Introduction
The carbon footprint of housing in the UK is becoming an increasingly contentious topic, with politicians and experts weighing in on how to better manage sustainability in the built environment. While there are a number of building practices aimed at constructing new green buildings, it is important for property owners to consider how to improve the efficiency of their existing buildings.
An emerging trend in the built environment is the retrofitting of existing buildings to reduce their carbon footprints.
The built environment is one of the largest contributors to carbon emissions in the UK in both its construction and operation, there are a number of reasons for this.
1. Buildings are generally constructed with materials such as bricks and cement, both of which emit a large amount of carbon in their production.
2. The construction process often requires the use of heavy machinery which, in turn, uses a great deal of energy, contributing to the emission of carbon into the atmosphere.
Once the construction phase has completed, and buildings move into the operational phase they require large amounts of energy in order to remain habitable. Processes such as heating, cooling and ventilation use large amounts of energy. In order to combat this, there have been a number of developments in green building materials, which have contributed to an overall reduction in carbon emissions in the construction of buildings.
In addition to this, there has been an increased focus on the reduction of carbon emissions in the operation of buildings in the UK. Older buildings often have outdated systems which require large amounts of energy to operate.
With this in mind, it is important that landlords and property investors consider how to improve the carbon footprints of their properties. One of the ways in which landlords are doing this is by retrofitting their properties with newer, more environmentally friendly technologies which help reduce their overall carbon emissions. There are a number of ways in which this can be done:
Energy And Water Saving
One of the most common ways in which properties are being retrofitted to improve their sustainability is through the installation of water and energy saving measures.
Water saving measures include the installation of water efficient taps, grey water systems and rainwater collection, all of which help landlords reduce the overall water consumption of their property.
Energy saving measures include solar panels, geyser blankets and utilizing natural light. By retrofitting their building with water and energy efficient systems, landlords can ensure that their properties have a lower environmental impact and a reduced carbon footprint.
Heating
Given their extent, buildings use a great deal of energy to stay warm or cool. This has a number of effects.
1. Landlords are required to pay exorbitant heating bills in order to keep their building habitable.
2. The energy used by heating systems in buildings can have a substantial impact on their carbon footprints. In order to combat this, landlords are increasingly installing insulation and improving the efficiency of their ventilation systems, both of which have proven effective in reducing their building’s energy consumption.
Lighting
Lighting is another important factor to consider for landlords and property owners, as it can have a notable effect on carbon emissions and energy bills.
Replacing old halogen light bulbs with efficient LED bulbs can reduce a building's energy consumption substantially.
In addition to this, the installation of motion sensor lights can ensure that the building does not waste energy by lighting empty rooms.
Conclusion
There have been substantial property development finance options available in green building materials and practices which help property developers reduce their carbon emissions and the overall environmental impact of the industry. In addition to this, property owners and landlords can improve the efficiency of their existing buildings by retrofitting their properties with environmentally friendly measures.
It is important for landlords to consider these alternatives in order to reduce operating costs and carbon emissions. Moreover, tenants are increasingly focused on the environmental impact of their buildings, with a large number of tenants requiring energy efficient spaces. With this in mind, property owners can improve the profitability of their investment by considering energy efficient retrofitting.