How Can I Reduce My Bills With Sustainable Building Solutions?

By Author: HJ Clark
Total Articles: 65
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As the years go by, the amount of effort and publicity given to sustainable building solutions increases, as the government aims to make the average consumer aware of how we are polluting our environment, and the measures we can take to reduce our CO2 emissions. It seems as though we have been taking notice, as more and more households are enquiring about and purchasing renewable technologies so that they can reduce their utility bills and help save our environment. Although we know the benefits and the impacts of sustainable building solutions, what are the best products for reducing our bills?

1. Solar PV – We start off with the most popular. Solar photovoltaic (PV) panels, or Solar Panels as you know them, are the most widely adopted solution, because of the immense benefits they offer in reducing the amount of energy your house requires from the grid. Solar PV panels absorb photons created through the suns light, which is then converted into usable electricity for the home. Another element that makes Solar PV technology so popular is the variety ...
... on offer, including on roof systems, in roof systems and flat roof systems.

2. Solar Thermal – A Typical family of four will use between 200 and 300 litres of water per day. A large proportion of this water will be heated for use in bathing, showering, washing and heating. Solar Thermal systems provide an average of 50-70% of a households hot water annually and almost all of the hot water during the summer therefore reducing the need for traditional electric or gas fed boilers. Solar Thermal systems absorb heat from the atmosphere and in turn warms the solar fluid within the system. This fluid is then circulated into a twin coil cylinder, which in turn heats the water in the central heating system.

3. Air Source Heat Pumps – This innovative bit of technology converts all air energy generated outside your house in to heat to warm up your home. Not only that, but it also reduces the cost of your heating bill by up to 50% compared to traditional heating systems, making them a popular choice for new builds. Unfortunately, air source heat pumps are not included in the government’s new renewable heat incentive, however it is expected that the technology will be introduced in to the scheme in the second phase which will be available from October 2012.

4. Rainwater Harvesters – During an average day, it has been discovered that a typical person will use up to 150 litres of water, and a great deal of that will be wasted. That is why rainwater harvesters are a great way to save a great quantity of water and reduce the pressure on other resources. This water, that would otherwise be flushed directly into our drainage network, can be used instead for other jobs, which include flushing the toilets, feeding a washing machine or even watering your garden. It is this which makes rainwater harvesters a very popular water saving technology.

5. Under floor Heating – The great thing about under floor heating is that it requires less energy than traditional heating systems, and the heat will be evenly distributed throughout the room, making the whole place warmer and generating a more comfortable indoor environment. This can help to dramatically save on heating bills, which will be helped further with the correct insulation.

6. Ground Source Heat Pumps – Another renewable technology, which is included in both phases of the recent renewable heat incentive, are Ground source heat pumps. These heating systems refrain from using fossil fuels to heat a home or office, and instead utilises the most sustainable energy source we have, the sun. The ground source heat pump uses solar energy in the soil, bedrock and ground water as a heat source which is then transferred to the central heating system.

These are not the only sustainable solutions on the market, there are a wide range of eco-friendly products for your house and you should always look in to all the alternatives available to you, before deciding on the right technology for you.

Greenworks provide sustainable building solutions to all, including Solar Panels, rainwater harvesters and ground source heat pumps.