What is the Impact of Off-Plan Home Buying on Housing Sustainability?

Importance of Sustainability in Home Construction

Sustainability is becoming an increasingly important consideration in all areas of life, including the construction of homes. With the UN predicting the need for over 300 million new homes to be built by 2030 to accommodate the growing global population, it's crucial that the construction industry takes responsibility for minimizing the impact of these new homes on the environment. Governments around the world are introducing environment-considerate schemes and incentives to encourage more sustainable building practices.

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Benefits of Eco-Friendly Homes

However, while building eco-friendly homes has a positive impact on the environment, it can also benefit the homeowner by reducing energy bills and maintenance costs. It's important for buyers to ask sellers or developers about the energy efficiency of a home, taking into consideration factors such as its age, maintenance, climate, internal layout, orientation, electricity planning, and plumbing.

Various studies have shown that improving the energy efficiency of a home can save around $1,000 annually. For example, an orientation that maximizes exposure to sunlight can save up to 10% of energy in comparison to poorly oriented properties. Additionally, showers are more ecologically friendly than baths. New, eco-friendly homeowners in Australia purchased 45% less electricity and consumed 22% less water than other households, resulting in an annual saving of $1,000.

Environmentally-Friendly Building Practices

The UK has recently made EV car charging mandatory in all new buildings, and new homes in England will soon be required by law to have electric vehicle charging points installed. Accreditation schemes are available for builders to mark homes as environmentally friendly, taking into consideration energy and water efficiency, climate control, sustainable materials, and other factors.

Buyers can also upgrade their new homes before they are built by modifying the orientation, selecting sustainable materials, and upgrading ventilation systems and electrical planning. This provides added value for both builders and buyers and compensates builders for the extra work.

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Features of an Eco-Friendly Home

When looking for an eco-friendly home, buyers should consider the following:

• Optimized orientation for climate control
• A heating/cooling system that can be separately controlled in different parts of the home
• Double-glazed windows (often referred to as Low-E glass)
• Low-E lighting and appliances
• Solar hot water
• Shared rainwater tank
• Wet rooms – ensure the room is fully tiled, water goes down a floor drain, add shower trays or screens, and check that there is adequate air so that a vent won’t have to be on for most of the day
• Low or dual flush WCs, as well as efficient taps and showers, will save plenty of money without any reduction in performance.

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