After UK regulator for energy Ofgem revised its energy price cap, a dramatic rise by 54% imposable on the average British household, many homeowners will feel anxious about energy spending this Springtime. Alternatives in energy sources will now, for many in the UK, feel even more attractive, not only to live sustainably, but also to reduce average energy costs.
Living costs in the UK are compounding at the fastest rate – the quickest for 30 years – and this is largely dependent on, and will continue to be influenced by, the increasing rates against energy and other commodities on the UK market. On behalf of the National Institute for Economic and Social Research, one think-tank even forecasted that the inflation rate could rise to as high as 10% by Q3 2022.
Achieving sustainability through everyday living, especially for households, now feels even more urgent, as dependency on the National Grid could price out an entire lifestyle. Shrinking the carbon footprint, both as a country and individually, has for years now been a priority to those who understand fully the economic, environmental and social advantages of sustainability. Having the proper green “credentials” can even help a business build favourable reputation within younger generations of buyers, the future customer base for many product and service providers.
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But the pathway to clean living has long been contested, as energy alternatives have begun to unlock rewarding futures for households who have been early to adopt. Everything from solar panels to window replacements have the power to create sustainable change – not only minimising carbon emissions in the average UK household, but keeping costs down.
Solar Panels
House trends have largely evolved in time, but the significance of sustainability has become so prioritised that it informs everything from design choices and architecture to energy usage. The recent popularity in “tiny” homes reflects how compactness can be used to minimise wasteful living habits; prefab buildings and “cargotecture”, on the other, are emerging trends that looks at inexpensive alternatives for how a house or building can be constructed. What these trends capture is a growing aspiration to use housing – whether construction, design or other - as an arena to innovative sustainable living.
Energising buildings via solar panel technology is, on the other, outliving its days as a trend. Estimations suggest that only 970,000 UK homes utilise solar technology installations to farm energy naturally. But solar and wind is predicted to source 50% of the UK’s energy by 2050, suggesting that solar technology has emerged as a market solution that could save households on their monthly bills and improve sustainability goals.
Material Decisions
Complementing solar technologies, more households are increasingly making greener material decisions. This means, simply, that non-toxic, recycled, and possibly reclaimed construction materials are ever present in homes.
Recyclable, renewable materials and other material technologies like composites are cost-saving ideas because they are part of what’s called a “circular economy”. In a model of circularity, everyday materials are reused time and again, minimising waste and costs that are involved in energy-intensive production lines.
Smart Homes
As homes become “smarter”, households can creatively harness green technology to monitor their every living costs, focus-in on unsustainable practices, and even improve energy efficiencies. The concept of a smart homes is the most common description for technologies that are seamlessly integrated into households, sometimes out of convenience, but most often to improve the performance of energy.
Common scenarios include household products that can control lighting, temperature or climate. These technologies are easily adopted because they enhance lifestyles in the process, such as the comfort of having temperatures controllable via a smart phone or even voice command. But what most households should look to take inspiration from is the power that these tools have in unlocking a home with better energy performance.
Window Replacements
Energy efficient windows can be the difference between an extra layer of thermal protection or energy waste. As windows are installed at points across a home, keeping heating demands efficient will require home design decisions that minimise common areas of energy waste. Many may not be aware that heat loss can be as high as 25% -30% from windows alone, one of the biggest areas of waste.
Window replacements, on the other hand, can ensure that the likes of thermally broken frames trap energy, rather than letting it go to waste. Metal windows, for example, can offer properties a stylish, contemporary look without compromising on the high level of insulation or energy efficiency.
A combination of these strategies – harnessing solar energy from technology, getting smarter with your property and replacing windows – can reduce energy waste. The end goal is to reach a point of sustainability that’s both economic and convenient for the everyday household.
by Henry Martin
