5 Eco-Friendly Features to Look For in Sustainable Homes

In 2022, more and more home buyers are actively seeking eco-friendly properties but what to look for? In this article, we’ll take you through the five eco-friendly features to look out for in your new eco-friendly property.

Sustainability has been a buzzword for some time now and, as the world works together toward environmental goals. Many people are actively choosing sustainable homes when making a move. Buying a sustainable home will not only help to save our planet’s resources but will also save you cash in the long run- something we’re all thinking about right now.

A property solicitor in London, Manchester or Bristol can help you complete on the perfect eco home that meets your needs for a sustainable home in the heart of the UK. But first, you need to know what to look for!

In this article, we’ll take you through the five eco-friendly features that you should be looking out for when shopping for your new home.

What Are Eco-Friendly Home Features?

Eco friendly features are devices within a property which help to save on energy and water usage, thereby reducing the carbon footprint of a home. These devices range from simple and inexpensive features to those which are more complex and require more of an up-front financial investment to put in place.

Here are 5 sustainable features to consider for a property:

1.      Solar Panels

You’ll no doubt have already seen these in properties in your area but, if not, solar panels are panels which replace your regular roof tiles and, which harness the power of the sun and turn it into electricity for your home.

Buying a home which has these panels in place can save you a considerable amount of money on your electricity bills – and its a bonus that the previous owner has already gone to the trouble (and expense) to have these fitted as they can be pricey.

If you are unable to find a home which already has solar panels fitted, you may want to consider fitting these yourself int he future – in which case, you’ll need to check out the rules and regulations for the area, as well s the details for the property, to ensure that the property is suitable for solar panels.

2.      Reduced Water Features

The average person uses around 152 litres of water every day – much of which is wasted, thereby depleting the planet’s resources for no good reason. For this reason, it’s a really good idea to look for water saving features in a potential new home, such as:

• Restricted flow shower heads and taps
• Dual flush toilets
• A-rated appliances including washing machines and dishwashers

These features can make a significant water saving and save you money at the same time.

3.      Increased Natural Light

Lots of natural light can make a home feel more welcoming and it can also help you to cut down on your energy use. Rooms which have plenty of natural light tend to be brighter and warmer, meaning that you use less electricity on your lighting and heating.

When viewing a prospective new property, be sure to visit during daylight hours so that you are able to gauge just how much light is coming into the home naturally. While viewing, don’t forget to check the condition of window and door frames as frames which are in a state of disrepair will tend to let heat escape from the building, thus pushing up your energy usage.

When thinking about lighting and heating, you’ll also be looking out for properties which have smart meters and thermostats fitted. These devices can help you to save a considerable amount of energy by allowing you to only heat the house when necessary – i.e while you’re actually there.

4.      Insulation

Proper, comprehensive insulation is essential for keeping heat in your home and therefore saving on energy. Don’t be shy about asking for details on the property’s insulation, for example, when it was fitted or updated, as well as asking if the windows and doors are insulated.

If the property has a loft, you’ll want to check that this is adequately insulated as a high amount of heat from a property is lost through its roof.

5.      Charging Points

As the trend toward electric and hybrid cars continues, many of us will almost certainly be considering switching to one of these vehicles in the future. Looking for a new property which already has the necessary cabling needed for electric vehicle fast charging points can give you a head start on living in an eco-friendly home if you may be considering such a vehicle switch in the future.

Making Eco-Friendly Changes to Your Property…

Living in a more sustainable home is all about making changes to your lifestyle which, in turn, make significant improvements in both energy saving and cost. With the world’s 2030 sustainable goals just eight short years away, it’s up to us all to do our bit for our planet.

By changing the way in which we live, work and travel, we can help to reduce our energy use at the same time as keeping our bills as low as possible during the current cost of living crisis.

When shopping around for a new home, your estate agent should be able to fill you in on the eco-friendly features which are included within a property, giving you a heads up before you arrange a viewing.