Energy efficiency in housing is becoming increasingly enshrined in government regulations as it aims at CO2 reduction targets. Since June 1 2007, house sellers are now required to provide buyers with an energy performance certificate. This certificate must give ratings for energy and environmental efficiency as well as the home's running costs (lighting, heating and hot water), which are also graded as good, average or poor, and details of the cost of improving this.
If you're building from scratch, even your dream home, it makes sense to consider its marketability should you want to sell. Meanwhile the social housing market already insists builders conform to various eco requirements, such as energy efficiency, as well as considering the local environment.
'There are increasing numbers of architects, developer/builders going down this path, though still too many are building CO2 emitters which you won't be able to heat in 100 years time', says Chris. 'Builders are currently the least of our market. Trade tends to be the most conservative, but it is driven by the consumer and there's a growing steady increase in interest and awareness.'
The pioneers, as recently as the 1980s, were hampered by a limited or non-existent supply market for materials alone. But things have changed. 'You can build a low energy house as cheaply as you can build a standard house,' says Chris Herring.
He was one of three builders who set up the Green Building Store in 2001 after struggling to source environmentally (and human) friendly building materials, and researching and developing their own, particularly timber and windows.
In the early 1990s they designed and built one of the most energy efficient houses in the UK - Longwood low-energy house in Huddersfield. 'When we built that, it was not much more expensive than a standard house; now it is even easier.'
Sue Turpin-Brooks agrees. 'As more and more people invest in these concerns it's becoming more affordable. The building budget is always going to be an issue but you have to take into account cost over the lifetime of the property as well as the initial cost.' That includes the running costs where owners can look forward to major savings.
This is evident on a large scale in Germany, where thousands of low energy houses have already been built, with ongoing targets to build more, says Chris: 'The advanced German standard achieves 95 per cent less energy use than a current new build.'
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