Subsidies For Sustainability: When Green Building Really Gets Profitable

It’s a dream and a mission for many people to build the ultimate green home. If you can do this and maintain low running costs on top of that, it’s an idyllic way of life. As consumers, we are all accountable for doing our bit to help save the planet and reduce our carbon footprint.

Help from the Government and Financial Institutions for Green Home Building

The government, with the help of eco-friendly organisations, is keen to offer grants and other assistance to help people achieve their dream of building their green home.

Check and see if you can find some financial help for your project, grants or loans available from banks or building societies that have an interest in green building and offer incentives to people who want to go green. Green mortgages are springing up everywhere and are becoming the ‘in thing’ as a more ecologically sound way of financing our homes.

Some financial institutions are sympathetic towards people who are looking to buy a property which had been built with sustainable materials. Or if you are building it yourself, they will offer a discount if you install biomass boilers and other eco-friendly items, like ground source heat pumps, solar PV, solar hot water and wind turbines.

Renewable Energy Sources

People in general are still a bit wary of renewable energy sources such as solar and wind power, as the running costs and sustainability of these over a longer period still have to be proven, but the brave ones who have already installed these seem happy enough. Many people are turning to solar energy to combat the rising heating costs. To actually make money from such a project is even more exciting.

You can obtain help from the electricity, gas and water companies, to improve energy efficiency in the home by getting grants and subsidies for loft insulation, draught proofing, cavity wall insulation. They can also help with sourcing heating appliances, energy efficient boilers and wood burning heating systems.

The harvesting of rainwater for use in the home, is also very useful and ecologically sound. It is also about recycling and making the most use out of natural materials and items which have been discarded.

Getting More Information and Help

If you are committed to building your home, there are many sustainable development websites, where you can get all the information you need to get you started, including a list of tradespeople who are favourable disposed of the cause and knowledgeable in their subject. You will need help with making a building plan and a budget for materials.

There are workshops to learn more about sustainable building. See if there is one in your area. You can learn more about natural materials with which to build your home, like wood, stone, earth and materials for insulation, like wool, straw and old carpets.

Have a look at the top 10 eco-buildings in the UK and you will be inspired. To help you to save money and recycle you can search for unwanted items in demolition sites and scrap yards, to find materials for building, like discarded doors and window frames. You’d be surprised at what you may find. Also, go on Freegle and other recycling websites for things that may come in useful.

Created by UK property blogger B. Barnes – Brandon has been born and raised in London and over the years, has developed a passion for sustainable living and developments. He frequently advises architects and builders on sustainability questions and also frequently writes posts and articles for on- and offline publications. This article has been written on behalf of bespoke property management agency Rhodium. For more information please visit the website rh-45.com.