Not only does innovative technology help you achieve a greener home build, but it will often also save you time and money.
From the very beginning of your home build process, think green. With the constant emergence of new technology trends and technologies, the first step is to understand whether a new build or renovation of existing property will be greener, not just in the short term but also for the lifetime building.
Start Smart
Do extensive research taking into consideration the pros and cons on each side. Renovating an existing property may result in fewer materials being wasted, but may result in less energy efficiency over time. With a new build, although you can incorporate whatever green building systems into the property that you like, on the other hand, the construction process can have a significant environmental impact.
Once you have decided whether to build or buy, the next step you will need to take when securing financing for your home is applying for a mortgage in principle. Using an online mortgage broker is one way to reduce your environmental impact from the offset. For example, Trussle provides a new mortgage in principle service that checks your eligibility with 18 financial institutions without you having to organise meetings with the banks directly.
With the use of smart technology, the online mortgage in principle application provides faster and more informed calculations. There is no need for lengthy meetings with financial institutions that are time-consuming and energy-consuming. Plus, there is no need for endless reams of paper waste either, as it is all recorded digitally.
Building Materials
When engaging a builder for your home construction or renovation works, make sure they are up to date using the latest building technologies and alternative renewable materials.
Solar panels technology has come a long way. It is more affordable, with most countries providing incentives, such as the EC04 Energy Company Obligation Scheme in the UK, which has allocated $4 billion for the installation of heat pumps and solar panels. Of course, how efficient a solar panel system depends on your area’s climate conditions and what level of system you invest in.
Using recycled materials is another great way to reduce the carbon footprint of your home. Many academic institutions, such as MIT, have made exciting advancements in using technology to produce new building materials. These advanced technologies produce recycled materials and reduce the environmental impact, including plastic waste being repurposed into construction material that is stronger enough to replace metal or wood. These recycled plastic materials can be used for roofing, bricks, fences and even replace lumber.
It may still be in the developing stages, but another exciting technology emerging in the construction industry is 3D printing. Yes, it will soon be possible to use 3D printing for your building works, including printing materials like blocks reducing waste and energy-consuming mistakes.
Details matter
When it comes to the fun stage of picking fixtures and fitting for your home, do not underestimate the impact of every decision you make. For example, invest in a distributed energy system that uses sensors to control your home’s energy performance, including lighting systems, heating, air conditioning, etc. A knock-on benefit of using advanced technologies such as smart thermostats is the financial savings it will provide, more now than ever, with rocketing prices for traditional heating systems and fuels.
Being thoughtful about every stage of your home build or renovation project from beginning to end and using intelligent technologies will go a long way in reducing your environmental impact and creating a green and energy-efficient home.
