Today’s homes benefit from a huge range of aesthetic qualities, but the technology that makes them efficient is of even greater value. Ecological heating, water conservation and sustainable building materials all offer great improvements on the past, delivering cost savings to homeowners and environmental protection for future generations. These days, we have many opportunities to demand higher building standards and these can be wonderfully combined with creating beautiful, energy efficient homes.
Keeping warm and cool
Our homes are better insulated now than our grandparents could have dreamed of, and we’re benefitting from a more comfortable living environment and cheaper running costs. Insulated building materials, cavity wall and loft insulation are regarded as standard features in modern homes, and the quality and range of window fittings are vastly different these days. Double glazing and draught-free installations are features that are both modern and energy efficient,while external or internal window shutters are another option.
Shutters are eco-friendlyif sourced from sustainable, renewable forests, and they add a lovely yet helpful feature to your home, increasing your insulation and decreasing your maintenance.Shutters are a key example of how sustainable materials can be routinely and easily incorporated in building and renovation projects. By sourcing FSC certified wood, manufacturers can ensure that there is traceability right through their supply chain and that timber producers receive a fair deal. This completely natural product lends itself to many different styles and colors, and shutterschime in perfectly with our demand for energy-efficient, eco-friendly building designs.
Alternative power solutions
Shutters complement other ecological technology in our homes, particular solar power, which is widely accepted and installed as part of the energy solution in today’s housing. Solar water heaters and electricity provide substantial savings on energy costs, as well as help us to regulate our energy consumption and cut waste. With remote control devices, we have much more targeted control over what we consume and when we need it, all of which makes us more responsible inhabitants of planet earth.
In some locations, wind turbines also make an important contribution to energy production, even on a domestic scale. And moving to a more sophisticated level of technology as well, geo-thermal heat pumps offer very attractive energy savings and low maintenance costs, helping to offset the initial higher investment required.
Water conservation
When it comes to environmentally sustainable living, don’t let your thinking stop at alternative energy sources. Water resources are increasingly costly and scarce, so collecting rainwater efficiently via rain barrels makes a huge difference to the cost of your garden. Similarly, inside your home, great savings on water usage come from dual-flush toilets and water regulators on showers.
Modern living has the potential to leave our planet in a poorer state, but equally we have made huge advances in ecological technology that can leave a truly green legacy for our children as we face up to the challenges of climate change. From windows to garden watering, our homes can be more comfortable, lower cost and naturally attractive, all thanks to advances in sustainable technology.
