30
Oct
High-end property owners and environmentally-friendly homes
It seems that being environmentally-friendly is becoming
increasingly important for many. With the Carbon Reduction
Commitment set to take effect in 2010, many high-end property
owners could be looking to improve the environmental impact of
their homes.
Indeed, eco issues will most likely be firmly back on individuals
and organisations' agendas, with the government having set the UK's
first three carbon budgets at levels to achieve a 34 per cent
reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2020, in comparison to
1990 levels.
Now it has emerged that nuclear power could be the answer to
helping the UK cut down on emissions. Those with a high-end
property could benefit, as GDF SUEZ SA, Iberdrola SA and Scottish
and Southern Energy secured an option to buy land for the
development of a new nuclear power station at Sellafield. The
consortium is planning to build up to 3.6 gigawatts of new nuclear
capacity in the UK, with work set to begin in 2015.
"These latest plans, together with the ambition of existing plans
from two other operators, mean that new nuclear could power the
equivalent of all 26 million homes in the UK," commented energy and
climate change secretary Ed Miliband.
"This sale is further proof that we're giving industry the
confidence to invest and that the UK is creating a successful
low-carbon economy," he continued.
Now, total proposals for new nuclear power stations stands at 16
gigawatts of electricity and the Department for Energy and Climate
Change believes this new nuclear energy could supply every home in
the UK.
Meanwhile, the Homes and Communities Agency has recently announced
that £51 million will be going on a second wave of schemes to
be unlocked through round one of the Kickstart Programme.
One initiative that will be receiving funding is The Grange in
Bowburn, County Durham, which will be given more than £3.3
million to deliver 80 homes.
Talking to politics.co.uk about the decision, Roberta
Blackman-Woods, MP for the City of Durham, had this to say: "Durham
has been in need of investment in housing for a long time, due to
the failure of the former city council. I am delighted that
£3.3 million will be invested in Bowburn to build these new,
environmentally-friendly homes."
"This is further evidence of the government's commitment to housing
and our desire to keep the country building to help us through the
recession, in comparison to the Tory/Lib Dem attitude."
Newhouse Farm, located in St Austell, Cornwall, is another example
of a high-quality, environmentally-friendly property in the UK. It
uses different solar technologies in order to improve its green
credentials.
For example, the farm has 40 evacuated tubes on its potting shed
which transfer heat to a manifold that has water pumped through it.
This warmed liquid then passes through a coil in the property's hot
water tank to provide residents with heat.
Photovoltaic panels have also been installed in its outbuildings.
This is part of a grid linked system that lets the residents sell
surplus electricity back to the grid. They were able to get a
£2,500 grant to bring these panels in, which provide peak
capacity of just over three kilowatts.
The waterwheel at the site provides power for the lights in the
house and energy is stored in batteries so those living there can
have enough available to turn on as many lights as they need.
Spring water is also pumped into a holding tank in the loft for the
flushing of toilets as well as for showers, baths and washing
clothes.
High-end property owners can take on such energy and
water-conservation methods in their own homes. Perhaps if we all do
our bit, we will be able to improve the environment
together.