Living the Green Life

Affordable eco-homes — who wouldn’t want to live in one? With the costs of energy rising,
perhaps this is something that deserves serious consideration. The Daily Mail thinks so, publishing an article recently describing several types of properties available in the U.K. which can dramatically reduce heating costs. Solar panels and an efficient heat recovery system translate into higher savings for homeowners.

The idea of “going green” in residential living is catching on in lots of places, especially where homeowners can have a choice as to how their energy can be generated. For years, electricity in Europe has been expensive, and now the U.S. is catching up, as the need for energy increases. Builders are finding creative ways to conserve while maintaining the expected quality of life.

The dream green team: The stylish eco-homes that will save you money too
By Graham Norwood

Eco-homes are not just for the wealthy and David Cameron. They are becoming more affordable and, even better, their low running costs save money. Before the credit crunch, homes with good environmental ratings carried a premium. But as more eco-homes have come on the market, so competition has driven prices down.

Take the latest offering from Cloud Nine, a Cornish-based developer specialising in eco-friendly modular homes, which are built offsite then assembled on the buyer’s plot of land in ten days.

The properties start at £88,000 - although buyers also need to purchase a plot with planning permission for a home - and this cost includes eco-heating systems using solar thermal panels, plus airsourced heat pumps and log burners providing hot water and in-wall heating.
home

Green luxury: The Holborough Lakes scheme near West Malling, Kent

‘We’ve been able to keep heating costs down to £26 a year for our two-bedroom houses and not much higher for our three and fourbedroom properties,’ says Chris Chapman, from Cloud Nine.

These homes may be particularly attractive to self-builders who can choose from a range of different materials, coloured render, timber cladding, roof types and interior styles. There are several rival types of eco-properties on the market, some with price drops because of the recession.

For example, in Colwyn Bay there are homes built to exacting Super E standards, pioneered by the Canadian government.

The Welsh properties are effectively ’sealed’ with no gaps - a heat recovery system draws in cold air, purifies and warms it, then circulates it around the home where, because of the seal, it cannot escape.

The result is a naturally warmer home that needs little or no central heating even in winter, thereby reducing its carbon footprint. Prices of the Colwyn Bay flats have been cut by 20 per cent and start at £185,000. Berkeley Homes is also using Super E technology at its Holborough Lakes development, near Ebbsfleet, Kent, where prices for apartments start from £165,000 and rise to £270,000 for a four-bedroom town house. Other volume builders are making eco-features standard.

For example, Crest Nicholson’s Avante development at Coxheath, Kent. All 150 homes have a ventilation system with heat recovery, which provides a constant background flow of fresh air into the home, while extracting condensation. Glazing is minimal in the bedrooms to reduce heat loss, and maximised in living areas to let light in.

A central ‘lantern’ roof light maximises natural light throughout the homes. Avante prices start at £145,000 for apartments and £205,000 for three-bedroom houses.

Even Central London has ecohomes at relatively low prices. St James Urban Living, the developer behind the Silkworks scheme in Lewisham, South London, has environmentally-friendly properties starting from £174,000. For that, you get roof-mounted solar panels to preheat water, which is fed into a central boiler and distributed to each apartment.

The block’s innovative ‘brown’ roof provides a habitat for local ecosystems and the windows use a so-called ‘low-E’ glass, a thin transparent metal-oxide coating, which in theory keeps it warmer in winter and cooler in summer. ‘We have contradicted the traditional view that eco-friendly homes demand a premium. We’ve built homes that allow buyers to make major savings on running costs, while owning an elegant, affordable property,’ says Catherine Oliphant, of St James.

Those keen to buy a home with strong green credentials at any end of the market can check the Good Homes Alliance, which lists developers, architects, civil engineers and sustainability consultants involved in building eco-friendly properties, as well as discussing green issues in the housing market.

While eco-features are becoming standard on even modestly priced homes, there is even better value for those buyers taking the plunge.
With the housing market still in the doldrums, many developers are keen to sell remaining stock and are happy to accept offers from buyers able to proceed swiftly - some will even throw in extra fixtures and fittings to clinch a deal. So if you are buying a home now, there is no excuse not to go green.

Wearing Plastic

Eco-fashion is branching out to include all manner of things.  A recent article in The Daily Mail mentioned a new trouser suit for women, made in Vietnam from discarded and recycled plastic bottles.  Who would have thought?

This outfit can be found in Debenhams, and their spokesperson mentioned how proud they were of this latest venture into recycling.  Elena Antoniou stated, “We are proud of our
creation as it’s right on trend in terms of fashion, and kind to the environment, without
costing the earth. If it proves popular amongst our customers then there’s no reason why we
couldn’t extend it to menswear.”

At £35 for the jacket and £20 for the trousers, it will attract some attention.  Apparently,
it looks and feels like polyester.  For those that prefer a more luxurious material next to
their skin, they might want to wear something from the line created by Live Life Organics.
Using quality organic cotton, each shirt has a positive message created to enhance the
design of the garment.  They can be found at www.livelifeorganics.com.

Eco-chic: Debenhams unveil recycled women’s suit made from 50 plastic bottles
By Beth Hale

It is sometimes said that beautiful women can look good dressed in any old rubbish.

Well now they can test that theory. Designers from Debenhams have come up with a £55 trouser suit that is made entirely from recycled plastic bottles.   It took 12 months to create the suit.

The bottles, which would otherwise have been destined for landfill sites, are cleaned and have their labels removed before being ground down into chips which are melted at a plant in Taiwan.

The special process to make the material involves melting down the unwanted bottles, refining the mixture and weaving it into a soft, but hard-wearing type of polyester.  Around 50 are used in each suit.

A spokesman for Debenhams claims that the single-button jacket and the bootcut trousers will tempt the ‘ fashion conscious’ shopper and ‘would not look out of place in the boardroom’.

With its polyester feel the suit, made in Vietnam, may not be luxurious enough for everyone.  But its green credentials - and the credit-crunch price of £35 for the jacket and £20 for the trousers - will attract some.

Elena Antoniou, a spokesman for the store, said: ‘We are proud of our creation as it’s right on trend in terms of fashion, and kind to the environment, without costing the earth.

‘If it proves popular amongst our customers then there’s no reason why we couldn’t extend it to menswear, so watch this space.’

Rain Tube

The Green Building 2008 Benchmark Sustainability Awards has selected Rain Tube, a green
company which manufactures products for rain water control, for a number of of their top awards.  The Company took the best overall award, as well as awards for Top Sustainable Product; Production and Manufacturing; Social Sustainability; Installation, Use and Maintenance; End of Product Life; and Global Climate.

Listed on the Canadian stock exchange, Rain Tube makes a product to protect gutters from
clogging, which is more durable and less expensive than similar conventional items.  Made from recycled plastic using a patented process, rain tube fits compactly into gutters, allowing
the rain to pass through but preventing any build-up of debris.

This is the only product of its kind currently on the market.  Certified eco-friendly, it is a multi-stage system made from 100% recycled high-density polyethylene which is virtually indestructible and comes with a transferable lifetime warranty.

Currie Technologies Hybrid Electric Bicycles

Currie Technologies Hybrid Electric Bicycles

Currie Technologies is a developer, manufacturer and distributor of quality,
high- performance Hybrid and Electric Powered Bicycles and Scooters with patented
Electro Drive Technology. There are two product brands, Izip and Ezip, differentiated by
price point but not quality. These two brands fit in with individuals from all walks of
life. Currie Technologies builds products that offer cost effective, emissions free
alternatives to other forms of transportation for commuting,and offer great value and
performance.

Better World Club

Better World Club is dedicated to balancing economic goals with social and environmental
responsibility. They support a cleaner environment and alternative modes of transportation.
Their customers are provided with high quality, good value and environmentally sensitive
products and services. Better WOrld acts as an advocate on behalf of the consumer and
demonstrate their social and environmental commitment by donating an amount equal to 1% of
their annual revenues toward environmental cleanup and advocacy.

Better World Club is the environmentally friendly auto club providing 24 hour nationwide
roadside assistance, travel and insurance services.  Besides these services you’d expect,
an added bonus for members is the quarterly gas rebates.

Better World Club provides carbon offsets for travel, and gives discounts to hybrid auto
drivers.  It also offers an option for bicycle roadside protection, and gives family
membership status to domestic partners as well as married couples.

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