ideally facing between south-east and south-west – and the sizing and placement of windows is critical to maximise passive solar gain from the sun’s rays.

GREENEST ideas that may once have been considered extreme but are fast becoming mainstream, with many selfbuilders choosing to incorporate them into their new homes.

SAVING WATER

Rainwater harvesting promises savings of 50 per cent and upwards on average water consumption, and popular roof coverings such as concrete tiles make excellent collection surfaces. Water from the roof is collected via guttering and downpipes through a filter and into a storage tank, which may be buried in the garden or installed in a garage or basement. From here the water is pumped to the point of use, and if there is insufficient water then the system automatically switches to mains supply until rain refills the tank. The initial outlay is approximately £1,500 for a basic system, whilst plumbing and fitting costs can exceed £1,000. Visit www.rainwaterharvesting.co.uk for further details.

One big advantage when building your own home is that you can install a water collection and distribution system for the garden while mechanical diggers are on site. Another practical solution is to fit low or dual flush toilets, or to dispense with water altogether and choose a composting version. Grey water – the waste from baths, basins and showers – can be filtered and recycled for toilet flushing, the washing machine and outdoor use, saving up to 60 per cent on bills.

HARNESS THE SUN

Solar water heating systems use solar panels, called collectors, fitted to your roof. These collect heat from the sun and use it to warm water which is stored in a hot water cylinder. There are two types of solar water heating panels: evacuated tubes and flat plates collectors, which can be fixed onto the roof tiles or integrated into the roof. According to the Energy Saving Trust (www.energysavingtrust.org.uk)
The cost for a typical solar water heating system is around £4,800. Savings are moderate – a solar water heating system can reduce your water heating bill by between £50 and £85 per year. It will also save up to 570kg of CO2 emissions, depending on what fuel you will be replacing.

Solar PV (photovoltaic) cells generate electricity directly from sunlight and, like water heating solar panels, are best sited on a south-facing roof slope. Costs for installing a solar electricity system vary greatly – an average system (2.2kW) costs around £12,000 (including VAT at five per cent). Per kW, solar electricity systems can cost in the region of £4,500 to £8,000 per kW, but costs per kW should reduce as system size increases. Savings can be considerable and a 2.2 kWp system can generate around 40 per cent of a household’s annual electricity needs. If the system is eligible to receive the Feed In Tariff it could generate savings and income of around £900 per year.

WIND TURBINES

Britain is one of the windiest countries in Europe, and wind turbines can therefore prove to be a practical way to produce energy and are ideal for exposed sites. A wind turbine converts wind to electricity, and the most common design is for three blades, mounted on a horizontal axis, which is free to rotate into the wind on a tall tower. The blades drive a generator either directly or via gearbox (generally for larger machines) to produce electricity, which can either link to the grid or charge batteries. Costs for a roof-mounted microwind system are about £2,000 and a well sited 6kW turbine could generate around 10,000kWh per year which is equivalent to around 5.5 tonnes of carbon dioxide. A system this size could generate income and savings of around £3,200 a year when eligible for the Feed In Tariff.

HEAT PUMPS

Ground source heat pumps use pipes buried in the garden to extract heat from the ground. This is usually used to heat radiators or underfloor heating systems and hot water. Costs of installing a typical system range from about £9,000 to £17,000. Running costs will depend on a number of factors – including the size of your home and how well insulated it is.

Air and water source heat pumps use similar principles to ground source heat pumps to extract heat from air or water instead of the ground. Air source heat pumps can be fitted outside a house and generally perform better at slightly warmer air temperatures. Water source heat pumps can be used to provide heating in homes near to rivers, streams and lakes. For more information on home energy generation technologies, contact your local Energy Saving Trust Advice Centre on 0800 512 012.