The Benefits of Going Green
There’s never been a better time to make your home more sustainable and reduce its carbon footprint. Particularly if you’re considering renovating your home. New technologies are now available that help you produce and retain heat far more efficiently.
Renovating with sustainability in mind isn’t only good for the planet, it’s also good for homeowners. Here are a few reasons why you should consider renovating sustainably:
1. Lower energy bills
One of the biggest benefits of renovating with sustainability in mind is lower energy costs. An energy-efficient home can save you thousands of pounds over the years. Replacing single-glazed windows with double or triple-glazed ones, upgrading your insulation, and installing low-flow taps are just a few ways to make your home more energy-efficient.
Beams offers a Home Energy Assessment free of charge as part of your project planning. After the assessment, you’ll understand how green your home is today. Your Beams renovation is an opportunity to make it even greener. Here are just a few of the energy efficiency improvements we can make in your home:
Single room heat recovery units
These units keep heat in your room that might otherwise escape your home. They can be installed in the same place as most extractor fans. Not only are they more energy efficient, they are also quieter and offer better air quality.
Heat recovery units recapture up to 75% of heat that would otherwise be lost.
Boiler audit
One of the easiest ways to reduce your energy consumption is to set up your boiler correctly.
When you replace your old boiler with an A-rated boiler and a set of heating controls, you could save £340 and 1,500 kg of carbon emissions a year. That’s like planting 58 trees a year... and saving enough money for 85 oat milk flat whites while you’re at it.
Low flow and dual flush toilets
This one is pretty self explanatory. Low flow and dual flush toilets use less water per flush than traditional toilets.
Low flow and dual flush toilets save up to 9 litres of water per flush compared to a traditional toilet.
Aerated low flow taps
These taps reduce water flow without impacting your experience. Less water per minute, without any perceptible impact to water pressure.
Imagine 26 pints flowing from your tap every minute. That’s what you get with a traditional tap. Aerated low flow taps reduce this by 60% to 10 pints per minute.
Wastewater heat recovery
When you use hot water in your bath and shower, the heat doesn’t need to go down the drain with the water. Recovery trays recapture the heat and reuse it to heat water the next time you turn on the bath or shower.
You can save £100 a year on your heating bill.
Install LED lights
LED lights reduce energy consumption and are easy to install.
Depending on your home, this can save £100 a year on your electricity bill.
2. Increase your property's value
Sustainable features are becoming increasingly attractive to homeowners and potential buyers. By renovating your home with sustainability in mind, you can increase your property's value. Installing solar panels, improving your home's insulation, or upgrading your boiler can significantly increase your home's value and appeal to potential buyers.
Research by Legal & General, Sero and Santander has estimated that homes with lower energy bills, lower carbon emissions and a better Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating can see as much as a 10% increase in the house price.
3. Contribute to a sustainable future
By renovating your home sustainably, you are contributing to a sustainable future. Climate change is one of the most significant challenges we face today, and it is up to every individual to take steps to reduce their carbon footprint and protect our planet. By making small adjustments to your home like reducing water usage, switching to renewable energy sources, and using eco-friendly building materials, you can do your part in creating a more sustainable future.
Here at Beams, as well as sustainable product selection, we also focus on a more sustainable supply chain and construction process including fewer product delivery miles, less time on site, shorter supply chain and recycling of site waste.
4. Maintain healthier indoor air quality
Sustainable interior design not only help’s your home’s health but also your own. Using eco-friendly materials and good ventilation systems during a renovation can lead to a healthier indoor air quality. Harmful chemicals and toxins present in conventional building materials can cause respiratory problems, allergies, and other health issues. Sustainable building materials like natural insulation can improve indoor air quality for you and your loved ones.
5. Support the local economy
When renovating sustainably, you will likely need to source eco-friendly materials and products. By doing so, you can support local businesses that specialise in sustainable products and contribute to the local economy. Additionally, you can reduce the carbon footprint associated with transportation if you find locally sourced eco-friendly materials.
Renovating with sustainability in mind is beneficial for homeowners, the environment and the community. It allows homeowners to reduce energy bills, increase property value, contribute to a sustainable future, maintain healthier indoor air quality and support the local economy. By making small adjustments to your home during a renovation, you can play a significant role in creating a more sustainable future for generations to come.
As a pending B Corp, Beams is committed to supporting a variety of communities and stakeholders and works with local, vetted, contractors on your home renovation.
At Beams, we take every opportunity to make your home more energy efficient. You’ll receive a free home energy assessment with your renovation. Our designs minimise environmental impact so that your renovation is green, whatever colour you choose.
We're currently delivering our first handful of projects and will expand to invited customers over the summer. Apply now to join our early customer programme.
