Home improvements have proved hugely popular over the last two years as a result of the pandemic, with the various lockdowns providing us with the perfect opportunity to do some renovation work here and there.
If you’re keen to move forward with other projects in the new year, investigating how to do so in a more sustainable manner would be very beneficial for the planet – important given the impact that human activity is having on the planet, something that can no longer be ignored.
Figures from Bimhow show that the construction sector contributes to 50 per cent of landfill waste, 40 per cent of water pollution, 50 per cent of climatic change and 23 per cent of air pollution – and individuals and businesses alike have a responsibility to try to reduce this as far as possible.
For residential building projects, there are all sorts of choices you can make that will ensure your home and renovation work is eco-friendly and kinder to the planet. If you have a larger project in mind, for example, demolishing existing structures can create huge amounts of waste, as well as being more expensive.
But there are ways in which the environmental impact can be reduced, such as by reusing demolished materials elsewhere, recycling those that can’t be reused, storing materials properly, securing and protecting materials during bad weather, and avoiding excess ordering of products.
Renovating in the summer months can also be more eco-friendly, since you’ll likely have lots of doors and windows open – so lots of energy will inevitably be lost as a result.
And investigating the ideas of passive design can really help make your home more eco-friendly, making use of both the physical orientation of the property and seasonal weather patterns to design spaces that are comfortable throughout the year, requiring minimal heating and cooling. Elements of this kind of design include insulation, thermal mass, airflow and double glazing.
For help with home extensions in Milton Keynes, get in touch with us today.
