Eco friendly housing

• Feb. 23 by Georgie Campbell (2)

An Energetic Rethink…

Energy – cheap, eco-friendly and essential. I don’t think so. Not only are energy bills at an all time high, but it would seem that we are relatively reluctant to do anything about it.

Electricity dominates the majority of homes within the UK. From plugging in your cooker to heating your hair straighteners we have all developed into a world in which electricity is, literally, on tap.

Preventing the rise of yet more fossil fuel usage, we need to take action now, but how many of us actually want to?

After researching solar powered energy, I found that the pros and cons were still heavily outweighed. Particularly influential during the current economic status was the financial costs of transforming our homes into eco friendly solar power stations.

Partha Das Sharma’s blog heavily examines the ins and outs of solar powered energy, but concludes that the cost of instalment compared to the amount of energy produced by square metre is vastly outbalanced.

Having put the question to the general public, using Twitter as my source, I was able to identify the main issues with eco home improvements. Along with the financial implications, many people thought they were unattractive features. This, in line with the financial costs, may be tempting architects not to introduce solar panels in new builds.

However, having recently watched Grand Designs on Channel Four, I found that many architects are, in fact drawn to the eco-home agenda.

The four bedroom new build, designed by Richard Hawes, not only holds revolutionary solar panels and has a roof three times as thick as a normal residential home, but can create up to £1,800 of excess energy a year which it can then sell back to its providers.

The house has sparked that much interest within the environmental sector that the University of Cambridge had sensors embedded in the roof to monitor energy levels.

Although costing a small fortune to build, the house certainly offers more long term benefits than any other property.

The long term investments and benefits of solar powered homes are, in most cases, worthwhile. But, as stated before, the initial costs can put people off. Several articles and blogs commented on the accessibility to sun light in big, busy cities.

In one particular blog, a solar panel was fitted on the 6th floor of a 12 storey flat for 6 days, only to recuperate enough sun to light two lamps. The adjacent 12 storey block was thought to be the cause of low input, however it cannot be certain.

If we are to be tempted by the eco-friendly energy providers we need at least one of the following:

a) Cheaper installation and products

b) Stronger and more reliable panels

Although neither may be available at the present moment, it seems most people would like to have solar panels or some other sort of fossil fuel saving equipment, but are not willing to sacrifice the look of their home, or the money needed for installation.

If we are to encourage more people to engage with solar power, perhaps we need to go back to the drawing board.