How to be eco-conscious for your home extension

There is a range of reasons why you may want to extend your home. Whether it’s to boost the value of your property, create more living space, or you’d rather plan a home extension than move. And if you’re like many property owners, you want to do your bit to reduce your carbon footprint. Thankfully, there are several steps you can take to go green when doing this renovation project. Help the planet while planning your project with the suggestions below.

Pick sustainably sourced materials

When it comes to building materials for your home extension, it’s a great feeling knowing that swapping one or several of them for sustainable alternatives can reduce your carbon footprint. If you’re unsure what to get when working with wood, consider European oak for the doors, windows, and timber frames.

Other green choices are hemp insulation in the ceiling cavities and walls or traditional lime-based mortar in favor of modern cement. As you can see, there are a lot of small changes you can make when it comes to building materials to help the environment in the long run.

Be aware of your surroundings

For those who are building a large extension, be aware of your surroundings. It’s not just the space around you and the neighbors you need to consider. In addition, there might be all kinds of wildlife lurking around your area that are protected species.

To ensure you do everything above board before obtaining planning permission, getting a preliminary ecological appraisal from Arbtech is advisable. They are the best asset you can have when needing an ecology appraisal. From this process, you will learn if additional surveys need doing and if any local animals might be disturbed by the project.

Invest in a wood fuel heating system

When extending your home, think about how you’re going to heat the space. Rather than opting for a gas boiler to heat your eco-extension, why not consider a wood fuel heating system instead?

These options are affordable, viable, and eco-friendly. One of the reasons is that it will not produce carbon dioxide emissions which can otherwise harm the environment. They require minimal user input too, and most of these boilers include a self-cleaning system.

Home extension tip: Use low VOC paint

Whether you’re adding an extra bedroom, bathroom, dining, or living space, think about what you’re going to paint the walls with. Rather than sticking with traditional paint, it may be wise to consider low VOC (volatile organic compounds) paint instead.

The benefit is that low VOC paint has lower volumes of polluting chemicals and less noxious smells. While you may have to shell out more money on such paints, if you’re serious about being more eco-conscious, it’s a good choice to make for the planet.

Insulate, insulate, insulate

If you’re taking the summer to build an extension to your property, autumn and winter are just around the corner. As you know, temperatures will soon dip.

To keep your extension warm and cozy, think about insulating it. Adding solid wall insulation will trap heat in and mean you won’t have to turn the heating on as often.

You can use fibolite or celcon foundation blocks to support a new wall. Doing so will drastically reduce heat loss from ground floors.

Install underfloor heating

Replacing your radiators with underfloor heating can be a great way to lower running costs and cut your CO2 emissions too. There is a multitude of benefits linked with installing underfloor heating in your extension.

Firstly, this option is energy efficient. Secondly, it works with all floor coverings. It is fairly easy to install too.

Plus, the air that circulates from underfloor heating is cleaner than air pushed around by radiators. As well as warm air, radiators push moisture around. When moisture is in the air, this can cause mold and dampness to appear. That reduces the air quality of your extension’s environment, whether it’s a bedroom or another type of room.

Purchase energy-efficient fixtures

Once you’ve built an extension and are ready to begin furnishing it, pay attention to what kind of fixtures and appliances you buy. It’s a good idea to look for energy-efficient items that you will not only get great use out of but do your bit for the environment in the process.

If you’ve built a new bathroom, for example, fitting it with a low-flow shower head, LED lighting, and tankless water heaters can all reduce your carbon footprint. The energy savings will also make for smaller utility bills, which saves your family money.

Install solar panels in your home extension

Looking around the neighborhood, you’ll find more homeowners are adding solar panels to their roofs. There’s a good reason for this addition.

Solar panels are fantastic for protecting the planet and reducing your carbon footprint. While it may come with an eyewatering price tag, think about the long-term benefits.

Solar panels capture the sun’s energy and convert it into electricity for use in the home and extension all year round. Generating your own renewable electricity is one of the best eco-friendly approaches you can take in 2022 and beyond.

Fit bi-fold doors and windows

When building an extension, you’ll need to think about what kind of doors and windows to put in it. Bi-folding doors and windows are great for flooding your property with natural light, taking up little space, and being aesthetically pleasing.

One of the most important benefits is that bi-fold doors and windows are energy efficient. They are designed to keep heat in your extension for longer, which will reduce your energy bills and save your household money.

Planning a home extension: Green considerations

Building an eco-friendly home extension can be tricky. Trying to find the right balance between keeping tabs on your budget and doing the right thing for the environment takes a lot of planning and preparation.

Whatever the purpose behind your home extension is, paying attention to the finer details and making use of the tips above can help you achieve what you’ve set out to do. All while being environmentally friendly in the process.