The Complete Guide to Buying, Developing & Investing in Green Property

buying,developing & investingin greenproperty

catherine dawson

the complete guide to



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catherine dawson



CGT Buy Develgreen TP 3/5/07 5:53 pm Page 1

Publisher’snoteEverypossibleefforthasbeenmadetoensurethattheinformationcontainedinthisbookisaccurateatthetimeofgoingtopress,andthepublishersandauthor cannot accept responsibility for any errors or omissions, howevercaused. No responsibility for loss or damage occasioned to any personacting,orrefrainingfromaction,asaresultofthematerialinthispublicationcanbeacceptedbytheeditor,thepublisherortheauthor.

FirstpublishedinGreatBritainin2007byKoganPageLimited

Apartfromanyfairdealingforthepurposesofresearchorprivatestudy,orcriticismorreview,aspermittedundertheCopyright,DesignsandPatentsAct1988, thispublicationmayonlybereproduced,storedortransmitted,inanyformorbyanymeans,withthepriorpermissioninwritingof thepublishers,orinthecaseofreprographicreproductioninaccordancewiththetermsandlicencesissuedbytheCLA.Enquiriesconcerningreproductionoutsidethesetermsshouldbesenttothepublishersattheundermentionedaddress:

120PentonvilleRoadLondonN19JNUnitedKingdomwww.kogan-page.co.uk

©CatherineDawson,2007

TherightofCatherineDawsontobeidentifiedastheauthorofthisworkhas been assertedbyher in accordancewith theCopyright,Designs andPatentsAct1988.

BritishLibraryCataloguinginPublicationData

ACIPrecordforthisbookisavailablefromtheBritishLibrary.

ISBN-10 0749449756ISBN-13 9780749449759

TypesetbyJSTypesettingLtd,Porthcawl,MidGlamorganPrintedandboundinGreatBritainbyCambrianPrintersLtd,Aberystwyth,Wales

Contents

Introduction 1

1 Makingdecisions 3 Definingagreenproperty3;Discoveringyour environmentalphilosophy4;Matchingyourphilosophy withpersonalcircumstances6;Matchingyourphilosophy withfinancialconsiderations7;Matchingyourphilosophy withpropertyaspirations8;Developingagreencode9;

Summary9;Usefulorganizations10;Usefulwebsites14;Furtherreading14

2 Homeowners 16 Becomingmoreenergyefficient16;Buyingenergy-efficient

products30;Convertingtorenewableenergysources35; Reusingandrecycling43;Knowingaboutgrantsand discountschemes47;Usefulorganizations50;Useful websites52;Furtherreading53

3 Home-buyers 54 Developingagreenchecklist54;Findingsuitable properties60;Recognizingandevaluatinggreen potential61;Recognizingpotentialforrenewableenergy

sources66;Avoidingunsuitableproperties67;Knowing aboutthecosts68;Arranginggreenbuildingandcontents insurance70;Summary71;Usefulorganizations71;Useful websites73;Furtherreading74

4 Home-sellers 75 Knowingwhatbuyersarelookingfor75;Making

affordablegreenchanges76;Addingvaluethroughenvironmentallyfriendlychanges80;Producingahomeinformationpack80;Presentingyourgreenproperty

forsale83;Marketingyourgreenproperty85;Knowingaboutgrants86;Summary86;Usefulorganizations86;Usefulwebsites87;Furtherreading87

5 Borrowers 88 Definingyourborrowingphilosophy88;Knowing

aboutethicalmortgages94;Mortgagesforgreennewbuildandrenovation96;Researchingandchoosinggreenlenders97;Usingethicalfinancialadvisers99;Summary100;Usefulorganizations100;Usefulwebsites101;Furtherreading102

6 Investors 103 Definingyourinvestmentphilosophy103;Typesof

ethicalpropertyinvestment105;Researchingandquestioningorganizations110;Usingprofessionals111;Summary112;Usefulorganizations112;Usefulwebsites114;Furtherreading114

7 Landlords 115 UnderstandingtheGreenLandlords’Scheme115; Knowingaboutgrantsandloansforlandlords116; Knowingabouttaxincentivesforlandlords119;Producing

anenergyperformancecertificate120;Sourcingenergy-efficientwhitegoods120;Marketingyourenvironmentallyfriendlyproperty122;Overcomingproblemsthrough

greenaction123;Summary124;Usefulorganizations124; Usefulwebsites128;Furtherreading129

8 Tenants 130 Choosinggreenrentalaccommodation130;Making

improvementswithyourlandlord132;Reachingaconsensuswithothertenants134;Becomingmoreenergyefficient135;Buyingenergy-savingbrowngoods136;Savingmoney137;Obtaininggrantsfortenantson

benefits138;Summary140;Usefulorganizations140; Usefulwebsites141;Furtherreading141

9 Developers 142 Buyingapropertyorlandfordevelopment142;

Knowingwhattoavoid145;Knowingaboutrulesandregulations146;Sourcinggreenmaterials148;Knowing

xvi Contents

aboutgrantsandtaxincentives157;Summary160;Usefulorganizations161;Usefulwebsites161;Furtherreading163

10 Self-builders 164 Buyingland164;Obtainingpermission165;Under-

standingrules,regulationsandprocedures169;Planninganddesigning175;Ethicalpurchasingandsourcing182;Generatingyourownenergy182;Obtaininggrantsandtaxincentives184;Summary185;Usefulorganizations185;Usefulwebsites188;Furtherreading190

11 Gardeners 191 Reusingandrecycling191;Composting192;Organic

growing193;Creatingawildlifegarden197;Conservingwaterandenergy197;Sourcingenvironmentallyfriendlyproductsandmaterials199;Knowingaboutgrantsanddiscountschemes200;Summary201;

Usefulorganizations202;Usefulwebsites205; Furtherreading206

Appendix:Grants,loansandtaxincentives 207

Usefulorganizations 219 Usefulwebsites 239 Furtherreading 246 Index 248 Indexofadvertisers 256

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Introduction

Ourplanetisexperiencingsignificantclimatechange.Scientistsseemtobeingeneralagreementthatitishumanactivitythatisinfluencingthischange,andthatifhumanbehaviourisnotalteredtheplanetwillsuffer.Alreadyweareexperiencingmoreextremesofweather–2006was thewarmest year on record in theUnitedKingdom, and the10warmestyearsgloballysinceformalrecordsbeganin1861havealloccurredsince1994.ThetemperatureintheUnitedKingdomin2006reached104ºF(40ºC),andscientistspredictthat2007willseeevenhotter temperatures.Water shortages andhosepipe bans arebecomingincreasinglycommonintheUnitedKingdom,whilefloodsandforestfiresarecausingdevastationaroundtheworld.Ifclimatechangeisleftunchecked,therewillbeaprofoundimpactonourwayoflifeandourcommunities.Agricultureandfoodproductionwillbe seriously affected,water shortageswill becomemore commonand populationmigrationwill cause serious economic and socialproblems. The UK government and environmental groups believe thateveryone can and shouldmake a contribution to tackling climatechange.Inadditiontotacklingtheproblemscausedbylargeindus-try, thegovernmentandcampaignersbelieve that individuals cando their part, especially in terms of how they live their lives, thetransporttheyuseandthepropertyinwhichtheylive. Everyonehastolivesomewhere,whethertheybuy,rentor liveintemporaryaccommodation.IntheUnitedKingdompropertyhasbeenagoodinvestmentforanumberofyears,withmanylandlords,investorsanddevelopersmakingconsiderableprofits.Almosteveryadult in theUnitedKingdom is involved, in oneway or another,withthepropertymarket.Thisbook,therefore, isaimedatalmosteveryone who lives somewhere in the United Kingdom, who isconcernedabout the environment andwhowants to change theirbehaviourinsomewaytohelpourplanet. Chapter1addresses the issueofdefinition–whatdowemeanby ‘green’, ‘environmentally friendly’ and ‘globalwarming’? This

2 TheCompleteGuidetoGreenProperty

chaptergoesontolookatpersonalbeliefsandthedevelopmentofapersonalgreencodethatwillhelpustomakeimportantchanges.Thenext10chaptersofthebookareaimedatparticularpropertyusers–owners, buyers, sellers, landlords, tenants, borrowers, investors,developers,self-buildersandgardeners.Manyreaderswillfallintoseveralofthesecategories,andcross-referencingisprovidedwhereappropriatetoavoidrepetition. Therearemanywaystoreduceourpersonal impactonclimatechange.Somealterationsinthewayweliveanduseourpropertyare easy and quick to implement, whereas others may requiresignificantfinancialoutlayandmuchpersonaltimeanddedicationtoourgreenproject.Thisbookis forpeoplewhoare interestedinmaking small and/or large changes, and is a practical, down-to-earth,completeguidetogreenpropertyissues.Nopriorknowledgeisassumedandthebookiswritteninauser-friendly,coherentway,freefromtechnical jargon.Practicalinformationonwhichyoucanactisprovided,includingusefuladdressesandwebsites,detailsofnationalandlocalschemesandinformationaboutgrants,discountschemesandtaxincentives. Ihopeyouenjoyreadingthisbookandfinditinteresting.Iwishyoueverysuccesswithyourgreenproject.

Makingdecisions

Whenwethinkweare ‘green’or ‘environmentallyfriendly’,whatdowemean?Whataretheissuesandwhyaretheyimportant?Whatisa ‘green’property?Whatcanwedotohelptheenvironmentaspropertyowners,buyers, sellers, landlords, tenants, investors anddevelopers?What action shouldwe take, andwhat action dowewantandneedtotake?Whatpersonal,environmentalandfinancialbenefitscanbegainedbyalteringourbehaviour? These are questions that are becoming increasingly import-ant as changes in our climatebegin to affect all of our lives. Thischapter helps you to think about your environmental philosophy,encouragingyou to consider the issues thatare important toyou,andtheaspectsofyourpropertydecisionsthatyouwanttochange.Self-evaluationquestionsareincludedtohelpyouworkthroughtheissuesandcometosomeconclusions.Adviceonhowtoactontheseconclusionsisofferedthroughouttherestofthebook.

DefiningagreenpropertyTherearemanytypesofgreenproperty,andthetypethatyouchoosewilldependonanumberoffactors,includingyourpersonaland/orfamilyphilosophy,yourpersonalfinances,howmuchtimeyouhaveavailabletospendonyourgreenproject,yourlifecircumstancesandthepropertyinwhichyoucurrentlylive. Greenpropertiescanbeviewedasbeingpartofacontinuum,withhouseholdsmaking small but important changes at one end, andnewlybuilt eco-houses, using clean, renewable energy sources, attheotherend.Whereyouchoosetoplaceyourselfonthecontinuumdepends,inpart,onthefactorslistedabove.Italsodependsonyourpersonalmotivationtomakeaconsciouschoicetoimprovetheplaceinwhichyoulive,orthepropertythatyouareintendingtobuy,selloruseforinvestmentpurposes.

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Allthetypesofpropertylistedbelowcanbedescribedas‘green’properties, so even if you are constrained by finances or otherpersonal circumstances, there are still some things that you cando tomakeyourpropertygreener.Thegreenestpropertieswouldencompassalltheissueslistedbelow:

ahomeor tenantedproperty inwhichwaste is recycledusinglocal authority recycling schemes and items are reusedwherepossible;

ahomeinwhichall familymembersand/ortenantstrynottowaste energy,bybuyingenergy-efficient appliances andusingenergywisely;

a tenanted property fitted with energy-efficient appliances inwhichlandlordandtenantadheretoagreencode;

ahomeortenantedpropertythathasswitchedtogreenelectricity,whereagreentariffispaidtouseorprovidefundsforresearchintorenewableenergysources;

arenovatedpropertythathasbeenrebuiltandrefurbishedusinggreenbuildingmaterials,fixturesandfittings,wherepossible;

a homebought, built ordevelopedwith a socially responsibleand/orenvironmentallyfriendlymortgage;

ahomeinwhichallpropertyinvestorsandotherinvestorsadheretoethical,socialandenvironmentalprinciples;

anewlybuiltpropertyusingsustainableandrenewablesourcesofenergyandbuiltusinggreenbuildingmaterials,fittedwiththemostefficientenergy-savingappliances;

azerocarbonnewhomethatachieveszeronetcarbonemissionsfromenergyusedinconstructionandonsiteovertheusefullifeofthebuilding.

Information about all aspects of these types of green property ispresentedthroughouttherestofthisbook.

DiscoveringyourenvironmentalphilosophyWhy do youwant tomake your property greener? Some of youmay be very worried about the influence of climate change and

MakingDecisions 5

howthiswillaffect the livesof futuregenerations.Othersmaybeconcernedabouttheunrestricteduseoffossilfuels,theprospectoffuelsuppliesrunninglowandtheconsequentriseinprices.Oryoumaybeinterestedinthegrantsavailabletohelpyoutobecomemoreenergyefficientandtheprospectsofsavingmoneyonfuelbills.Orperhaps,asahumanbeing,youareconcernedaboutthewelfareofothers around theglobe.Maybeyouwant to invest in companiesthathavethesameconcernsasyou. Whatever the reasons for wanting to have a greener property,youneedtothinkaboutthesereasonsandbehonestwithyourself.Yourreasonswill influence the typeofproperty thatyoubuy, thegreen lifestyle that you choose, the typeofdevelopment that youundertake and the investment and borrowing opportunities inwhichyoubecomeinvolved.Thefollowingquestionswillhelpyoutothinkmoreaboutyourenvironmentalphilosophy:

Who, ifanyone,has influencedyourattitudetowardsenviron-mentalissues?

Do you believe that you have received balanced informationabouttheissuesinvolved?

Do you know where to obtain impartial and/or balancedinformationabouttheseissues?(Seeorganizationslistedattheendofthisbookformoreinformationandadvice.)

Whatisyourattitudetowardsclimatechange?

Doyouunderstandwhatcausesclimatechange?

Doyoubelieve thatyou, as an individual, candoanything toreduceclimatechange?

Whatdoyouknowaboutenergyconservation?

Doyoubelievethatyou,asanindividual,canconserveenergyandthatitwillmakeadifferenceifyouchangeyourbehaviour?

What do you know about renewable, sustainable and cleansourcesofenergy?

Doyoubelieve,asanindividual,thatusingthistypeofenergywouldhelptheplanet?

Areyou interested in thefinancialaspectofbecominggreener,including government grants and personal savings on energybills?


What are your attitudes towards ethical investment andborrowing?

Canyouaffordtobaseyourinvestmentandpropertydevelopmentdecisionsonethicalprinciplesratherthancosts?

Youshouldconsiderthesequestionsonanindividualbasis–thereare no judgements to be made. If you find that your overridingreason forwantingagreenerproperty is to takeadvantageof thegovernmentgrantsonoffer,thenthatisfine.Thisbookoffersadvicefor peoplewith all types of greenphilosophy – taking advantageofgrantswillstillleadtoagreenerwayoflifeforyouand/oryourtenants. Once you have thought about your personal environmentalphilosophy,youneedtothinkabouthowthiscanbematchedwithyourpersonalcircumstancesandpropertyaspirations.

MatchingyourphilosophywithpersonalcircumstancesYour personal circumstances will have an influence on the typeofgreenproperty thatyoucandevelop. Inparticular, ifyouareahomeownerlivingwithothermembersofyourfamily,orapropertydeveloperorlandlordhopingtoletyouraccommodationtotenants,youwillneedtomakesurethatotherslivinginyourpropertyagreewithyourenvironmentalphilosophy. Youneedtoworkwithfamilymemberstodevelopagreencodethat you all understand and with which you are all happy (seebelow).Thiswillinvolvediscussingandunderstandingthepertinentissues.Thereareanumberofbooksthatexplaintheissuesinawaythatchildrencanunderstand,andsomeofthebestbooksarelistedbelow.Also,schoolsworkhardtoteachenvironmentalawarenesstochildrenandthereareanumberofschemestakingplacearoundthecountry topromote this awareness.More informationabout theseschemescanbeobtainedfromtheEnergySavingTrust(EST)websiteandtheNationalEnergyFoundation(NEF)website(detailsbelow).Downloadableenergy-savingstickersforchildrenareavailablefromtheESTwebsite. Yourpersonalcircumstanceswillhaveaninfluenceontheamountoftimeyoucandevotetoyourgreenproperty.Propertyownerswhoworkfull-timeandhaveotherimportantcommitmentswillnotbe

MakingDecisions 7

abletodevoteasmuchtimetoagreenpropertyassomeonewhohasdecidedtoleavehisorherjobtospendthewholetimebuildinganeco-home(seeChapter10).Whenyouthinkaboutthetypeofgreenproperty inwhichyouwish to liveor invest,youmustconductarealistic evaluation of your present and future time commitmentsandhowmuchtimeyouareabletospenddevelopingyourgreenproperty.Thisisanimportantconsiderationforallmembersofthefamily – you shouldnot expect others todevote asmuch time asyou if theyhave little timeavailableor if theyarenotas stronglymotivated.

MatchingyourphilosophywithfinancialconsiderationsYouwill need to consider your personal finances carefully. Someenvironmentalphilosophieswillhelpyoutosavemoney,forexamplethroughenergyconservationor throughobtaininggrants tomakehome improvements. However, other environmentally friendlychanges are expensive, especially in the short term, althoughyoumaysavemoneyinthelongterm(seeChapter2). Itusedtobe thecase thatsocialandenvironmental investmentopportunitiesweremoreexpensivetosetupandprovidedlesspot-entialforgrowththanlessethicallyconsciousalternatives.However,thisisnotnecessarilythecasenow.Theenvironmentalmovementisgainingpaceworldwideandmoreandmoreenvironmentallyawarecompanies are being set up,while older companies are changingtheir traditionalpractices.When choosinga company inwhich toinvest,orfromwhichtoborrow,youneedtomatchyourfinancialcircumstanceswith your environmental philosophy. For example,areyouinterestedincompaniesthatcontributetowardsasafeandhealthy environment, offer ecologically superior products or useecological principles to drive product design and/or investment(seeChapters5and6)?Wouldyoubewillingtopaymoreforyourfinancial product if itmet your ethical/environmental criteria, orwouldyoubewillingtocompromiseoncertainprinciplestoobtainabetterdeal? It is important tocarryoutacarefulfinancialassessmentwhenyouareformulatingyourenvironmentalphilosophy,sothatyouarenotconstrainedanddisappointedinyourplansbylackoffinance.Advice is offered throughout this book on the cost of makingenvironmentallyfriendlychanges.


MatchingyourphilosophywithpropertyaspirationsIfyouareapropertydeveloperoranownerintendingtosellyourproperty once you have renovated or refurbished, you shouldnote that the EST has found that 64 per cent of potential buyerswouldnotconsiderhousesthathaveold,damagedboilers,single-glazedwindowsandinsufficientinsulation(seeChapters4and9).Whendevelopingyourproperty youneed tomake sure that youhave enoughfinances available to provide the best energy-savingappliances andfixtures thatwill appeal to your intendedmarket.This could enable you to add considerable sumsofmoney to thepotential purchase price, according to the EST and the results ofmy own research (see Chapter 4).Also, youmay be able to takeadvantageofagovernmentschemecalledtheLowCarbonBuildingsProgramme.ThisisaUK-wideprogrammethatprovidesgrantstoindividuals,communitiesandbusinessesforrenewabletechnologies(seeChapter9).Bydevelopinganenvironmentallyfriendlyproperty,youcanmatchyouenvironmentalphilosophywithyourpropertyaspirationsandmakeagoodprofitatthesametime. FromJune2007anyoneintendingtosellapropertyneedstopro-duceahomeinformationpack.Partofthispackinvolvesanenergyefficiency assessment. Some people believe that, the higher yourpropertyscoresinthisassessment,thehigherpriceyoucanchargewhen selling.Other people are sceptical that this assessmentwillmakeanydifference–ifsomeonewantsaproperty,heorshewillbuy it, regardlessof theenergyefficiencyscore.However,anyoneintendingtobuyandsellpropertyshouldconsiderthisissuecare-fully, balancing energy-efficiencymeasureswith thewants, needsandbeliefsoftheintendedmarket(seeChapter4). Asa landlordyouwillfind the lettingprocesseasierandmoreenjoyableifyoudonotencounterproblemswithyourtenants.Oneofthewaystodothisistoletyourpropertytotenantswithwhomyouhave a commonbond.Environmental awareness canprovide thiscommonbond,and ifyouadvertiseyourproperty to like-mindedtenants,youshouldbeabletomatchyourpersonalenvironmentalphilosophywithyourpropertyaspirations(seeChapter7).

MakingDecisions 9

DevelopingagreencodeYouwillfinditeasiertodevelopandmaintainyourenvironmentallyfriendlypropertyifotherhouseholdmembers,tenantsand/orbusi-nesspartnersareinagreementwithyou.Theeasiestwaytomakesure that you and others know what you are trying to do is todevelopa‘greencode’.Thisisashortdocumentthatsetsoutyourenvironmentalphilosophyinasimplebutcomprehensiveway. Thetypeofdocumentyouproducedependsonyourgreenpropertyaspirations.Ifyouarealandlordhopingtoletagreenpropertytolike-mindedtenants,youcouldproduceagreencodeaimedatyourtenants,whichdescribeswhat you are trying todo andwhy it isimportant.Thecodecouldbeincludedinyourpropertyinformationpack,andincludeasetofsuggestionsabouthowtenantscanhelpbysavingenergy,ventilating theproperty,buyingenergy-efficientbrowngoodsandreusingandrecycling(seeChapter8). Ifyouareahouseholderwithpartnerandchildrenyouallneedtoworktogethertodevelopyourgreencode.Childrenoftenfindthisaninterestingtask,especiallywhenitcanbecombinedwithwhattheyarelearningatschool.Ifchildrenhavebeeninvolvedwiththedevelopmentofthegreencode,theyaremorelikelytoadheretothecodeinthefuture. Propertydevelopersmayfinditusefultodevelopagreencodethatcanbeusedtohelpcheckthatbuilders,suppliersandinvestorsareinagreementwithyourenvironmentalphilosophy.Thiscouldincludeinformationaboutsourcinggoods,usingsustainableandrenewablematerials,companypracticesandtypesofethical/socialinvestment(see Chapter 9). Companies that consider themselves ‘green’ willalsohaveagreencodethattheycansupplyuponrequest. Whenchoosingfinancialserviceprovidersasktoseetheircodeofbusinessethics,statementofinvestmentprinciplesand/orethicalpolicy.You can compare thesewith your own green code to findoutwhether thecompany isone inwhichyouwish to invest (seeChapter6).

SummaryBeforeyoubegin to take action tomakeyourpropertygreener, itisusefultothinkaboutwhatyoumeanbya‘greenproperty’.Thiswillhelpyoutothinkaboutthetypeofactionthatneedstobetakenandwhyitisimportanttoyou,yourfamily,tenantsand/orbusiness

10 The Complete Guide to Green Property

partner.Youcanthengoontodevelopyourpersonalenvironmentalphilosophy,whichwillincludeallthegreenissuesthatareimportantto you.Once youhavedone this you can consider yourpersonalcircumstances,personalfinance,propertyaspirationsandhowthesematchyourenvironmentalphilosophy. Thischapterhasofferedadviceontheseissuesandondevelopingyourpersonalgreencode.Onceyouhavedonethis,youcangoontolookatspecificwaystoworkwithinthiscode.Thenextchapteroffersadvicetohomeownerswhoarethinkingaboutmakingtheirpropertygreener.

UsefulorganizationsThereareawidevarietyoflocalandnationalorganizationsavailableto offer advice, information, guidance andmembership to peoplewhoareinterestedinenvironmentalandpropertyissues.

EnergySavingTrust

The Energy Saving Trust (EST) was established as part of thegovernment’sactionplaninresponsetothe1992EarthSummitinRiodeJaneiro,whichaddressedworldwideconcernsonsustainabledevelopment issues.TheESTdevelopsandmanagesprogrammesonbehalfoftheUKgovernment,whichincludeawareness-raisingamong local communities, the general public and commercialorganizations; theproduction anddistributionof awide range ofinformationdocumentsandpublications;andgrantsforinnovativetechnologiesandtechniques.

EnergySavingTrust(England)21DartmouthStreetLondonSW1H9BPTel:02072220101Fax:02076542460www.est.org.uk

EnergySavingTrust(Scotland)112/2CommercialStreetLeithEdinburghEH66NF

MakingDecisions 11

Tel:01315557900Fax:01315557919

EnergySavingTrust(Wales)WalesAlbionHouseOxfordStreetNantgarwCardiffCF157TRTel:01443845030Fax:01433845940

EnergySavingTrust(NorthernIreland)EnterpriseHouse55/59AdelaideStreetBelfastBT28FETel:02890726006Fax:02890239907

CommunityActionforEnergy

Thisorganizationisanetworkofpeoplewhoshareacommoninterestincommunityenergyprojectsandideas.ItisaprogrammefromtheEST that is designed to ‘promote and facilitate local community-basedenergyprojects’.Membershipisfreeandonceyoubecomeamemberyoucanreceive informationabout trainingsessions,newinitiatives,localfundingopportunitiesandrelevantlocalnews. Onitswebsiteyoucanaccessadatabaseoffundingopportuni-ties. This enables you to search by keyword, fund name, type offunding,eligibleregionsandfundingorganizations.Thisisausefuldatabaseforfindinginformationaboutgrantsandschemesthatmaybenefit you as a homeowner, landlord, developer or tenant.Moreinformationabout theCommunityActionforEnergynetworkcanbeobtainedfromwww.est.org.uk/cafeorbytelephoning08701261444.

NationalEnergyFoundation

TheNational Energy Foundation (NEF) is an educational charityregisteredinEnglandthathelpspeopleintheUnitedKingdombyofferingadviceaboutsafeandefficientenergyuse.Onitswebsite


you canfind information about carbondioxide emissions, energyratings,savingenergy,renewableandsustainableenergy,andsub-scribetoitsfreenewsletter.

TheNationalEnergyFoundationDavyAvenueKnowlhillMiltonKeynesMK58NGTel:01908665555Fax:01908665577E-mail:[email protected]:www.nef.org.uk

TheCarbonTrust

The Carbon Trust is an independent company funded by thegovernment.TheroleofthecompanyistohelptheUnitedKingdom‘movetoalowcarboneconomybyhelpingbusinessandthepublicsector reduce carbon emission now and capture the commercialopportunitiesof lowcarbontechnologies’.Thecompanyproducesuseful information on climate change and energy efficiency forbusinesses,providesenergyefficiency loansof£5,000–200,000andadvises on Enhanced Capital Allowances for business, includinglandlordsandpropertydevelopers(seeChapters7and9).

TheCarbonTrust8thfloor,3Clement’sInnLondonWC2A2AZTel:08000852005Fax:02071707020E-mail:[email protected]:www.carbontrust.co.uk

TheCarbonTrustinWalesAlbionHouse,OxfordStreetNantgarwCardiffCF157TRTel:01443845944E-mail:[email protected]

MakingDecisions 13

TheCarbonTrustinScotlandBrunelBuilding,JamesWattAvenueScottishEnterpriseTechnologyParkEastKilbrideG750QDTel:01355581810E-mail:[email protected]

TheCarbonTrustinNorthernIrelandUnit9,NorthernIrelandScienceParkTheInnovationCentreQueen’sRoad,Queen’sIslandBelfastBT39DTTel:02890737912E-mail:[email protected]

SustainableEnergyPolicyDivision

Formore information about government policy issues relating toenergyefficiency,consulttheSustainableEnergyPolicyDivisionofDEFRA:

SustainableEnergyPolicyDivision,DEFRA6/H15AshdownHouse,123VictoriaStreetLondonSW1E6DETel:02070828709Fax:02070828708

Homeimprovementagencies

Home improvementagencies (HIAs) are small,non-profit-makingbodiesthatarefundedbylocalauthoritiesthroughtheSupportingPeople Programme. They aremanaged locally by housing associ-ations,localauthoritiesorcharitableorganizations.Themainfunc-tions of HIAs are to support vulnerable people in their quest toremain independent in theirhomes,helppeopleaccess fundsandresourcestomakehomeimprovements,includingenergyefficiencyimprovements,andprovideinformationonhomeinsurance,loansandequityrelease.Ifyouareavulnerablehomeowneroralandlordlettingyourpropertytotenantswhoareolder,disabledoronlowincomes,youcanseekadvicefromyourlocalHIA.


More information aboutHIAs can be obtained fromyour localauthority or by contacting Foundations, which is the nationalcoordinatingbodyforhomeimprovementagenciesinEngland.OnitswebsiteyoucanfindcontactdetailsofyournearestHIA.

FoundationsBleaklowHouse,HowardTownMillGlossopDerbyshireSK138HTTel:01457891909Fax:01457869361E-mail:[email protected]:www.cel.co.uk/foundations

Usefulwebsiteswww.climnet.orgTheClimateActionNetwork(CAN)isaworldwidenetworkofover365non-governmentalorganizationsworkingtopromoteactiononlimitingthehumaninfluenceonclimatechange.Onitswebsiteyoucanfindinformationaboutclimatechangetrendsandsignals,alongwithinformationaboutCANoffices.

www.climate-concern.comClimate Concern UK is a campaign group focused on increasingpublic understanding of the dangers of climate change. On thewebsite you can obtain information about the effects of climatechangeandusefularguments thathelp tocombat scepticismoverclimatechange.

FurtherreadingUseful green books for individuals and families include thefollowing:

Callard, S andMillia, D (2001)The Complete Book of Green Living,CarltonBooks,London

Corkhill,M(2006)GreenParenting,ImpactPublishing,BathHegarty,M(2000)TheLittleBookofLivingGreen,NightingalePress,Royston

MakingDecisions 15

Jones,E(2006)GoMakeaDifference,3rdedn,ThinkBooks,LondonNorris,S(2005)Superkids!250incrediblewaysforkidstosavetheplanet,ThinkBooks,London

Siegle,L(2001)GreenLivingintheUrbanJungle,GreenBooks,TotnesTrask,C(2006)It’sEasyBeingGreen:Ahandbookforearthfriendlyliving,GibbsSmith,Layton,Utah

Homeowners

As ahomeowner there aremany things that you cando tomakeyourpropertygreener.Nowthatyouhavethoughtaboutyourgreenphilosophyanddefinedtheenvironmentalissuesthatareimportanttoyouandyourfamily,youcangoontothinkaboutthechangesthatyoucanmakearoundyourhome. This chapter offers practical advice about what you can do tomakeyourhomemoreenergyefficient,includinginformationaboutbuyingenergy-efficientproducts;adviceonconvertingtorenewableenergysources,includingcostsassociatedwithconversionandthesavingsthatcanbemade;informationaboutreusingandrecycling,andadviceaboutgrantsanddiscountschemesforhomeownersintheUnitedKingdom.

BecomingmoreenergyefficientTherearebothsmallandlargechangesthatyou,asahomeowner,canmaketobecomemoreenergyefficient.Someof thesechangesareeasy to implementandcostvery little,whereasothers requiretheinstallationofnewequipmentthatmaybeexpensiveintheshortterm,butthatwillsavemoneyandenergyinthelongterm.

Heatingandhotwater

TheESTpointsoutthatoldboilersaccountforaround60percentofalldomesticcarbondioxideemissions.However,ifyouuseahigh-efficiencycondensingboilerthisfigureissignificantlyreducedandyoumaysaveintherangeof£190–240ayearonyourheatingbills.Installing a new boiler can be expensive, and, depending on thesystemandplumberyouchoose,couldbeintheregionof£800–3,000.However,iftheESTsavingsassumptionsarecorrect,andsincemost

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boilershaveanexpectedlifetimeof10–15years,youshouldrecoupthecostsandmakeconsiderablesavingsbyreplacingyouroldboiler.Althoughthesefiguresappearconvincing,itisimportanttonotethattherearewidevariationsinthecostsandsavingsthatcanbemade,and that thesewill be influencedbyproperty size and type, localclimate, type of heating controls, your existing boiler, occupancypatterns andexisting insulation.Therefore, it is important to seekappropriateadvicebeforemakingchangestoyourpresentsystem. Forindependent,professionaladviceaboutheatingandhotwatersystemsandtofindaqualifiedinstallerconsulttheHeatingandHotWater Industry Council website (www.centralheating.co.uk). Youcanfind outmore about the energy efficiency of boilers byusingthedatabaseatwww.boilers.org.ukbeforeyoumakeyourpurchase.Thiswebsiteprovidesusefulinformationaboutthecostsandsavingsthat can bemade by changing your existing boiler. If you are oncertainbenefits,grantsmaybeavailablethroughWarmFront,WarmHomes,WarmDeal and theHomeEnergyEfficiencyScheme (seebelow).Somelocalauthoritiesprovidegrantsfortheinstallationofheatingsystems(seeAppendix1).

Loftinsulation

Uptoathirdofallheatlostinahomecanbethroughpoorinsulationinroofspaces,accordingtotheEST.However,loftinsulationisquickandeasytoinstallandtherearegreenproductsavailable,includinginsulationmade from fire-retarded recycled newspaper and fromBritishsheep’swool.Theseproductsaresafetoinstall,easytocutwithasharpknifeorshearsanddonotneedanyspecialprotectiveclothing,apart fromasimpledustmask. Itcostsaround£150–400toinstallloftinsulation,dependingontheproductyouchooseandthesizeofyourloft,andyoucouldsave£60–70peryearonheatingbills,according to theNEF.Grantsanddiscountsareavailable forloftinsulation(seeAppendix1). Ifyouchoosetoinstallloftinstallationyourself,usefulinformationaboutwhereandhowtoinstallenvironmentallyfriendlyproductscan be obtained from the Green Building Store website (www.greenbuildingstore.co.uk). For more information about installingloft insulationeffectivelyand safely contact theNEF (seeChapter1).Ifyouchoosetouseaninstaller,contacttheNationalAssociationofLoftInsulationContractorsfor informationaboutcontractorsinyourarea(detailsbelow).

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Wallinsulation

Therearethreetypesofwallinsulation,andthetypethatyouinstalldependsonthepropertyinwhichyoulive.Cavitywallinsulationisthemostcommon,andinvolvestheinjectionofblownmineralwool,ureaformaldehydefoamorpolystyrenebeadsintothewallcavities.Although these cannot be considered ‘green’ insulationmaterials,youwillsaveenergybyhavingtheminstalled:youcouldsaveupto£70ayear,accordingtotheNEF.Installationcostsvary,dependingon the size of your house, the contactor you use and the type ofinsulationmaterial,butshouldbeintheregionof£200–500ifyoutakeadvantageof localdiscount schemes.All insulationmaterialsmustmeetgovernmentstandards,andyoushoulduseanapprovedcontractor to carry out the work, as the installation then will beguaranteedfor25yearsbytheCavityInsulationGuaranteeAgency(detailsbelow). The other two types are internal and external wall insulation.Theseinvolvetheinstallationofflexiblethermallining,rigidthermalboardorexternalcladding/render.Costscanrangefrom£500–5,000,depending on the size of your house, the contractor youuse andthetypeofinsulationrequired.AnapprovedinstallerinyourareaforalltypesofinsulationcanbyfoundbyconsultingtheNationalInsulationAssociation (NIA) website (details below). Grants anddiscountsareavailableforcertaintypesofwall insulation(seetheAppendix).

Floorinsulation

TheESTestimatesthatyoucouldsaveupto£50ayearbyinstallingfloorinsulation,althoughagain,thesesavingsdependonanumberoffactorssuchassizeofproperty,typeofflooring,otherinsulationand type of heating.Depending onyour currentflooring and theamountofworkyouwish toundertake, therearevariousoptionsavailabletoyou.Perhapsoneofthequickestandsimplestwaystoreducedraughtsthroughfloorboardsistofillgapswithatubesealant.Otherpopularmethodsfortimberfloorsincludetheinstallationofinsulation boards, although there are nowmore environmentallyfriendly materials available such as wool quilts and plant-fibreboard.Alltimberflooringinsulationshouldleaveaventilationgapandshouldnotblockairbricks,topreventrotting. Forsolidfloors,optionsincludepolystyreneorfoamedglassbelowfloor slabs, orpolystyreneormineralwool abovefloor slabs, laid


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inconjunctionwithnewflooring.Rubber-basedmaterialsandcorkmayoffermoreenvironmentallysoundalternatives,whenobtainedfromsustainablesources.Pricesvaryenormously,dependingonthetypeofinsulationyouchoose.ContacttheNIAformoreinformation(detailsbelow).

Draught-proofing

Draught-proofingmeasureswillhelptosaveenergyinyourhomebutyoumustalsomake sure that there is adequateventilation toreduce the build-up of condensation and damp, especially in thebathroomandkitchen,andprovideadequateairflowforfirestoburnsafely.Simpledraught-proofingthatcanbecarriedoutquicklyandeasily includes theuseofbrushes, strips, foams,sealants,weatherbarsordraughtexcludersoninternalandexternaldoors,windows,letterboxes,keyholesandcatflaps. Theinstallationofdoubleortriple-glazedwindowsisapopular,butcontroversial,energy-savingmeasure.TheESTarguesthatnewdoubleortriple-glazedwindowshelptosaveenergyandcanhelptoaddvaluetoyourhouse.However,environmentalistsarguethatthisisleadingtoacultureofunnecessarywindowreplacement,andthatitismoreenvironmentallyfriendlytocutdownonwasteandkeepandmaintainexistingwindows.Althoughtheymaybeoldtheywilllast many years with careful maintenance, and you can considerinstallingsecondarydoubleglazingtoreducedraughts. Environmentalists argue that the use of PVC window framesshouldbephasedout,asmuchmoreenergyisusedtomanufacturePVCthanconventionalwoodenwindowframes,theplasticisveryhardtorecycle,itismadefromoilandtheseresourcesarerunningout,andtheprocessingduringmanufacturegivesoffchemicalsthatare damaging to the environment. Also, some environmentalistsbelieve that PVCwindow framesmay need replacingmore oftenandarenotasdurableasmanufacturerswouldleadustobelieve.Windowframesmadefromwoodthatcomesfromcarefullymanagedforests are amore environmentally friendlyoption thanPVC,butthey tend to bemore expensive to buy. You need to think aboutyourenvironmentalphilosophy, consider the existingwindowsofyourproperty anddecideupon thebest option foryourpersonalcircumstancesandfinances.Foraninterestingcomparisonoftimberversusplasticframesconsultwww.ambassadoor.co.uk. Ifyoudecidetoinstalldoubleortripleglazing,theairgapbetweenthepanesshouldbe12–20millimetresandyoushouldspecify‘low-e’


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glazing,whichhasaspecialheat-reflectivecoatingbetweenthepanes.Itisalsopossibletohaveargon-gas-filledwindowsthattransmitheatlessreadilyandhelptosavemoremoney.TheBritishFenestrationRating Council (BFRC) provides information about choosing themostenergy-efficientdoorsandwindows(detailsbelow).Pricesfordoubleandtripleglazingvaryenormously,butyoushouldbeabletorecoupsomeofthecostsfromsavingsonyourheatingbilloverthe longterm.Grants fordraught-proofingmeasuresareavailableforhomeownersandtenantsoncertainbenefits(seebelow).

Lighting

Although energy-efficient lighting is initially more expensive toinstallthenconventionallighting,considerablesavingscanbemadeover its lifetime. Compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) are modernenergy-savinglightbulbs,soldbywattage,whichfitintostandardlightfittings.Becausetheyuselesselectricityyoucanhavealowerwattagebulbtogivethesameamountoflight.Whenbuyinglightbulbs,lookforthenewEuropeanEnergyLabeltocheckthatthebulbhas anA rating for energy efficiency (see below). RecommendedretailerscanbeobtainedfromtheESTwebsite(seeChapter1).

Electricity

Simple changes around the home can save electricity andmoney.Theseinclude:

switchinglightsoffwhenoutofrooms;

notleavingappliancesonstand-byorchargingunnecessarily;

usingtheeconomyandhalfwashbuttonsonwashingmachinesandtumbledriers;

notfillingthekettletoomuchwhenboilingwater;

utilizing‘one-pot’cookingstrategiesandcookingmorethanonedishintheovenatatime;

defrostingnaturally,ratherthanusingthemicrowave;

usingoff-peak(night-time)electricityasthisischeaper;

usingrechargeablebatterieswherepossibleandpractical;

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turningoffcomputerperipheralswhennotinuseandutilizingpower-savingoptions.

Althoughtheenergysavingsfromeachoftheseindividualactivitiesareverysmall,yourenergyandfinancialsavingswillgrowinthelong term through reducing wastage and changing the habits ofeveryhouseholdmember.

Smartmeters

Smartmetresareanewgenerationofdevicesthatcanbeinstalledinhouses,replacingexistinggasandelectricitymeters.Usingasmartmeter, homeowners canmonitor their energy output inmonetaryterms rather than kilowatt hours and find out which equipmentis using more energy. If the meters are strategically placed, thismonitoringisaneasyprocess,andorganizationssuchasEnergywatchbelieve that this will lead to less energy consumption and makehouseholdsmore responsible in their usage. Smartmeters can bereadremotelywith informationsentautomaticallytothesupplier,thusdoing awaywith theneed for estimatedbills andassociatedpaperwastage. AtthispresenttimesmartmetersarebeingpilotedinLondontofindoutwhetherpeopledochangetheirhabitsasaresultofthemeterandtodeterminewhichsystemworksbest.MoreinformationaboutsmartmeterscanbeobtainedfromtheOfficeofGasandElectricityMarketswebsite(www.ofgem.gov.uk).

Carbonoffsetschemes

Todaythereareavarietyofschemesbeingsetupthatenableyoutooffsetyourknowncarbonemissionsbypayingtowardsreplenishingcarbonstocks.Throughtheseschemesyoucanworkouthowmuchcarbonyouusethroughtravelandinyourhome,anddecidehowyou wish to compensate for this usage. For example, you couldinvestinschemesthathelptoincreasesoilfertilityandrehabilitatedegradedlandincountriesthatsufferfromseveredrought,orinvestinreforestationschemes. However, at this present time, this is a youthful, unregulatedmarketandtherehasbeencontroversyabout thebenefitsofsomecarbon offset schemes and some fraudulent companies operating.


Othercompaniesaremakinghugeprofits,whichconcernsenviron-mental campaigners. If you choose to follow this route you needtoconductcarefulresearchintotheschemeandcompanythatyouchoose.TheClimateGroupiscurrentlyworkingonaninternationalset of voluntary standards for companies offering carbon offsetschemes, andmore information and advice can be obtained fromthisorganization(detailsbelow).

Buyingenergy-efficientproductsWhenbuyingenergy-efficientproducts,therearetwologosthatyoushouldlookfor.ThefirstistheEUenergylabel,whichratesproductsfromthemosttoleastefficient.Bylawthislabelmustbedisplayedon all refrigeration and laundry appliances, dishwashers, electricovens and light bulb packages. The second is the energy savingrecommendedlogowhichcanbefoundonthefollowingproducts:

lightbulbsandlightfittings;

fridgesandfreezers;

washingmachinesanddryers;

dishwashers;

gasboilersandoilboilers;

hotwatercylinders;

heatingcontrols;

loftinsulation;

cavitywallandsolidwallinsulation;

glazing;

integrateddigitaltelevisions.

Products that carry this logo have met strict energy-efficient cri-teria that have been set by the EST. You can find energy-savingrecommended products and retailers by visiting the ESTwebsite(seeChapter1).


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ConvertingtorenewableenergysourcesIntheUnitedKingdom,mostoftheenergythatweuseisgeneratedthroughburning coal, gas andoil andbynuclearpower stations.Burning fossil fuels releasesmillions of tonnes of carbon dioxideinto the atmosphere each year, and nuclear power productionproducesharmfulwastethatcanhaveadevastatingimpactontheenvironment.Usingenergyproducedfromrenewablesourceshelpstocombattheseproblems,yetonlyafractionofenergyproductionin theUnitedKingdomatpresent, comes fromthesesources. It ispossibleforindividualhomeownerstoincreasetheuseofrenewableenergy,eitherbygeneratingtheirownelectricity,orbysigninguptoagreentarifforgreenfund. Ifyouarethinkingaboutconvertingtoarenewableenergysource,look for companies that are members of the Renewable EnergyAssuranceSchemeandproducts thatcarry theRenewableEnergyAssociationListedmark.Theseensurethatcompaniesandproductshavemetrequiredstandardsintermsofservicesandquality.MoreinformationabouttheseschemescanbeobtainedfromtheRenewableEnergyAssociation(detailsbelow).

Generatingelectricityinthehomefromrenewablesources

There are several types of renewable sources of energy available.Someofthesewillbemoresuitableandviablethanothers,andthechoicedependsonwhereyou live, thenatural resourcesavailableandyourpersonalfinances.Somerenewablesourcesattractgrantsandtaxincentives,asdetailedbelow.

HydropowerHydropowerharnessestheenergyofmovingorfallingwater.Asahomeowneryoumayfinditpossibletodevelopamini-hydrosystemto power your own home, or produce a larger hydro system toproduceextrakilowattstoselltothenationalgrid.Costsdependonthesystemyouchooseandtheamountofgroundworkrequired,andmayrangefrom£4,000–25,000.TaxincentivesareavailableintheformofareducedVATrateof5percentonhydro-electricplantforsystemssupplyingresidentialbuildings.Also,throughthegovernment’sLowCarbonBuildingsProgramme(LCBP),amaximumofa£5,000grantis offered to individuals and communities that choose equipmentfromanapprovedlistandusearegisteredinstaller(seeAppendix1).


More information about producing amini-hydro can be obtainedfromtheBritishHydropowerAssociation(detailsbelow).

WindpowerWind power harnesses the energy in wind to produce a clean,renewablesourceofenergywithoutharmfulemissions.Moreandmore people in the United Kingdom are interested in generatingtheirownelectricityusingsmall-scalewindturbines,andthepro-cess is now becoming easier because national planning policiessupporttheirdevelopment.Thecostdependsonthetypeofsystemyouchoose,andmayrangefrom£1,500–18,000.However,grantsofupto£5,000areofferedtoindividualsandsmallbusinessesthroughthe LCBP, and up to £4,000 to people living in Scotland throughthe Scottish Community and Householder Renewables Initiative(SCHRI).Formoreinformationabouttheseschemes,seeAppendix1.Adviceaboutobtainingplanningpermission,buyingequipmentandinstallingaturbinecanbeobtainedfromtheBritishWindEnergyAssociation(detailsbelow).

SolarpowerTherearetwomaingroupsoftechnologiesthatharnesssolarpower.The first directly converts solar radiation into electricity, mostcommonlythroughtheuseofsolarcells,alsoknownasphotovoltaic(PV)cells.PVinstallationmaybesuitableforpropertieswitharooforawall that faceswithin90degreesofsouth,as longas there isnot significant shadow from trees or other buildings. Your roofmustbestrongenoughto take thecells,andyouwillneedtouseafullyqualifiedinstallerandelectrician.Planningpermissionmaybe required, especially for listed buildings and in conservationareas.Thistypeofsystemisalotmoreexpensivethanothersolartechnologies,butsavingscanbemadeonelectricitycostsoverthelongterm.Itmaybeasuitableoptionfornewbuildingsorrenovationprojectswherethereisnomainselectricityavailableifyouhavetheup-frontfinances.Thecostof installationmay range from£5,000–40,000,dependingon thewattage required.Youwillneed to seekexpert advice to find out whether your property is suitable andwhetherthereisenoughsunlightavailable. Thesecondgroupareknownassolarthermaltechnologies,anduse the sun togenerateheat. In theUKsolarheating systemsareusedtoworkalongsideconventionalwaterheatingsystems,whichcoverthewintermonthswhenthereisnotenoughheatfromthesun.Evenso,thistypeofsolarheatingsystemmayprovideuptotwo-


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thirdsofahousehold’sannualhotwater.Solarpanelsorcollectors,aheattransfersystemandahotwatercylinderwillberequired,andyouwillneedaroofthatreceivesdirectsunlightforthemainpartof theday. It ispossible tofit the systemyourself ifyouhave therequiredskills,butgrantsarenotavailableforDIYprojects. Thecostofinstallationmayrangefrom£3,500–7,000,dependingonthetypeoftechnologyyouchoose,butgrantsmaybeavailablethroughtheLCBPandSCHRI(seeAppendix1).Moreinformationabout installing solar technologies, including a list of approvedinstallersandsuppliers,canbeobtainedfromtheESTwebsiteorfromtheBritishPhotovoltaicAssociationwebsite(www.greenenergy.org.uk/pvuk2).

GeothermalpowerGeothermalpowerisgeneratedbyusingtheheatoftheearth,andisconsideredtobearenewablesourceofenergyifitdoesnotdepletethe sourceofheat.Asahomeowneryoucanusegeothermalheatfoundnearthesurfaceoftheearthtoheatyourhomedirectly,oryoucanusegeothermalheatpumpstoheatorcoolyourhomeindirectly.Toinstallthistypeofsystemyouwouldneedenoughspaceandthecorrect conditions to accommodate a trench, borehole or groundloop.Dependingonthesystemyouchoose,thewattageneededandthegroundworkrequired,thepricemayrangefrom£6,000–18,000.Grantsareavailable through theLCBPandSCHRI (seeAppendix1).AdownloadablefactsheetongroundsourceheatpumpscanbeobtainedfromtheESTwebsite(seeChapter1).

BiomasspowerBiomasspower isgeneratedfromburninghigh-energyplantsandorganicwaste.Whenplantsgrowtheyabsorbcarbondioxidewhichisthenreleasedwhentheyareburnt,thuscreatingabalancethathasbeencalledacarbonneutralprocess.Asthis is felt tobeaneutralprocess, bio-fuels are considered to be an environmentally soundsourceofenergy,providingnewopportunitiesforUKfarmersandacheapersourceofrenewableenergyforhouseholds.Therearetwowaysforahomeownertousebiomasspower,eitherthoughstand-alonestovesusinglogsorpellets,orthroughboilersusingpellets,logsorchips.Toinstallthistypeofsystemyouwillneedadequatestorage space and sufficient air movement space. You will needto complywith safety and building regulations andmay need toobtainplanningpermission for theflue.Costsvarydependingonthe systemyou choose, butmay be in the region of £1,500–5,000.

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GrantsareavailablethroughtheLCBPandSCHRI(seeAppendix1).AdownloadablefactsheetonbiomasscanbeobtainedfromtheESTwebsite(seeChapter1).

Nationalschemesforgeneratingenergy

There are other types of renewable energy sources that are beingdevelopedintheUnitedKingdom,and,althoughyoucannotharnessthesesourcesyourself,youcansupportresearch,developmentandusebyinvestingingreenfundsandtariffs(seebelow).

WavepowerWavepowercapturestheenergyproducedbyoceansurfacewaves.Althoughthenorthandsouthtemperatezoneshavethebestsitesforcapturingwavepower,ithasnotbeenawidelyusedtechnologyin theUnitedKingdom.At thispresent time there areonly a fewexperimentalsitesaroundtheBritishIslesandstormdamage,saltcorrosionandprohibitivecostshavesofarmadethetechnologylesscommerciallyviable.

TidalpowerTidal power harnesses the energy produced by masses of watermoving as a result of tides. This makes it a predictable sourceof renewable energy, unlike other sources that are influenced byfluctuations in the weather. There are several proposals for tidalpowerschemesintheUnitedKingdom,butsofarthehighstart-upcostsandlongpaybackperiodhavebeenmajorstumblingblocks.However, the UK government has acknowledged the importanceoftidalpowerasarenewablesourceofenergy,anditisbecomingeasier to support research into new technologies through greenfunds,especiallyinScotland.

LandfillgasAshouseholdwastedecomposesinlandfillsitesitgivesoffmethanegas, carbon dioxide and other gases such as hydrogen sulphide.Methaneisapotentgreenhousegasandisadangerunderground,with thepotential tomigrateandcreateanexplosiveatmosphere.Collecting and converting the gas is seen to be away toproducerenewableenergywhilereducingtheenvironmentalharmitcauses.


WasteincinerationWaste incineration, although described as a green energy sourceby the government, is a controversial way to produce energy asit produces harmful dioxides and means that there may be lessencouragementtoreuseandrecycle.BothGreenpeaceandFriendsoftheEarthbelievethatrefusecannotprovidegreenenergyandthatitunderminesthedevelopmentofgenuinegreentechnologies.Ifthisisanissuethatconcernsyou,findoutwhetheryourcurrentsupplierutilizes or supports this type of power generation, and if it does,changesupplier.

Greentariffsandgreenfunds

Thegovernmenthassetatargetof10percentofelectricityproductiontocomefromrenewablesourcesby2010.Inordertomeetthistarget,energy suppliersmust prove that a proportion of the energy thatthey sell has come from renewable sources. To do this, suppliershavesetupschemesthatoffer‘greentariffs’or‘greenfunds’totheircustomers.Theseareusefulschemesforpeoplewhoareinterestedinusingrenewableenergysourcesbutforwhomitisnotpracticalorviabletogeneratetheirownelectricity. These schemes offer two ways to use energy from renewablesources supplied by the national grid. First, withmost electricitysuppliersitispossibletoconverttoa‘greentariff’.Usingthismethodeveryunitofelectricitythatyouuseismatchedbythegenerationofenergyfromrenewablesources.Second,youmayhave theoptionofbuyingyour electricityusinga ‘green fund’.Thisuses someofthemoneyfromyourbilltosupportresearchintorenewableenergysources,theinstallationofenvironmentallyfriendlytechnologyandotherenvironmentalprojects. Changingyour supplieror converting to agreen tariffwillnotaffectthewaythatyourelectricityissuppliedorthewaythatyouarebilled.However,theavailability,qualityandpriceofgreentariffsandgreenfundsvarysignificantlyacrossthecountrysoyouneedtoshoparoundforthebestdeal.TheGreenElectricityMarketplaceprovidesausefulguidetogreentariffsandgreenfundsintheUnitedKingdom (details below), or visit www.uswitch.com for a usefulcomparisonofallsuppliersinyourarea.

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ReusingandrecyclingWasteandrecyclingmethodsandcollectionsvaryacrosstheUnitedKingdom,withsomelocalauthoritieshavingmuchmoredevelopedsystemsthanothers.Theeasiestwaytorecycleyourwasteistomakeuseofyourlocalauthoritycollectionandrecyclingservices.Contacttheauthoritydirecttofindoutwhatservicesareavailable,andforadviceaboutwhatwastecanberecycledinyourarea.InformationaboutcompostingandrecyclinggreenwasteandwaterisprovidedinChapter11.

Paper

One of the best ways to reduce paper waste is to stop receivingjunkmail.ContacttheMailingPreferenceServicetogetyournameremoved from mailing lists (tel: 020 7291 3310; website: www.mpsonline.org.uk).Mosttypesofpaperarenowacceptedforrecycl-ing,and itusually takes three to fourweeks forrecycledpaper toreappearonthemarketintheformofnewspapersandotherrecycledpaper.However,youmayfindthatYellowPagescannotbeacceptedfornormalrecyclinginyourareaasthedyeisnotsuitable.Instead,local authorities arrange separate collections and the books canbe recycled intoproducts like animal bedding, padded envelopesandhouseinsulation.Alternatively,youcanfindoutwhetheryourchild’s school is involved in theYellowWoodsChallenge. This isa scheme thatencourageschildren to recycleYellowPages (www.yellow-woods.co.uk). Some local authoritieswill not accept shredded paper becausesomepapermillswillnottakeit–thisisbecausethepaperfibreshavebeenweakened,andtheequipmentmaybeunsuitableso that theshredscausemaintenanceproblemsorcreateafirehazard.Contactyour local authority for more information. If it does not acceptshreddedpaper it shouldbe able to recommenda local companythatwilldisposeofitsafely.

Cardboard

Cardboardismadefromcellulosefibres,usuallyfromwoodpulp,and can be recycled, although because of its lightweight and lowquality it is not collected by some local authorities. You can use


cardboardinyourowngardenforcompostandmulch(seeChapter11)oryoucanusethesearchfacilityatwww.recyclenow.comtofindyournearestcardboardrecyclingcentre.Allcardboardthatistobesentforrecyclingshouldbemadeasflataspossible,andadhesivesandfastenersshouldberemoved.

Plastic

Plasticisdamagingtotheenvironment,bothinthewayitismanu-factured as it usespetrochemicals andhigh-temperature furnaces,andinthewaythatitcannotbreakdownnaturally.Itisimportanttoencourageretailersandmanufacturerstouselessplasticandtotrytobuyproductssuppliedinothertypesofcontainer.Atpresentit tends tobeonly the ‘bottle’ typeofplastic thatcanberecycled,suchasdrink,shampooandcleaningbottles.Recycledplasticisnotreused for foodanddrinkbut instead ismade into items suchasfurniture, drainage pipes and fleece for outdoor clothing. Bottlesshouldbewashedandsquashed,withtopsremoved.

Glass

EUlawwillsoonrequiretheUKtorecycle70percentofitsglass.Most typesofglasscanberecycledanditcanbereusedoverandoveragain.Theonlytypesofglassthatcannotberecycledarecertaintypes of toughened glass, window panes, glass ovenware, lightbulbsandsometypesofornamentalglass.Ifusingbottlebanksyoumustsortusingthecorrectcoloursasthequalityofrecycledmaterialcanbeaffected,andallbottlesshouldberinsed,withcapsandlidsremoved.Recycledglassiscrushed,meltedandmouldedtomakenewbottlesandjars,orcanbeusedasaggregateinroadbuilding.

Cans

Food and drink cans should bewashed before recycling, as con-tamination can disrupt the smelting process. The cans shouldbe crushed although labels need not be removed. Steel cans areseparatedfromaluminiumcansusingalargemagnet.Impuresteelisreusedforroadbuildingandpuresteelisreusedforcans,carpartsanddomesticappliances.

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Aluminiumfoil

Tofindoutwhethersomethingismadeofaluminiumfoil,crushitinyourhand.Aluminiumfoilwillstaycrushedwhereassilver-coatedplasticmaterialswillspringback.Allfoilshouldbewashedandkeptseparatefromotherrecyclingmaterials.Itisrecycledintomorefoiloritemssuchaslightweightcarparts.

Clothes,shoesandtextiles

Items in good condition can be sent to charity shops or baggedupforcollection.Pairsofshoesshouldbetiedtogether,anditemsshouldnotbedampordirtyasthiscancontaminatewholebatches.Poorerqualityitemscanberecycledforcertaintypesoffillings,andgraduallymorelocalauthoritiesaresettingupsuchschemes.Contactyourauthoritydirecttofindoutwhatschemesareavailableinyourarea,orusethepostcodelocatoratwww.recyclenow.comtofindyournearestcollectionpoint.Recentlytherehasbeenconsiderablemediacoverageaboutboguscharityclothescollectors,somakesure thatyouonlyuselegitimatecollectionpointsand/orcharitablegroups.

Spectacles

Vision Aid Overseas collects donated spectacles from opticians’practicesintheUnitedKingdomtodelivertoitsofficesallovertheworldtohelppeoplewithpooreyesight.Contactyouropticiantofindoutwhetherittakespartinthescheme.Ifnot,moreinformationaboutdonatingspectaclescanbeobtainedfromVisionAidOverseas(tel:01293535016;website:www.vao.org.uk).SomeHelptheAgedshopswillalsoacceptunwantedpairsofglasses.

Nappies

The problems associatedwith disposable nappies have beenwellhighlighted in recent years. Where possible, parents should onlyusereal(reusablecloth)nappies.Toobtaindetailsaboutrealnappyretailers,networks, laundriesand incentiveschemes in theUnitedKingdom, contact the Real Nappy Campaign (tel: 0845 850 0606;website:www.realnappycampaign.com). (If you live inWales, tel:08454562477;website:www.realnappies-wales.org.uk.)


Computers

Contactyourlocalauthoritytofindoutwhatschemesareavailablefor recycling old computers. Alternatively, you can donate yourPC to a needy organization (www.donateapc.org.uk) or use theFreecycleNetworktogiveawayoldequipment(www.freecycle.org).Beforesendingyourcomputerforrecycling,makesurethatyouusea specialist softwarepackage towipe clean your harddrive. Thisinvolvesmuchmorethanfiledeletionorsimplereformatting,andifyouareunsureofwhatyouaredoingyoushouldseekspecialistadvice.Personaldatatheftfromdiscardedharddrivesisbecominganincreasinglycommonproblem.

Engineoil

Mostengineoilcanbedisposedofthroughlocalauthorityhouseholdwaste recyclingcentres.Makesure that it isnotmixedwithothersubstancesandthatitisstoredinasealedcontainer.Ifyouhavealargeamountofoiltodisposeof,orifyouneedmoreadviceaboutgetting ridofengineoil, contact theEnvironmentAgencyoil carecampaign(tel:08708506506;website:www.oilbankline.org.uk).Youcanfindyournearestoil bankbyusing the search facilityon thiswebsite.

Carbatteries

Bylaw,carbatteriesmustnotbedisposedofasgeneralhouseholdwaste. Instead, you must use the specialist facility at your localauthority household waste recycling centre, or ask your batterysuppliertodisposeoftheoldbatterysafely.Fromthebatteries,thelead,plasticanddistilledwater is recycledand theacid is treatedandneutralized.

Furnitureandappliances

Donate furniture to local charity shops, hostels, youth centres orchurch groups.Manywill come to collect unwanted items.Alter-natively,youcancontactthefurniturereusenetworkforinformationandhelp on recycling furniture and appliances (www.frn.org.uk).

Homeowners 47

ThisorganizationisanationalcoordinatingbodyforfurnitureandappliancereuseandrecyclingorganizationsintheUnitedKingdom,whichcollectawiderangeofhouseholditemstopassontopeopleinneed.

KnowingaboutgrantsanddiscountschemesThereareavarietyofgrantsanddiscountschemesforhomeownerswhowant their home to becomemore energy efficient and live amoreenvironmentallyfriendlylife.MoreinformationaboutalltheseschemesisprovidedinAppendix1.

TheHomeEnergyEfficiencyScheme(Wales)

This scheme isavailable forhomeownersand tenantswho live inWales.Itisaimedprimarilyathouseholdswiththegreatesthealthrisks–olderpeople,peoplewithchildrenundertheageof16andpeoplewhoaredisabledandchronicallysick.Throughthisschemeagrantofup to£2,700 isprovided tomakehomeswarmer,moreenergyefficientandmoresecure.

WarmFront(England)

WarmFrontwaslaunchedinJune2000astheHomeEnergyEfficiencyScheme.Throughthisschemeagrantof£2,700or£4,000(ifoilcentralheatinghasbeenrecommended)isavailabletocertainhouseholdsinEngland.Toqualifyfortheschemeyoumustownyourownhomeorrentfromaprivatelandlord,haveachildunder16orbeatleast26weekspregnant,andbeinreceiptofstatebenefits.

WarmDeal(Scotland)

Thisschemeprovidesgrantsofupto£500,whichcanbeputtowardsa number of energy-saving measures for certain households inScotland.Tobeeligiblefortheschemeyouoryourspousemustownor rent yourhome, be over the age of 60 or be in receipt of statebenefits.Thegrantwillhelptopayforcavitywall,loft,pipeortankinsulation,draught-proofingandenergy-efficientlighting.


CentralHeatingProgramme(Scotland)

This scheme helps certain household in Scotland to improve theheatingsystemsintheirhome.ToqualifyfortheschemeyoumustberesidentinScotlandandownorrentyourhome,whichmustbeyourmainoronlyresidence.Thepropertyshouldnothaveacentralheating system, or the present system should be broken beyondrepair,andyouwillneedtohavelivedinthepropertyforatleast12monthsandintendtoliveinthepropertyforatleast12monthsoncetheheatingsystemhasbeeninstalled.

WarmHomes(NorthernIreland)

Throughthisschemegrantsofup to£750areprovidedforhome-ownersandtenantsinNorthernIrelandwhoareinreceiptofcertainbenefits.

LowCarbonBuildingsProgramme

ThroughtheLowCarbonBuildingsProgrammeindividualhouse-holderscanapplyforgrantstohelpwiththeinstallationofrenewablesources of energy for their homes. Larger grants are available forcommunitieswhodecidetoinstallrenewableenergytechnologyforcommunityuse.

ScottishCommunityandHouseholderRenewablesInitiative

The Scottish Community and Householder Renewables InitiativeoffersgrantsandadvicetopeopleinScotlandwhowishtodeveloprenewablesourcesofenergy.Toqualifyforagrantyoumustownthepropertywheretherenewableenergysystemistobeinstalled,youmustobtainaquotationfromanaccreditedinstallerandyoumustuseanapprovedinstallerusinganapprovedsystem.

TheEnergyEfficiencyCommitment

IntheUnitedKingdomthegovernmentrequiresenergycompaniestofundenergyimprovementsindomestichomes.UndertheEnergy

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Efficiency Commitment (EEC), companies are obliged to providegrantsforhomeownerstoinstallcavitywallandloftinsulation.Atthetimeofwritingthegrantprovidesa£200discountforcavitywallinsulation and £150 for loft insulation. These grants are changingconstantly,soforthemostup-to-dateinformationconsultyourlocalauthorityoryourlocalEnergyEfficiencyAdviceCentre.

Renovationgrants

Renovationgrantsaredesignedtohelpowner-occupierscarryoutrepairsorimprovementstotheirproperties,andsomelocalauthori-ties enable you to include energy-efficiency improvements in theworks. In most cases these grants are discretionary and dependontheamountoffundsavailable.Toobtainagrantyouwillneedtohold the freeholdand intendto live inor let theproperty foraspecified number of years. Your propertywill need to have beenclassed‘unfit’forhabitationorhavefailedthenewHousingHealthandSafetyRatingSystem(HHSRS)assessment.Contactyourlocalauthorityformoreinformationaboutthisgrant.

SummaryThere aremany changes that you, as a homeowner, canmake tomove towards a more environmentally friendly way of living.Theseincludemakingchangestothewayyouuseenergyandbuyenergy-using products, converting to renewable forms of energy,andreusingandrecycling.Thereareavarietyofgrantsanddiscountschemesavailableforpeopleinterestedinmakingthesechangestotheircurrenthome. In some cases it may be preferable to think about buying agreener property or purchasing a property that ismore suited tomakingenvironmentallyfriendlychanges.Ifyoudecidethatthisisapreferableoption, adviceand informationaboutbuyingagreenpropertyisofferedinthenextchapter.


Usefulorganizations

NationalAssociationofLoftInsulationContractors(NALIC)

NALIC represents the loft insulation contracting industry and itssuppliers.Itcanprovideinformationaboutloftinsulationandalistofmembersinyourarea.

NationalAssociationofLoftInsulationContractorsPOBox12HaslemereSurreyGU273AHTel:01428654011Fax:01428651401

CavityInsulationGuaranteeAgency(CIGA)

CIGAisanindependentagencythatprovidesindependent25-yearguaranteesforcavitywall insulationfittedbyregisteredinstallers.Theguaranteecoversmaterialsandworkmanship,andisavailabletosubsequentownersoftheproperty.CIGAwillinvestigatecomplaints,andwherenecessary,ensurethatremedialworkiscarriedoutfreeofcharge.

CavityInsulationGuaranteeAgencyCIGAHouse,3VimyCourtVimyRoadLeightonBuzzardBedfordshireLU71FGTel:01525853300Fax:01525385926E-mail:[email protected]:www.ciga.co.uk

BritishFenestrationRatingCouncil(BFRC)

BFRChasdevelopedandoperatesaUKnationalratingsystemforthe thermalperformanceof fenestrationproducts.On thewebsiteyoucansearchforthebestperformingwindowsintermsofenergy

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efficiency,andsearchforaninstaller,manufacturerandsupplierofenergy-savingwindows.

BritishFenestrationRatingCouncilLtd44–48BoroughHighStreetLondonSE11XBTel:02074039200Fax:08700424266E-mail:[email protected]:www.brfc.org

RenewableEnergyAssociation

TheRenewableEnergyAssociationisthetradebodyforrenewableenergyproducersintheUnitedKingdom.Althoughitisunabletoprovideanswerstospecificqueriesfrommembersofthepublic,itswebsitecontainsusefulanddetailedinformationaboutalltypesofrenewableenergy,andyoucansearchitsdatabaseforamemberinyourarea.

RenewableEnergyAssociation17WaterlooPlaceLondonSW1Y4ARTel:02077471830Fax:02079252715E-mail:useenquiryformonwebsiteWebsite:www.r-e-a.net

CentreforAlternativeTechnology(CAT)

CATisacharityconcernedwithtacklingtheseriousissuesthatfaceourplanetsuchasclimatechange,pollutionandthewasteofpreciousresources.ItsvisitorcentreissituatedinsouthernSnowdonia,andyou can see displays highlighting the power of wind, water andsun, and visit working examples of environmentally responsiblebuildings, energy conservation, organic growing and composting.CATproducesavarietyofleafletsonissuessuchasgreentariffs,homeheatingwith renewable energy, environmental building, investinginrenewableenergy,small-scalewindpower,waterharvestingandreusinggreywater.


CentreforAlternativeTechnologyMachynllethPowysSY209AZTel:01654705950Fax:01654702782Website:www.cat.org.uk

BritishWindEnergyAssociation(BWEA)

BWEAisthetradeandprofessionalbodyforthewindandmarinerenewables industries. The primary aim of the association is topromotetheuseofwindpoweraroundtheUnitedKingdom,bothinshore and offshore. If you are interested in installing your ownwindturbineyoucanobtainaninformationpackandalistofsmallwindturbinesuppliersfromtheBWEA.

BritishWindEnergyAssociationRenewableEnergyHouse1AztecRow,BernersRoadLondonN10PWTel:02076891960Fax:02076891969E-mail:[email protected]:www.bwea.com

Usefulwebsiteswww.nationalinsulationassociation.org.ukThe National Insulation Association (NIA) represents the manu-facturersandinstallersofalltypesofinsulationanddraught-proofing.OnthiswebsiteyoucanfinddetailsofaninstallerandmanufacturerinyourareabyaccessingtheRegisterofMembersandtheRegisterofManufacturers. The website contains useful information aboutinsulationanddraught-proofingtechniquesandmaterials.

www.centralheating.co.ukThisisthewebsiteoftheHeatingandHotWaterIndustryCouncil(HHIC). It is an independent organizationwhich aims toprovideunbiasedinformationonallheatingandhotwatermatters.Onitswebsiteyoucanfindinformationaboutsavingenergyandgrants,

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findaregisteredinstallerandorderaheatlosscalculator.Thisisanaccurate and simple programme that helps you to calculate howmuchheatisbeinglostinyourhome.

www.greenelectricity.orgThis is thewebsite of the Green ElectricityMarketplace. You canselect theregioninwhichyouliveor towhichyouwanttomovetofindoutabout the local suppliers thatoffergreen tariffs.Pricesand services are compared, along with useful information aboutchoosingasuitablesupplierandadviceaboutthedifferenttypesofrenewableenergysources.

www.british-hydro.orgThe British Hydropower Association represents the interests ofpeoplewhoare involved in theproductionofhydropower in theUnitedKingdom,fromlargecompaniestoindividualsandcharities.Onitswebsiteyoucanfindcomprehensiveinformationaboutpro-ducinghydropowerandthecostsinvolved.

www.lowcaronbuildings.org.ukThis is thewebsite of the LowCarbonBuildings Programme.Onthis site you can find information about grants available for theinstallationofrenewableenergytechnologies.

FurtherreadingRoberts,J(2003)GoodGreenHomes,GibbsMSmith,Layton,UtahScott,N(2004)Reduce,Reuse,Recycle!Aneasyhouseholdguide,GreenBooks,Totnes

Smith, P (2003) Eco-Refurbishment: A practical guide to creating anenergyefficienthome,ArchitecturalPress,Oxford

Home-buyers

Ifyouarethinkingaboutbuyingapropertyinwhichtoliveorforinvestmentpurposes,youhavemorepotentialscopetofindaplacethatmeetsyourgreenphilosophy.Thisisbecauseyoucantakeyourtimetosearchfortherightpropertythatalreadymatchesyourgreenphilosophy,oronethatyoucanrefurbish,renovateorconvertinawaythatsuitsyourenvironmentalandethicalwishes. WhensearchingforanewpropertyyoushoulduseyourgreencodeasdiscussedinChapter1tohelpyoutoproduceachecklistthatwillenableyoutonarrowyoursearchforsuitableproperties.Onceyouhavedonethisyouneedtofindsuitableproperties,understandhow to recognize the green potential of a property, evaluate thepotential for the installation of renewable energy sources, knowwhattoavoid,understandthecostsinvolved,andarrangesuitablebuildingandcontentsinsuranceforyournewproperty.Thischapterprovidesadviceandguidanceaboutalltheseissues.

DevelopingagreenchecklistWhenyoubeginyoursearchforanenvironmentallyfriendlypropertyitisusefultodevelopaproperty-huntingchecklistthatyoucanusetomatchyourenvironmental,financialandpersonalcriteriaagainstthepropertiesinwhichyouareinterested.Thischecklistwillhelpyoutonarrowdownyourchoiceofsuitableproperties,andenableyou toask the rightquestionsof estateagentsandvendorswhilemakingsurethatthepropertymeetsyourcriteriaduringviewing. Your checklist will depend on your personal green code, yourfinancialsituationandyourpersonalwantsandneeds(seeChapter1),andmayincludesomeoralloftheissueslistedbelow:

Howmuchdoyouwanttopayfortheproperty?Areyouwillingtopaymoreforagreenerproperty?

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Howmanybedroomsandreceptionroomsdoyourequire?

Whatsizegardendoyourequire?Areyouinterestedingrowingyour own food? Are the soil type, drainage, geology andtopographysuitableforyourneeds?Isthegardensouth-facingwithoutsignificantshadow?

What fixtures and fittings are included in the purchase price?Some people take everything they can with them when theymove,includinglightbulbs,sothismightprovideanopportunityto start replacing fixtures and fittings with energy-efficientalternatives.

Whichenergysupplierispresentlyusedintheproperty?Ifyouare not thinking about installing your own source of energy,considergreentariffs(seeChapter2).Youcancheckwhetheritispossibletosignuptoagreentariffforthepropertyinwhichyouareinterestedbyconsultingwww.greenelectricity.org.

What is the standard of the present gas boiler? Does it needreplacing? If so, you could try tonegotiate a reductionon theaskingpriceandtheninstallahigh-efficiencycondensingboiler.Forindependent,professionaladviceaboutheatingconsulttheHeatingandHotWaterIndustryCouncil(www.centralheating.co.uk).

Whatheatingcontrolsarealreadyinstalled?Thesecouldincludeacentralheatinganddomestichotwatertimer,aprogrammableroomthermostat,ahotwaterthermostatandthermostaticradi-atorvalves.Youmaybeabletonegotiateonthepriceifyouneedtoreplaceanyheatingcontrols.

Does the house have higher than normal levels of insulation?Haveenvironmentallyfriendlyproductsbeenused?Askaboutlofts,pipes,walls,floors,doorsandwindows.Wherepossible,asktoseeloftinsulationandcheckthatithasadepthofatleast270 millimetres. Find out whether there are any guaranteescoveringwallinsulation(seeChapter2).

What is the standard and layout of glazing?Are there largeramountsofglazingfacingsouth,tomaximizelightandwarmth,andsmalleramountstothenorthelevations?Generally,isthereplentyofglazingtomaximizedaylightandtakeadvantageoftheheatfromthesun?

Whatnaturalmaterialshavebeenusedinthebuilding?Thismayinclude a timber frame,wool insulation, strawbalewalls andenvironmentallyfriendlypaints.


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Doesthepropertyhaveagrey-watercollectionsystemforwater-ing the garden, or the potential for developing one?Youmayneed to install a tank,pumpandadditionalpipes soyouwillneedtomakesurethereisenoughspaceavailable.

Does the property have a rainwater harvesting system, or thepotential to develop one? This will include space for a tank,pumpandfilter,andmayrequirepipeandgutterreplacement.

Ifyouare interested incompostingtoilets, is therepotential tobuildone?Isthereenoughprivatespaceavailableinthegarden?Isthepropertyoverlooked?

Is the property located in a conservation area or is it a listedbuilding?Wouldplanningpermissionbegrantedforanychangesyoumaywishtomake?

Are there anyneighbours living close bywhomight object toyourgreenplans?Arethereareanysharedrightsofwayorissueswithboundariesthatcouldcreateproblems(seeChapter9)?

Isthelocationofthepropertysuitableforyourgreenplans?Istheareawindyand/orsunnyenoughforyourproposedenergyschemes?Aretheregoodlocalauthorityrecyclingschemesavail-able?Arethereefficientandcheapsuppliersoffuel,organicfood,plantsandseeds?Istherelocalaccesstoreclamationyardsandretailerssupplyinglocalgoodsandproduce?

FindingsuitablepropertiesOnceyouhavedevelopedyourgreenchecklistyoucanstarttohuntfor suitable properties. Your checklist should help you to narrowyour search, especially ifyouhavebeenquite specificaboutyourpropertyrequirements.Itispossibletoe-mail,deliverorpostyourchecklisttoestateagentsinthelocalityinwhichyouareinterested,butbepreparedtoreceiveinformationaboutallsortsofproperties,mostofwhichwillnotmatchyourcriteria. If you intend to e-mail your information to estate agents, youmight find it useful to set up a separate e-mail account as youmay be inundatedwith responses that could clog up your inbox.UK Property Matters (www.ukpropertymatters.co.uk) is a usefulwebsite that enables you to send your details to all estate agentsin a specified area.You can also specify your green criteria in anadditionalinformationbox,althoughagain,youshouldnotexpectallestateagentstotaketoomuchnoticeofthesecriteria.Ifyouuse

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thisservice,don’tbetemptedtoticktoomanycountiesasyouwillbefloodedwithpropertydetails.GreenMovesisausefulorganizationforpeopleinterestedinhuntingspecificallyformoreenergy-efficienthomes(detailsbelow). Once you have found a property in which you are interested,you can obtain useful statistics about the area by consulting theNeighbourhoodStatisticswebsite(detailsbelow).Thiswebsitewillprovideinformationaboutpopulation,crime,healthandhousinginthearea.More informationabout thepropertyand itsboundariescanbeobtainedfromtheLandRegistrywebsite(EnglandandWales)andtheRegistersofScotlandExecutiveAgency(Scotland)(detailsbelow).

RecognizingandevaluatinggreenpotentialIf you do not have a lot of money to spend on making greenimprovementstoanewproperty,itmakessensetobuyapropertythatalreadyhasahighgreenrating.FromJune2007theeasiestwaytodothiswillbetotakenoteoftheenergyperformancecertificate(EPC) which will be produced as part of the home informationpack (seeChapter 4). It is also possible to obtain an independentenergyauditforthepropertyinwhichyouareinterested.Ifyoufindthat thepropertydoesnot ratehighlyon theaudityoucan thinkaboutmoving on to another property, or you can negotiate withthevendors to reduce theprice in lightof theaudit.Youcanfindabuildingsurveyorexperiencedinconductinganenergyauditbyconsulting the RICS database (www.ricsfirms.com). Alternatively,contact your local authority as some are nowproviding a free orreduced-fee energy audit for local households. Some local energysupplierswillalsoconductafreeenergyaudit,andtheCo-operativeBankwillprovidea freehomeenergy reportwithyourmortgagevaluation. QuestionvendorscarefullyabouttheEPCandtheindependentaudit, if you have obtained one, making sure that the propertymeets the criteria listed in your green checklist. Vendors whohave purposively developed a green property should be able toansweryourspecificquestionsindetail,especiallyiftheyareveryenthusiasticaboutthegreencredentialsoftheirproperty.Ifyouareinterestedintheirpropertyaskthemtoexplainanddemonstratetheenvironmentally friendlysystemsandschemes theyhave inplacesothatyoucanfindoutwhethertheywouldmeetyourneedsandmatch your green code. Youmay also find it useful to obtain an


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alternativeenergyassessment(seebelow)tohelpyoutorecognizeandevaluatethegreenpotentialoftheproperty.

RecognizingpotentialforrenewableenergysourcesThe different types of renewable energy source are discussed inChapter 2. If you are looking for a new property and you wantto install sources of renewable energy, you need to look out foradditionalfeatureswithinthepropertyandgrounds.Theseincludethefollowingissues:

Isthehousecorrectlyorientatedforsolarpanels?Takeacompasswithyoutomakesure that it faceswithin90degreesofsouthand that there are no buildings and trees creating shadow onthe placewhere the panelswould be located.Would there beenoughsunlightorheattoeffectivelyharnesssolarpower?Youmayneedtoseekindependent,professionaladvice. Is theroofingoodconditionandstrongenoughtotakethepanels?Isthereroomforanadditionalwatercylinder,ifrequired?Willplanningpermissionbegranted?Checkwiththelocalplanningauthorityprior tomaking your purchase.More information about solarheatingcanbeobtainedfromtheBritishPhotovoltaicAssociationwebsite(www.greenernergy.org.uk/pvuk2).

Is thegroundsuitable forageothermal system? Is there spaceavailableforatrenchorborehole?Whattypeofheatingdistribu-tion system is already installed in the property? You can useexisting radiators, but underfloor heating tends to be moreeffective.

Is it possible to install a wood-fired central heating system?Does thepropertyhave the space available for storage, and istherealocalfuelsupplieravailable?Isthechimneysuitable?Isthepropertylocatedinasmokelesszone?Ifthisisthecaseyoucanonlyburnwoodonexemptedappliancesunder theCleanAirAct.Youwillneedtoseekadviceaboutobtainingplanningpermissionfortheinstallationoftheflue.

Is therespaceandenoughheight to installawind turbine?Toobtain an estimateofwind speeds in the areaof theproperty,consult the UK Wind Speed Database on the British WindEnergyAssociationwebsite(www.bwea.com).Wouldplanning

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permission be granted? Seek advice from the local planningauthoritybeforemakingyourpurchase.

Is there a suitable source ofwater close to the property, withtherequiredlevelofflowandheightforamini-hydroscheme,or the possibility of managing the flow and height to meetyour requirements? Will your water management have anadverseinfluenceontheecologyoftheriver?Willyoubeabletoobtainplanningpermissionforyourmini-hydroplant?Moreinformationaboutproducingamini-hydrocanbeobtainedfromtheBritishHydroAssociation(www.british-hydro.org).

Obtaininganalternativeenergyassessment

Ifyoufeelthatyoudonothavetherequiredexpertisetoassessthepotentialforalternativeenergysourcesonapropertythatyouhavefound, it is possible to obtain an assessment froman experiencedindividual or company. The Energy Alternatives website (www.energyalteratives.co.uk)hasbeensetupbyacouplewhofoundithard toobtain independent advice about alternative technologies.Now they offer free generic advice to households or tailored, no-obligationassessmentsforasmallfee.Theycanalsoputyouintouchwithreliableinstallersandofferinformationaboutgrants.Consultthewebsiteformoreinformationabouttheservice. Ifyouare interested inaspecific typeofrenewableenergyyoucancontacttherelevanttradeassociationtofindareputableinstallerand/ormanufacturer (see useful organizations at the end of thisbook).Thesepeoplewillbeabletoofferano-obligationassessmentofthepropertyforthesuitabilityoftheiralternativetechnology.

AvoidingunsuitablepropertiesIfyouarehopingtobuyapropertythatissuitableforyourfamilyhomeandmeetsyourgreenphilosophy, thinkaboutavoiding thefollowingtypesofproperty:

Propertiesthatrequiretoomuchworkandexpensetomakethemhabitableandenablethemtomeetyourgreenrequirements.

Houses inanarea that isunsuitable foryour family.Thismaybe an area of degeneration where properties are losing their


valueand thereare localproblemswithcrime,vandalismandburglaries,oritmaybeanareawheretheclimaticconditionsandtopographyarenotsuitabletosustainyourgreenwayoflife.

Propertieslocatednearnoisy,dangerousroads,airportsorrail-waylines.Althoughyouandyourfamilymaybeabletoputupwith the noise and inconvenience, youmayfind it difficult tosellyourpropertywhenyouwishtomoveon.Also,youneedtoconsiderissuesofpollution–highlevelsofpollutionwillnotsuityourgreenlifestyle.

Houses thathavebeenbuiltanddecoratedusingharmfulandnon-sustainablematerialsandproducts.Whileitmaybepossibletorefurbishandrenovateusingyourgreencriteria,youshouldmakesurethatthecostsandworkinvolvedarenotprohibitive.

Properties located in areas where it is not suitable to installrenewable energy technologies. You can have an independentassessmentcarriedouttodeterminesuitability(seeabove).

Ifyouarehopingtocarryoutsignificantworktoimprovethegreencredentialsofyournewproperty,therearecertaintypesofpropertythat you should avoid buying, as your development plans maybe restricted, curtailed or denied. These include listed buildings,properties insensitiveareasandproperties thatcontainrestrictivecovenants in their title deeds. More information about knowingwhattoavoidwhenbuyingapropertyfordevelopmentisprovidedinChapter9.

KnowingaboutthecostsAsapotentialpurchaseryouneedtoworkouthowmuchyouareabletoaffordandhowmuchextrayouarewillingtopayforagreenproperty.Ifyouarehopingtodevelopormakeaprofitfromyourproperty, think aboutbuying cheaply andmakingalterations thatwilladdvaluewithoutcostingalotofmoney.Itisimportanttostarttakingnoticeofwhatishappeningwithpropertypricesinyourareaor in thearea inwhichyouare interested.Monitor thepricesandkeeparecord–thiswillhelpyoutoseehowpricesarechanginginboththeshortandlongterm.Regularlyvisitlocalestateagentsandconsultthelocalpropertypress,againkeepingrecordssothatyoucanmonitorchanges.

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The Land Registry produces a Residential Property Price Reportwhichprovidesadetailedinsightintowhatishappeningtoaverageprices and sales volumes in the residential property market forEnglandandWales.Thisisusefulonbothanationalandlocalleveltogetanup-to-dateideaofhousepricesandsales.Theinformationisfreelyavailableonthewebsite(detailsbelow).AsimilarsurveyisproducedinScotlandbytheRegistersofScotlandExecutiveAgency(detailsbelow). Inadditiontothisresearchyouneedtofindoutaboutthepricesof environmentally friendly properties. The GreenMoves websiteprovidesausefulstartingpointforyourresearch,butyoucanalsocontact local estate agents andask them tokeepyou informedofenvironmentallyfriendlypropertiesthatcomeonthemarket.Visitthesepropertiestocompareprices,features,facilities,styleandlevelofeco-friendliness. When buying an eco-friendly property, or a property that youwish to develop in an environmentally friendly way, there arevariousothercoststhatyouneedtoconsider.Theseincludeinitialcostsassociatedwiththepurchaseandthecostsassociatedwiththedevelopmentoftheproperty.Thefollowinglistprovidesanexampleofthecoststhatmaybeinvolved.

InitialpurchasecostsSolicitor’sfees: £600–1,000Searchfees: £70–250Conveyancingfees: £300–500Surveyor’sfees: £400–800StampDutyLandTax: 1–4percentofthepurchasepriceMortgagebrokerfee: £100–200Mortgagebookingfee: £100–500Valuationfee: £125–500Re-inspectionfee: £50–200Deposit: variablePurchaseprice: variable

DevelopmentcostsEco-friendlypaint/wallpaper: £50–800Eco-friendlyfixturesandfittings: £500–5,000Eco-friendlyfurnishings: £500–5,000Buildingsandcontentsinsurance: £150–400Labour: variableEquipment: variablePlantandtoolhire: variable


Informationaboutthecostsofinstallingrenewableenergytechnolo-giesandenergy-efficiencymeasuresisprovidedinChapters2and4.Tobeable toplanyourbudgetsuccessfullyyoumustbeawareof all the costs involved at the beginning of your project, and allquotationsmustbeobtainedwellinadvance.Thisincludesthefeesofprofessionals,taxes,mortgagefees,buildingworkandmaterials,fixtures,fittings,furnitureanddecoration.Eventhemostcarefullyplannedbudgetmayrequireextra funding,so it isagood idea toprovidearound15per centofyour totalbudgetasa contingencyfundtocoverunexpectedexpenses.

Electronicconveyancing

TheLandRegistrationAct2002setsoutthenewlegislationfortheimplementationofe-conveyancingservices.Itisintendedthatthisnewelectronicconveyancingsystemwillmaketheprocessofbuyingand selling property easier for homeowners and professionals.The system should enable authorized parties to obtain and sendinformationmuchquicker,transferfundsimmediatelyandupdatepropertyandrelatedinformationassoonasitisrequired.Itishopedthate-conveyancingwillbeintroducedin2007whenthenewhomeinformationpackscomeintoforce.However,therearemanyconcernsabout the system, inparticularwhether the conveyancingprocesswillbecheaperforhomeowners,theamountofpublic/professionalaccesstotheinformation,howitisstoredandwhetherthesystemmightfail.MoreinformationaboutthisnewsystemcanbeobtainedfromtheLandRegistrywebsite(www.landreg.gov.uk).

ArranginggreenbuildingandcontentsinsuranceOnce you have made an offer on a property you need to lookinto arranging building and contents insurance. This insurance iscompulsorywhenyoutakeoutamortgagebutyoudonothavetotakeoutthiscoverwithyourmortgagelender,althoughsomemightchargeanadministrationfeeifyoudecidetouseanothercompany.Somelendersmayattachthiscovertotheirmoreattractivemortgages,soyoushouldcheckthiswhenarrangingyourloan.However,ifthisisthecaseyoumaynotbeabletochooseethicalorgreeninsurance.Todaythereareasmallnumberofcompaniesthatoffergreentypesofinsurance,soyoushouldshoparoundforacompanythatmatchesyourethicalcriteria.

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NaturesavePoliciesLtdprovidesbuildingsandcontentinsuranceforhomeownerswhoareinterestedinenvironmentalissues.Tenpercentofthepremiumgeneratedfromthesaleofallpoliciesisputintoacharitabletrustthathasbeenestablishedtobenefitenvironmentalandconservationistorganizationsonspecificprojects.Moreinforma-tionaboutitspoliciescanbeobtainedfromitswebsiteorbytelephone(tel: 01803 864 390; website: www.natursave.co.uk). Co-operativeInsurancealsoprovidestheopportunitytotakeoutbuildingsandcontents insurance from a company that operates under a strictethical code.More information about its policies can be obtainedfromthewebsite(www.cis.co.uk).

SummaryWhenbuyinganewpropertyyouhavemorescopeforfindingahousethatmatchesyourgreenphilosophyorahousethathasthepotentialtoberenovatedorconvertedinawaythatsuitsyourgreenwishes.Itisimportanttodevelopachecklistwhichwillhelpyoutoknowwhattolookforandthequestionstoaskwhenviewingaproperty.Itisalsoimportanttoknowwhattypeofpropertiestoavoid,asitmaybedifficultorexpensivetomakegreenimprovements,oryoumayfinditdifficulttosellyourpropertywhenitistimetomove. Goodgreencredentialscanaddvaluetoaproperty,andyoumayhavetobepreparedtospendalittlemoreonapropertythatalreadyhasmany green features.However, this canwork in your favourwhenyoucometosellyourowngreenproperty,aspotentialbuyersmaybewillingtospendmoreforapropertythatmeetstheirgreenrequirements.Theseissuesarediscussedinthefollowingchapter.

Usefulorganizations

TheDepartmentforCommunitiesandLocalGovernment(DCLG)

DCLGwascreatedon5May2006undertheleadershipofRuthKelly.Youcanobtaininformationaboutthenewhomeinformationpack,alongwithotherusefulhousinginformation,fromtheDCLG.


DepartmentforCommunitiesandLocalGovernmentElandHouse,BressendenPlaceLondonSW1E5DUTel:02079444400Fax:02079449645E-mail:[email protected]:www.communities.gov.uk

AssociationofHomeInformationPackProviders(AHIPP)

AHIPPwas founded in June2005 torepresentpeopleandorgani-zationsinvolvedintheproductionandpreparationofhomeinform-ationpacks.Onitswebsiteyoucanobtaininformationaboutwhattheorganizationdoes,alongwithlinkstoorganizationsprovidinghomeinformationpackservices.

AssociationofHomeInformationPackProviders3SavileRowLondonW1S3PBTel:08709507739Fax:01858454714E-mail:[email protected]:www.hipassociation.co.uk

RoyalInstituteofCharteredSurveyors(RICS)

RICSisthelargestorganizationforprofessionalsworkinginproperty,land and constructionworldwide. RICSmembers have to adhereto a strict code of conduct and are required to update their skillsandknowledgeonaregularbasis.Allmembersmusthaveproperinsurance,andcustomersareprotectedbyaRICSformalcomplaintsservice.

RoyalInstituteofCharteredSurveyorsRICSContactCentreSurveyorCourt,WestwoodWayCoventryCV48JETel:08703331600Fax:02073343811E-mail:[email protected]:www.rics.org

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CouncilofLicensedConveyancers

TheCouncil of LicensedConveyancers is the regulatory body forlicensedconveyancers,whoarequalifiedspecialistpropertylawyers.Youcanobtainthecontactdetailsofaconveyancerinyourareabyusingtheonlinedirectory.

CouncilofLicensedConveyancers16GlebeRoadChelmsfordEssexCM11QGTel:01245349599Fax:01245341300Website:www.theclc.gov.uk

Usefulwebsiteswww.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.ukYou can find statistics for local areas on awide range of subjectswhichincludepopulation,crime,healthandhousingonthissite.Byenteringthepostcodeofthepropertyinwhichyouareinterestedyoucanobtainsummarystatisticsoftheareabasedonthe2001Census.AusefultableshowsyoutheaveragehousepricesofdifferenttypesofpropertybyareaandcountyinEnglandandWales.

www.landregisteronline.gov.ukLandRegisterOnlineprovideseasyaccess todetailsofmore than20 million registered properties in England and Wales. You candownload copiesof titleplans and registers inPDF format for £3each,payableonlinebycreditcard.

www.ros.gov.ukThis is thewebsiteof theRegistersof ScotlandExecutiveAgency.It provides information about Scotland’s land and property. Onthewebsite,forasmallfee,youcanfindoutaboutpropertypricesanywhereinScotland.

www.greenmoves.comGreenMoves is an advertising website that helps to sell environ-mentallyfriendlyhomesintheUnitedKingdomandoverseas.Itisalimitedliabilitycompanythatreinvestsitsprofitsinthedevelopment


ofitswebsitetoofferabetterservicetoitscustomers.Inthefutureithopestobeabletousesomeofitsprofitstooffersmallgrantstohelppromotethecauseofeco-friendlyhomes.

FurtherreadingChiras,D(2002)TheSolarHouse:Passiveheatingandcooling,ChelseaGreen,PostMills,Vermont

Clift,JandCuthbert,A(2006)Energy:Useless,savemore,GreenBooks,Totnes

Clift,JandCuthbert,A(2006)Water:Useless,savemore,GreenBooks,Totnes

Hymers,P (2006)Converting toanEco-FriendlyHome:The completehandbook,NewHolland,London

Home-sellers

ResearchcarriedoutbytheEnergySavingTrustin2006showedthat70percentofBritishpeoplebelievethatenergyefficiencyisimportantwhenbuyinganewhome.Ofthese,45percentwerewillingtopayupto£10,000moreforanenvironmentallyfriendlyhome.Asurveyby theCommission forArchitectureandBuiltEnvironment foundthat,in2004,87percentofUKhome-buyerswantmoreinformationaboutaproperty’sgreencredentialsand84percentarewillingtospendupto2percentmoreforaneco-friendlyhome.Thesefiguresillustrate that, if you are prepared tomake a few changes beforesellingyourhome,youshouldbeabletoincreaseyourprofitmarginconsiderablywhilealsohelpingtheenvironment. Thischapterprovidesadviceonknowingandunderstandingwhatbuyers are looking for, making affordable green changes, addingvaluethroughenvironmentallyfriendlychanges,producingahomeinformationpack,presentingyourpropertyforsale,marketingyourgreenpropertytoenvironmentallyawarebuyersandknowingaboutrelevantgrants.

KnowingwhatbuyersarelookingforEnvironmentalawarenessishighonthepoliticalandpublicagendaatthispresenttimeandissettogainpaceinthefuture,especiallyasissuesofclimatechangebecomemorepressingandurgent.TheUK government is considering further development of policy toencouragemoreofus tocutcarbonemissionsandhelp tochangeourlifestylestoreducetheharmontheenvironment.Manyofthesechangeswill involve alterations to our properties and our energyusage.Formanypeople,buyingamoreenergy-efficienthomewillbeahighpriority,especiallyiftheyareunwillingorunabletomakechangestoeithertheirexistingpropertyortoapropertythattheyareintendingtobuy.Thesechangesinpublicandpoliticalattitude

4


willbeadvantageousforpeoplewhowishtosellanenvironmentallyfriendlyhome. Toknowwhatbuyersarelookingforyouneedtoconductcarefulresearch,bothintopresentbeliefsandattitudesandintoprospectivechanges in UK policy. Think about your intendedmarket as thiswillhelpyoutomakedecisionsaboutappropriategreenchanges,décor, fixtures, fittings, furnishings, landscaping, gardening and‘dressing’yourproperty.Youwillfinditeasiertomakeasaleifyourpropertyisfurnishedandpresentedinawaythatmeetsthegreenexpectationsofyourintendedmarket.Speaktolocalestateagentstofindoutwhatpropertiesareonthemarketandtoarrangeaviewing.Visitshowhomesonnewdevelopmentsandtakenoteoftheirgreencredentialsandhowthepropertyispresentedtothetargetaudience.Thiswillhelpyoutothinkaboutyourmarketandpresentingyourpropertyinthemostappropriateway. Monitorlocalandnationalgovernmentactivity–pressreleases,policy changes, campaigns and media interviews. Important in-formationcanbegatheredfromyour localnewspapers, radioandtelevision stations, from your local planning authority and fromtheDepartment forCommunities andLocalGovernment (DCLG)(seeChapter3).Get toknowwhat ishappening inyourareaandunderstand how this will affect the local housing market andprospects for selling environmentally friendly homes. Throughcarefulandsystematicresearchyouwillsooncometounderstandwhatbuyersarelookingfor,andhowtopresentyourpropertyinthemostappropriatemannertoreachyourtargetaudience.

MakingaffordablegreenchangesOnceyouhaveidentifiedyourtargetaudienceyoucanthinkaboutthetypeofgreenchangesthatwillappealtothem,andstarttomakeaffordablechangestoyourproperty.However,youmustweighupthefinancialprosandconsofeachchange.Obviouslysomealterationsaremuchmore expensive than others, and you shouldwork outwhetheritisfinanciallyviableandsensibletomakethem.Youalsoneedtothinkabouttheamountofworkandexpertiserequiredtomakethechanges,andagain,makecarefuldecisionsaboutwhetherthealterationsarepracticalandviable.Table4.1givesasummaryofthegreenchangesthatyoucouldmaketoyourproperty,includingthecostsinvolvedandcommentsaboutthepracticalityandviabilityofundertakingthework.

Home-sellers 77

Table4.1 Greenchanges,costsandcomments

Greenchange Costs Comments

Converttoagreentariff

Free Goodsellingpoint–savesthepotentialpurchaserhavingtomaketheswitch.

Installlow-energylightbulbsandincludeinthesale

£4–10 Veryeasyandcheaptoinstall–gooddiscussionpointwhenshowingpeoplearound.Chooseatypethatmatchesyourdécorandsuitsyourintendedmarket.

Installdraft-proofingondoorsandwindows

£5–50 Howmuchyoupaydependsonthetypeofproductthatyouuse.Alterationsarecheapandeasytomakeandcanbepointedoutinthesalesinformation.

Fitahotwatercylinderjacketandinsulatepipes,ifappropriate

£15–50 Thepricedependsonproduct–choosegoodqualitymaterials,butshoparoundforthebestprice.Informpotentialpurchasersthatpipesandcylindersareinsulted.

Insulateanddraft-prooffloors

£10–150 Pricedependsontypeofmaterialandproduct.Moreinsulationwillbeneededinolderpropertieswithexposedfloorboards.

Decorateusingenvironmentallyfriendlypaintsandwallcoverings

£50–800 Someoftheseproductsmaybemoreexpensivebutyouwillbeabletooffsetthisexpensebyaddingalittletoyoursaleprice(seebelow).

Installnewheatingcontrols

£100–1,000 Pricedependsonthecontrolsthatarerequired.Willneedtousearegisteredprofessional.Allnewcontrolsshouldbediscussedanddemonstrated.

Installloftinsulation £150–400 Grantsareavailable–useenvironmentallyfriendlymaterialsandkeepallguaranteestopassontothenewowner.Easytoinstallyourself.


Installcavitywallinsulation

£200–500 Useaprofessional,butgrantsareavailable.Askforenvironmentallyfriendlymaterialsandkeepallguaranteestopassontothenewowner.Mayneedtorepaintexteriorwallswhichwilladdtocost.

Installwater-savingbathroomsuite

£300–2,000 Includesdualflushtoilet.Buyawhitesuite–thisdoesn’tgooutoffashionandanewwhitesuitegivestheimpressionofcleanlinessandhygiene.

Refurbishusinglocal,recycledandnaturalmaterialsfromsustainablesources

£300–5,000 Pricedependsonamountofworkandmaterialsneeded.Keeprecordsofallsourcesandmaterialstodiscusswithpotentialgreenpurchasers.

Installinternalorexternalwallinsulation

£500–5,000 Mayneedtomakesurethatthisdoesnothaveanegativeinfluenceonthevisualimpactofyourhousethatcouldputoffpotentialpurchasers.

Fitahighenergy-efficiencycondensingboiler

£800–3,000 Grantsmaybeavailable.Youwillneedtousearegisteredprofessionaltoinstalltheboilerandyoumayneedtoredecorateandboxinpipestoimprovethevisualimpactforviewing.

Installdoubleortripleglazing

£1,500–8,000

Pricedependsontypeofglazing,frames,hinges,locks,andnumberofwindows.Priceshouldinclude‘makinggood’aroundtheframe,butcheckthatthisisthecase.Keeptheguaranteetopassontothenewowner.Woodenframesarepreferableforeco-homes.

Table4.1 Greenchanges,costsandcomments(continued)


Home-sellers 79

Installsolarpanels £3,500–40,000

Grantsareavailable.Keepallguaranteesandmanualstopassontonewowners.Willneedtouseafullyqualifiedinstallerandcheckthatconditionsareright.

Installwindturbine £1,500–18,000

Grantsareavailable.Keepallguaranteesandmanualstopassontonewowners.Caninstallyourselfifyouhavethetechnicalability.Needtocheckthatconditionsareright.

Installmini-hydrosystem

£4,000–25,000

Grantsareavailable.Needrightconditions.Willneedtouseaprofessionalifyoudon’thavetheexpertise.Keepallguaranteesandmanualsandbepreparedtodemonstrateequipment.

Installgeo-thermalsystem

£6,000–18,000

Grantsareavailable.Needrightconditionsandwillneedtoinstallearlysothatyoucanlandscapeandallowplantstogrowtoreducenegativevisualimpact.Keepallguaranteesandmanuals.

Table4.1 Greenchanges,costsandcomments(continued)


There are other changes that youmaybe thinking about, such asinstalling a rainwater harvesting system or a composting toilet.However, recycling systems such as these tend to appeal only topeoplewhoconsiderthemselvestobeveryeco-friendly,andthesetypesofpeopleareunlikelytopayahighpriceforahouse.Instead,theyaremorelikelytobuyacheaphouseorlandandcreatetheirown,personaleco-friendlywayoflife.Therefore,ifyouarehopingtomake a profit on your eco-changes, you need to appeal to themainstreamgreenpurchaser,ratherthanthoseatthemoreextremeendoftheeco-continuumthatwasdiscussedinChapter1.


AddingvaluethroughenvironmentallyfriendlychangesIf you decide to make environmentally friendly changes to yourhomeitispossibletoaddvaluetoyourhousewhenyoudecidetosell. Thirty-three potential house buyers who defined themselvesas ‘environmentally aware’were asked to provide an estimate ofhowmuchextratheywouldbewillingtopayforgreenfeaturesinapotentialproperty,andtheiranswersaregiveninTable4.2.Althoughthisisonlyasmallsampleofpotentialbuyers,theanswersgiveanindicationofhowmuchyoucouldaddtoyoursellingpricethroughmakinggreenchanges.However, aswithallmarketing strategies,youmayneedtoreviewyourpriceifyoufailtomakeasaleaftera certain period, or think about advertising and ‘dressing’ yourpropertyinamoreappropriateway(seebelow). Thefigures inTable 4.2 provide an estimate of howmuchyoumaybeable toadd to thevalueofyourhouse ifyoumake thesechanges.Theysuggestthatsomeofthemoreexpensivechangesmaylead tofinancial loss rather thanprofitandshouldbeapproachedwithcaution.Also,valuesdependonthelocationofyourproperty,the type and number of potential purchasers, fluctuations in theproperty market and the personal tastes, attitudes and beliefs ofpotentialbuyers.Youwillneedtoconductcarefulresearchtomakesurethatyouvalueyourhouseattherightprice(seebelow)andthatyouonlymakeprofitablechanges.

ProducingahomeinformationpackFromJune2007thelawrequiresanyonesellingahomeinEnglandorWalestoputtogetherahomeinformationpackforpotentialhomebuyers.AsimilarschememaybeintroducedinScotlandata laterdate. Thesepacks are required formost residential property salesofhomesmarketed forowneroccupation.Thepackswill need toincludethefollowinginformation:

Anindexthatlistswhatisinthepack.

Asalestatementthatsummarizesthetermsandconditionsofthesale.

Evidenceoftitle.

Home-sellers 81

Table4.2 Thepotentialaddedvalueofgreenchanges

Greenchange Potentialaddedvalue

Greentariff Negligible,althougha goodsellingpointLow-energylightbulbs £8–31Draft-proofingondoorsand windows £25–50Cylinderandpipeinsulation £30–75Floorinsulation £50–80Environmentallyfriendlypaint/ materials £25–100Loftinsulation £92–220Heatingcontrols/timers/thermostats £80–399Cavitywallinsulation £100–550Water-savingwhitebathroomsuite £300–900Local,recycledandsustainable materials £300–1,000Internalorexternalwallinsulation £300–4,000 (dependingontype)Highenergy-efficiencycondensing boiler £550–1,500Doubleortripleglazing £1,000–3,000Solarpanels £2,000–4,000Windturbine £2,000–4,000Mini-hydrosystem £3,000–5,000Geo-thermalsystem £3,000–6,000

Theresultsofstandardsearches,suchaslocalauthorityenquiriesandadrainageandwatersearch.

Anenergyperformancecertificate(seebelow).

Evidenceofownership–thiswilldependonthetype.Common-holdpropertieswillrequireacopyofthecommonholdcommunitystatement;leaseholdpropertieswillrequireacopyofthelease,informationoninsuranceandservicecharges.

Anewhomeswarranty,ifappropriate.

A home condition report (HCR) (at seller’s discretion – thiswas dropped as a mandatory part of the pack after pressuregroupslobbiedthegovernment,buttheHRCmaystillbecomecompulsoryatalaterdate).


Planningconsents(atseller’sdiscretion).

Buildingcontrolcertificates(atseller’sdiscretion).

Relevantwarrantiesandguarantees(atseller’sdiscretion).

Othersearches(atseller’sdiscretion).

If you are hoping to market your property to green buyers youmaychoosetoincludeextrarelevantmaterial inthepack,suchasalternative technology warranties and guarantees, or alternativetechnologyassessmentsandenergyaudits.Packswillremainvalidwhileyourhomeiscontinuouslymarketedforsale,usuallyuptoaperiodofsixmonths.Afterthistime,ifyourhousehasnotbeensold,youmayneedtoupdatesomeoftheinformation,suchasthelocalauthoritysearches. Atthispresenttimethereissomecontroversyaboutthecostofthepacks. If theHRC isnot included it isbelieved thepackswillcostanythingfrom£200–600.IfanHRCisincluded,thepackcouldcost£800–1,000.Ifyouarethinkingaboutsellingyourhousefrom1June2007,up-to-dateinformationaboutthehomeinformationpackcanbeobtained fromtheDepartment forCommunitiesandLocalGovernment(detailsinChapter3)andfromtheofficialgovernmenthome informationpackwebsite (detailsbelow).Tofindoutaboutorganizationsproducinghomeinformationpacks,contacttheAsso-ciationofHomeInformationPackProviders(detailsinChapter3). It is intended that e-conveyancing will be introduced in 2007and that this shouldmake the conveyancingprocess easier forallconcerned.Tosavepaperandmaketheprocesseasieritisanticipatedthathomeinformationpackswillbestoredelectronicallysothatalltheconveyancinginformationforapropertyisavailableeasilyandquickly(seeChapter3).

Theenergyperformancecertificate

Thepurposeoftheenergyperformancecertificateistohelphome-buyers, sellers, landlords and tenants recognize, understand andimprove the energy efficiency of buildings. Each building willbe issuedwithacertificate thatmustbemadeavailablewhen thebuildingisconstructed,letorsold.ThiscertificateisarequirementoftheEUPerformanceofBuildingsDirectiveandwillbeincorporatedinto home information packs. Landlords will need to make thecertificateavailabletoeachnewtenantwhentheylettheirpropertyandcertificateswillhavetobedisplayedinlargepublicbuildings.

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ThecertificatewillgiveeachbuildingaSAPrating,andthiswillequatetoanenergyratingfromAtoG,similartothatusedonwhitegoods(seeChapter7).ASAPratingisbasedonthegovernment’sstandardassessmentprocedureforenergyratingofdwellings,andisusedtodemonstratethatbuildingscomplywiththeregulationsconcerning energy efficiency. For more information about SAPratingsconsultwww.sapratings.com. Thereportswillbepreparedbyaqualifiedhomeinspectorandwilladviseconsumersonwhichenergymeasuresmightimprovetheefficiencyof theirhome, from thicker loft insulationanddraught-proofing right through to the installation of solar panels. Thesereportswillhelppurchasersunderstandthepotentialoftheirnewpropertyforenergy-efficientimprovements.MoreinformationabouttheenergyperformancecertificatecanbeobtainedfromtheDCLGwebsite(detailsinChapter3).

PresentingyourgreenpropertyforsaleTherearemany things thatyou cando to increase the chancesofsellingyourgreenproperty:

Emphasize the green credentials of your property. Make surethatenergy-savingfixturesandfittingsareincludedinthesale,andpointtheseouttopotentialpurchasers.Ifyouhavecarriedoutyourgreenalterationseffectively,yourenergyperformancecertificate should help to persuade potential buyers of thegreennessofyourproperty.

Think about your market and its requirements before peoplecometoview,andfamiliarizeyourselfwiththese.Pointoutthegreenfeaturesthatwouldappealtothatspecificmarket.

Keep all information about the sources of your products andmaterials.Mostgreenbuyerswillbeveryinterestedtoknowthatthehousehasbeenrefurbishedusingenvironmentallyfriendlyproductsandmaterials.

Makesurethepropertyisthoroughlyclean,includingwindows.Acleanhousegivestheimpressionthat ishasbeenwellcaredfor, is easy to look after and will provide a healthy, pleasantenvironmentinwhichtolive.Clean,whitebathroomsuiteswithwater-savingtechnologycanbeveryappealing.


Cleanallupholsteryandcarpetsusingfragrance-free,environ-mentallyfriendlycleaningproducts.Greenviewerswillnotwanttosmellartificialairfresheners.Ventilatethepropertynaturally.

First impressions are important – make sure that the greencredentialsofyourpropertyare emphasized, and that there isnotanegativevisualimpactforpotentialbuyers.Walktowardsyourproperty in thesamewayasapotentialbuyerand thinkaboutwhatyousee.Makesureeverythingisneatandtidy,andreplaceanythingthatspoilsthisfirstimpression.

‘Dress’yourpropertyinawaythatwillappealtogreenpurchasers.Follownaturalcolourschemesandintroduceavarietyofhouseplants and furnishings made from natural products. Removeclutter and any items of your property that oppose the greenimageyouaretryingtocreate.

Organizeroomsandshowthateachroomhasaspecificpurposethatwillappealtogreenpurchasers.Strategicallyplaceditems,suchaseco-books,wildlifepostersandfair-tradeitems,canhelptoemphasizeyourgreencredentials.

Lightingisveryimportant,sousetherighttypeoflow-energylightbulbfortheroomandconditionstocreatetherightmood.Maximizenaturaldaylight ifpossible– remove fussywindowdressingsandnetcurtains.Intheeveningorondarkerdays,uselampsandsoftlightingtocreateawarmandhomelyfeel.

Point out the savings that are to be made per year on yourenvironmentally friendly source of energy, whether this is anenergy-savingboileroryourownsourceofalternativeenergy.Makesurethetemperatureisrightwhenshowingpeopleyourproperty–coolinthesummer,warminthewinter.

Greenpurchasers tend tobevery interested ingardens.Thinkaheadandgrowavarietyoffoodplantsifyouhavethetime,asthiswillappealtobuyerswhoarethinkingofgrowingtheirownfood.Trytosellyourhouseatatimeofyearwhenthegardenlooksatitsbestandyoucanshowoffyourfoodcrop.Findoutaboutyoursoiltypeandresearchthetypesofplantsthatflourishintheseconditions.Potentialpurchaserswillbehappytodiscussthis, and it will show that you are knowledgeable and havetendedyourgardenwell.

Home-sellers 85

MarketingyourgreenpropertyWhenyoumarketyourpropertyyouneedtomakedecisionsabouthowmuchyouaregoingtocharge,howandwhereyouaregoingto advertise andwho your potential customersmight be. Settingtherightpriceispartofyourmarketingstrategy,andneedscarefulplanningandresearch.Speaktolocalestateagentsandmonitorthelocalhousingpresstoobtainanideaabouthousepricesinthearea.Thegreencredentialsofyourpropertyshouldenableyoutochargeahigherpricethanthatchargedonotherproperties,butyoumustmakesurethatthisisapricethatenvironmentallyawarepotentialpurchasers are willing to pay (see above). If you find that yourpropertyisnotselling,youneedtospeaktopotentialcustomerstofindoutwhytheydidnotmakeanoffer.Listentowhattheysayandalteryourmarketingstrategyaccordingly. Youcanadvertiseyourproperty in fourmainways– throughanestateagent,ontheinternet, inthelocalnewspaperorthroughyourlocaland/ornationalenvironmentalgroupnewsletter.Usingan estate agent to sell your home can reduce the amount of timeandeffortyouwouldputintoadvertisingyourself,butyoushouldcheck all contracts carefully and make sure that the estate agentadvertisesyourpropertyeffectivelyandmakeseveryefforttoclinchasale.Youwillalsoneedtomakesurethattheagentunderstandsandemphasizesthegreencredentialsofyourproperty. Whenchoosinganestateagent,makesurethefirmisregisteredwiththeNationalAssociationofEstateAgentsortheOmbudsmanforEstateAgents(detailsbelow).Anestateagentbylawmustgiveyouwrittenconfirmationoftheinstructionstoactinthesellingofyourpropertyonyourbehalf.Thefirmmustalsogiveyouwrittendetailsofitsfees,expensesandbusinesstermsbeforeyoumakeanagreementwithit. If you intend to sellprivatelyyouwillneed toproducedetailsof your property. This informationwill need to be clear, concise,wellworded,persuasive,descriptiveandeffective.Produceashortsummary of your property that includes the initial informationpeoplewant, such as green credentials, location, size and type ofhouse, number of rooms, garden andparking facilities. Then youwill need to produce a longerdescription of the property –moredetailsaboutthegreencredentials,facilitiesineachroom(sockets,telephonepoints),sizeofeachroom,numberofwindowsandsoon.Behonestandpersuasive,avoidingclichésandestateagentjargon,anddon’tprovidemisleadingorwronginformationasthisisagainstthelaw.


Thereareavarietyofwebsitesoffering tosellyourproperty.Awell-designedandwell-managedsiteshouldbelistedonallmajorsearch engines and in a variety of directories. Some also pay forbanneradvertisementsandlinktoavarietyofrelatedwebsites.Thiswill ensure that thewebsite receives asmanyvisitors aspossible,all of whom have the potential to view your property details.GreenMovesisausefulwebsiteforpeopleinterestedinadvertisingenergy-efficienthomes(seeChapter3).Coolcavesprovidesanethicalpropertysellingserviceforpeoplewhowishtoselltheirhouseonline(detailsbelow). Whenadvertisingthroughapropertywebsite,findouthowmuchyouneedtopay,checkingwhetherthereisaone-offfee,commissionand/orfinalchargeswhenyourpropertyissold.Also,findoutforhowlongitwilladvertiseyourproperty–itisbesttofindaplacethatwilladvertiseuntilsold.Itisalsousefultofindawebsitethatwill allow you to display a photograph of your property, list thegreencredentialsandedityourdetailswhenrequired. If you are amember of a local and/or national environmentalgroupthathasaregularnewsletter, itmaybepossibletoplaceanadvert for your house in the small ads section, even if it doesn’tusually advertise property for sale. This is a usefulway to reachotherpeoplewhohavesimilarviewsaboutenvironmentallyfriendlywaysofliving.

KnowingaboutgrantsThrough the Low Carbon Buildings Programme and the ScottishCommunity and Householder Renewables Initiative, individualhouseholders can apply forgrants tohelpwith the installationofrenewable sourcesofenergy for theirhomes (seeAppendix1).Toqualifyforagrantyoumustownthepropertywheretherenewableenergysystemistobeinstalled,youmustobtainaquotationfromanaccreditedinstallerandyoumustuseanapprovedinstallerofanapprovedsystem. Other schemesmay be available for home owners who are inreceiptofcertainbenefits.TheseincludeWarmFront(England),theHome Energy Efficiency Scheme (Wales), Warm Deal (Scotland),CentralHeatingProgramme(Scotland)andWarmHomes(NorthernIreland). However, for some of these schemes you will need toremaininthepropertyforaspecifiedtimeafterthealterationshavebeenmade,soyoushouldcheckon theserulesbeforeapplying if

Home-sellers 87

youarethinkingaboutsellingyourhome.MoreinformationabouttheseschemesisavailableinAppendix1.

SummaryMaking green changes prior to selling can increase the value ofyourproperty.However,itisimportanttoconductcarefulresearchinto your intendedmarket andmake sure that your asking priceis realistic. This involves systematic monitoring of the local andnationalpropertymarket, speaking to localestateagents,viewingother properties andmaking themost of the green credentials ofyourproperty.Also,youneed tomake sure that eco-changesyoumaketoyourpropertyarefinanciallyviableandwillattractpotentialbuyers. Onceyouhave successfully soldyourgreenproperty andpur-chasedanewhouse,youcanthinkaboutobtainingamortgagethatfitswellwithyourgreenphilosophy.Theseissuesarediscussedinthenextchapter.

UsefulorganizationsNAEAisthelargestprofessionalestateagencyorganizationintheUnitedKingdom.Allmembersmustoperatetoaprofessionalcodeofpracticeandrulesofconduct.Alistofmembersisavailableonthewebsite.

NationalAssociationofEstateAgentsArbonHouse,21JuryStreetWarwickCV344EHTel:01926496800Fax:01926400953E-mail:[email protected]:www.naea.co.uk

TheOmbudsmanforEstateAgents(OEA)

OEAhasbeenestablished toprovidea free, fair and independentservice tobuyers and sellers of residentialproperty in theUnitedKingdom.Youcanfindcontactdetailsofmembersinyourareafrom


thewebsite,accesshousingsurveyinformationandfindoutabouttheircodeofpractice.

OmbudsmanforEstateAgentsBeckettHouse,4BridgeStreetSalisburyWiltsSP12LXTel:01722333306Fax:01722332296E-mail:[email protected]:www.oea.co.uk

Usefulwebsiteswww.coolcaves.comThis website provides a property selling service for people whowish to sell their house online. It belongs to an ethical propertycompany that donates 20per cent of your fee toCentrepoint, theyouthhomelessnesscharity.Whenyouadvertiseyourpropertyyoupayaone-offfeeof£95(2006/07prices)andthenyourpropertyisadvertisedonalargenetworkofpropertywebsites.

www.homeinformationpacks.gov.ukThisisthegovernmentwebsitethatdescribesthehomeinformationpacks in detail for industry and members of the public. On thiswebsiteyoucanfindup-to-dateinformationleadinguptothelaunchofthepacks.

FurtherreadingThe Home Information Pack Regulations 2006: Procedural guidelines,availablefromtheDCLGortodownloadfromitswebsite(detailsinChapter3)

PersonalSearches:Guidance for localauthoritiesandpersonal searchers,availablefromtheDCLGortodownloadfromitswebsite(detailsinChapter3)

Borrowers

Most of us who are thinking about buying a property, either ashomeownersorasinvestors,willhavetoborrowmoneytodoso.Ifthisisthecaseitisimportanttoknowthatthelenderunderstandsandworkswithinyourgreenphilosophy. Tochooseanappropriatelender,therefore,youneedtodefineyourborrowingphilosophysothatyouareclearaboutthetypeoflenderandthetypeofmortgagethatwillbesuitableforyourneeds,andsuitableforthepropertythatyouwishtopurchaseorremortgage.Thischapteroffersadviceabouttheseissuesalongwithinformationabout ethical borrowing,mortgages for environmentally sensitivenew build and renovation, researching green lenders and usingethicalfinancialadvisers.

DefiningyourborrowingphilosophyWhenchoosingamortgageanda lenderyouneed to thinkabouttheenvironmentalandethicalissuesthatareimportanttoyou,andmatch thesewith your financial and personal circumstances. Youalsoneedtoberealisticaboutyourchancesofgettingamortgage– some ethical lending companieshavevery strict criteria and allwillneeddetailedevidencetoshowthatyouareabletorepaytheloan.YourgreenphilosophydiscussedinChapter1willprovideausefulstartingpoint,asitwillhelpyoutothinkaboutyourethicaland environmental principles. However, where mortgages areconcerned,thereareotherissuesyouneedtoconsiderwhendefiningyourborrowingphilosophyandthinkingaboutfinancialconstraints.Theseincludethefollowingpoints:

Is it important that you choose a lender that operates to strictenvironmental and ethical criteria? If this is the case youwillneedtofindoutwhetherthecompanywilllendmoneyforyour

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Borrowers 93

proposedproject.Theselenderstendtohavestrictcriteriaaboutthetypeofprojectorpropertyonwhichtheywilllend,andunlessyourpropertyisabletomeetthesecriteria,youareunlikelytobesuccessfulinyourapplication.

Areyouinterestedinalenderthatusesethicalprinciplestoguideitsownactivities,suchashowitinvestsmoneyandhowittreatsitsemployees?

Isitimportantthatthelenderprovidesmoneyforpropertiesthatmeetcertainstandardsintermsofeco-friendliness?Canyoubesurethatyourpropertywillmeetthesestandards?Whatarethefinancialandotherpenaltiesifyoufailtomeetthesestandards?

Doyouwant the lenderyouuse tobeownedby itsmembersratherthanshareholders,suchasamutualbuildingsociety?

Areyouhappytoreceivealoanfromanycompany,aslongasitcanassureyouitinvestsinethicalfunds?

Howmuch can you afford to borrow?Can you afford to losemoneyortakealossifthehousingmarketslumps,andcanyouweatherfluctuationsinthemarket?Willthegreencredentialsofyourpropertyhelpit tosell if thehousingmarketslumpsandyouneedtomakeaquicksale?

Can you continue with the mortgage payments if you arepreventedfromworking/earningasaresultofillness?

Whatprotectionisofferedwiththemortgage?Doyouneedtolookatothertypesofinsurance?Whatinsurancewillbeofferedonethicalorenvironmentalmortgages,andwillitbeadequatefor your needs? Does the insurance company have a code ofethicalpractice?Allborrowerswillneedtoarrangelifeassuranceandthinkaboutmortgageprotectioncover.Ifyouintendtoletyourpropertyyouneed to thinkaboutbuy-to-let insuranceorrent guarantee insurance, as thesewill cover you if you haveproblems lettingyourproperty.Some lendersalsorecommendthatyoutakeoutcriticalillnesscoveroraccident,sicknessandunemploymentinsurance.Moreinformationaboutvarioustypesof ethical insurance can be obtained from the EIRIS and EIGwebsites(detailsbelowandinChapter6).Forcontactdetailsofethicalinsurancecompanies,consulttheEIRISfactsheet‘Ethicalmortgagesandinsurance’(detailsbelow).

Whenchoosingalenderoraninsurancecompanyyoumayneedtothinkaboutdisregardingcompanies thatare involved inactivities


with which you disagree, such as the arms trade, pornographyor gambling, and consider only those companies that take partin activities and investmentwithwhich you agree. This is calledpositiveandnegativescreening,andisdiscussedinmoredepthinChapter6.

KnowingaboutethicalmortgagesTherearevariouswaysthatyoucouldobtainamortgagethatcanbeconsideredtobeethical.Thefirstistouseanorganizationthathasastrictethicalcodeofpracticetoguideitsinvestment.Forexample,in1992theCo-operativeBankdecidedtointroduceethicalstandardsthat would govern the type of organizations to which the bankwouldandwouldnotofferbusiness.Thesestandardsarebasedonthe concerns of its customers, and include issues such as humanrights,thearmstrade,globaltrade,geneticmodification,ecologicalimpactandanimalwelfare.IfyoudecidetotakeoutamortgagewiththeCo-operativeBank,foreveryyearthatyourmortgageexists,itwillmake a payment to Climate Care, an organization dedicatedto combating global warming. Projects it has supported over theyears include planting new forests in Uganda, helping locals tobuildfuel-efficientstovesinMadagascar,andhelpinglocalstobuild‘bio-gas’ household systems in India.More information about theCo-operativeethicalpolicyandrangeofmortgagescanbeobtainedfromitswebsite(www.co-operativebank.co.uk). Thesecondwaytoobtainanethicalmortgageistolookatgreenoptionsthatareofferedbymoremainstreamlenders.Forexample,the Norwich and Peterborough Building Society offers a ‘greenmortgage’onnewhomes thathaveaSAPratingof100orhigheror on an existing property that you want to make more energyefficient. For every greenmortgage that is taken out 40 trees areplanted,eighteachyearforthefirstfiveyears,bytheCarbonNeutralCompany.This isacompanythatworkswithitspartnerstoplantandmaintainforestsandoffsetthedamagedonetotheenvironmentbybusinessesandindividuals.MoreinformationabouttheNorwichandPeterboroughBuildingSocietygreenmortgagecanbeobtainedfromitswebsite(www.npbs.co.uk),andmoreinformationabouttheCarbonNeutralCompanycanbeobtained from itswebsite (www.carbonneutral.com). The third way to obtain an ethical mortgage is to approach acompanythatwillonlyinvestinpropertythatgivesan‘ecological

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payback’, such as the Ecology Building Society (details below).Mortgageswillbeofferedonpropertiestoimproveenergyefficiency,for ecological renovation, to improve andmake habitable derelictanddilapidatedpropertiesandforsmall-scaleecologicalenterprises.Itisevenpossiblethroughthiscompanyforindividuals,groupsandcharities to obtain a mortgage to purchase woodland, meadows,fieldsorhouseboatmoorings. The Ecology Building Society has developed the ‘C-Change’mortgage discount as an incentive to residential owner-occupierswhowishtomakechangestoincreasetheenergyefficiencyoftheirhome. The incentive offers a 1 per cent discount on its standardvariablerateonfundsborrowedtoinstallenergy-efficientmeasuresor renewable energy sources, and the discount is guaranteed forthe remainder of themortgage term. This includes changes suchasinstallingroof,floorandwall insulation,fittingdoubleortripleglazing,installinglowwater-useappliancesandacondensingboiler.Italsoincludestheinstallationofrenewableenergysourcessuchassolar water heating, photovoltaics, wind turbines, ground sourceheatpumpsorbiomassheating(seeChapter2). Anotherway to obtain an ethicalmortgage is to use amutualbuildingsocietythatisownedbymembersratherthanshareholders.Someofthesebuildingsocietiesaredevelopingtheirowncodesofethics,guidedbytheconcernsoftheircustomers.Theseprinciplesare now havingmore of an influence on investment and lendingdecisionswithintheseorganizations.Contactthebuildingsocietyinwhichyouareinterestedformoreinformation,orconsultanethicalfinancial adviser who will be able to offer advice about suitableorganizations(seebelow). Ifyoudecidetotakeoutaninterest-onlymortgagethelenderwillneedtobesatisfiedthatyouhavetakenoutasuitablepolicythatwillenableyoutorepaytheloanattheendoftheterm.Todothisyoucantakeoutanendowment,ISAorpensionpolicy.Throughthesetypesoffundsitispossibletousefundmanagersthatwillonlyinvestinethicalfunds,whereinvestmentdecisionsareinfluencedbysocial,environmental and/or ethical criteria (see Chapter 6). Therefore,anotheroptionopentoyouistotakeoutthebestdealinterest-onlymortgageyoucanfindandtheninvestyourmoneythroughethicalfunds.However,investmentdecisionsofthisnatureshouldbetakencarefullyas themoneyyougetbackonyour investmentmaynotmatchthesumyouborrowedattheendoftheterm. The choice of ethicalmortgages and ethical investment oppor-tunitiesisincreasingannually.Youshouldseekimpartialadviceorconductcarefulresearchintothetypeofmortgagethatbestsuitsyour


needsandenablesyoutoobtainthebestdeal.Asausefulstartingpoint,consulttheEIRISfactsheet‘Ethicalmortgagesandinsurance’,availableasaPDFonitswebsite(detailsbelow).

MortgagesforgreennewbuildandrenovationIncasesofnewbuildorrenovationandconversion,mostborrowerswill need more than the initial purchase amount to completethe property. In these cases some lenderswill offermortgages onpropertyunderconstruction.Theloanispaidoutinstagessothatthe loan tovalue ratiodoesnot rise toohighatanypoint.This isapercentagefigureof the loanamount in relation to thepropertyvalue.Itispossibletoreceive85–95percentofthefinalvalueoftheproperty, or 85–95per centof the total costsof theproject,whichincludespurchaseofthelandorproperty.Somelendersmayspecifythattherenovationorbuildreachescertainstagesbeforeextramoneyis released,whereasotherswill release further sumsbasedon theincreasingvalueof thepropertyaswork continues. Some lenderswillspecifythattheprojectiscompletedwithinasetperiodoftime. Ifyouintendtoapplyforamortgageonanewbuild,renovationorconversionprojectyouwillneedtosupplythelenderwithdetailsofthefollowing:

outlineorfullplanningpermissionthathasbeengranted;

plansfortheworkyouwishtoundertake;

aprojecttimescale;

afullbreakdownofcostsincludingbuilders’quotationsoryourownestimates;

adeposit;

evidenceofsufficientworkingcapital;

evidencethatyoucanrepaythemortgage.

Ifyouareintendingtorenovateorconvertabuildingtolettotenants,itispossibletoobtainabuy-to-letmortgagefromsomecompaniesthatspecializeinethicalmortgages.Althoughlendingcriteriavarybetweencompanies,ingeneralyouwillneedtobeahomeownerwithacleanborrowinghistory,andyouwillneedtohavebeenregisteredontheelectoralregisterforoverthreeyears.Somecompaniesplace

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alimitonthenumberofpropertiesthatyoucanborrowagainstandmakeavailableforletting. For buy-to-let mortgages the amount that you can borrow isbasedontheanticipatedrentalincomethatwillbegeneratedbytheproperty,andinmostcases,thiswillneedtobe30–35percentmorethanthemonthlymortgagepayment.Theamount thatcompanieswilllendvaries,butisusuallyintheregionof75–85percentofthepurchasepriceorvaluation,whicheverislower.Furtherfundsmaybeavailableastherenovationorbuildworkcontinuesandthepriceofthepropertyincreases.Again,theamountoffundsavailablewillbewithinaspecifiedpercentageofthetotalvaluationoftheproperty.Alllenderswillwanttoknowthatyouhavesufficientfundstopayadeposit andcarryout the requiredwork. In largeprojects somelenderswillinsistthattheyappointanarchitecttosupervisetheworkandissueacertificateuponsatisfactorycompletion.Mostwillinsistthat the property is let on individual assured shorthold tenancies(shortassured tenancies inScotland) forperiodsnotexceeding12months at a time, although responsibility for letting the propertyremainswithyouasthelandlord.

ResearchingandchoosinggreenlendersOnceyouhavedecidedthatyouwouldlikeanethicalmortgageand/orasuitablemortgageforenvironmentallyfriendlyimprovements,you need to think about your green borrowing philosophy andmakesurethatanylenderyouchooseagreeswithandunderstandsyourphilosophy.Perhapsoneoftheeasiestwaystodothisistousean ethical financial adviser, as these people knowwhat productsare availableon themarket andwill be able tomatchyourgreenphilosophywiththesecompaniesandtheirproducts.However,otherpeopleprefertoconducttheirownresearch.Whetheryouchoosetouseanadviserormakeyourownchoices, it is importanttomakesure that you are clear aboutwhat you are looking for, and howyourcriteriamatchyourcurrentandfuturepersonalandfinancialcircumstances.Thefollowingtipswillhelpyoutodothis:

Define your green borrowing philosophy andmake sure thatothersareabletounderstandwhatisimportanttoyou.

Identifyandprioritizeyourshort-termandlong-termfinancialandenvironmentalgoals.


Checkyourexistingresourcesandthinkabouthowyouwouldlikethesetoimproveinthefuture.

Seek appropriate, impartial advice from experts. For example,youmightfinditusefultodiscussyourplanswithyouraccount-ant, your architect or your projectmanager. Experienced pro-fessionalswill have ideas or contactswithin the industry thatmaybeabletosuggestsuitablelenders.

Asktoseetheethicalcodesofallpotentiallenders.

Usepositiveandnegativescreeningmethodstochooseasuitablelender(seeChapter6).

Shop around for the best deal and choose products/investorssuitableforyourneeds.Don’tacceptthefirstofferofcash–keepyouroptionsopen.

Don’t rush into a decision. Discuss options with your familyand/orbusinesspartners.

Onceyou thinkyouhave foundasuitableorganization,checkthatitisauthorizedbytheFinancialServicesAuthority(FSA),byusingtheFirmCheckServiceontheFSAwebsite(detailsbelow)orbycontactingtheConsumerContactCentreon08456061234.

Neversignanythingyoudon’tunderstand.Don’tbebulliedorpersuadedintomakedecisionsthatarenotright,anddon’tbeafraidtosaynoifsomethingdoesn’tseemquitesuitable.Ifyouareunsureofanything,youcanalwaysseekasecondopinion.

Reviewyourfinancialsituationandgreenborrowingphilosophyonaregularbasis.Makesurethatlendersandinvestmentfundsdon’t change their criteria in a way that does not suit yourgreen philosophy. Taking out a mortgage can be a long-termprocess,andyouneedtomakesurethatyourprinciplesarenotcompromisedoverthecourseoftheterm.

Ifyoudecidetofindyourownmortgageorotherfinancialproductswithout seeking advice, you must realize that the individuals orcompanies thatyouapproachare tryingtosellyoutheirproductsand may not have your best interests at heart. However, manyorganizationsthatfollowethicalguidelinesbelievethatitisimportantnot tooversell theirproducts, overstretch their customersorofferproductsthatareunsuitable.Whenyoucarryoutyourresearchyoushould try togaugewhether this is thecasewith thecompany inwhichyouareinterested.Ifyoucannotbesurethatanorganization

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isofferingproductsthataresuitable,youshouldthinkaboutseekingindependentfinancialadvice.Todaythereareanumberoffinancialadvisersthatspecializeinofferingadviceaboutethicalproductsandcompanies.

UsingethicalfinancialadvisersTherearethreetypesoffinancialadviser:

Independent financial advisers (IFAs) provide advice tailoredtoyourneeds.Theywillhavealargenumberofproductsfromwhichtochoose,andmakesurethatthemostappropriatechoicesaremadeonyourbehalf.

Multi-tiedadviserscanonlysellproductsfromalimitednumberofcompaniestowhichtheyaretied.However,withinthisrangetheywill try to recommend themostappropriateproducts foryourneeds.

Tiedadvisers canonly sellproducts from theone company towhichtheyaretied,andareusuallyemployedbythatcompany.Withinthelimitedrangeofproductstheywilltrytofindthebestoneforyou.

Ifyouwishtofindoutaboutalargerangeofethicalproductsyoushoulduseanindependentfinancialadviser.However,ifyouhavealready conducted thorough research and you know the type ofproducts thatwould suit your needs you can seek further advicefroma tied ormulti-tied adviser.Whenyoufirstmeet afinancialadviseritmaybeunclearwhichtypeheorsheis,somakesurethatyouask,asadvisersareobligedtosupplythisinformation. Onlyfirmsand theiragentsauthorizedby theFSAareallowedtogiveadviceaboutmortgages,andtheymustfollowcertainruleswhendoing so. This includes givingyou adocument that detailsthe service they can provide, including themortgages they offer,anddetailsaboutwhetherthereiseitheranup-frontfeepayableorcommission onmortgages they recommend. Theymust also giveyouakey factsdocument thatsummarizes the important featuresofthemortgagerecommended.Thiscouldincludeissuesofethicalinvestmentand/orthelender’scodeofethicalpracticeifyouhaveindicated that this is important to you. Once you have receivedadviceyouwillthenbegivenapersonalizedillustrationofkeyfactsaboutthemortgage.


You can use the EIRIS Financial Adviser Directory to find anethicalfinancialadviserinyourarea(detailsbelow).Thedirectorycan be searched by postcode or by using the alphabetical listing.Alternatively, you can use the Ethical Investors Group to obtainadviceaboutethicalmortgages(seeChapter6).Thisorganizationhasbeensetuptoprovidespecialistfinancialadvicetopeoplewhoareinterestedinethicalandenvironmentalissues.Throughtheethicalmortgagedepartmentyoucanreceiveadviceaboutallborrowing-relatedissues,typesofmortgage,lifeassurance,investmentoptions,anddiscussyourethicalandenvironmentalphilosophy,whichwillbetakenintoaccountwhenproductsarerecommended. ThePersonalFinanceSociety (PFS) is theprofessionalbody forfinancialadvisersandpeopleinrelatedroles(detailsbelow).Itwascreated in 2005 after themerger of theLife InsuranceAssociationand the Society of FinancialAdvisers. ThePFShelpsmembers tobecomebetterqualifiedandprovidesausefuldirectoryforpeoplewishingtofindafinancialadviserorcharteredfinancialplanner.Youcansearchthedatabaseforafinancialadviserbytypeofproduct,gender,paymentprocedureandpostcode.

SummaryWhenbuyingor investing inpropertymostofusneed toborrowmoney, but this does notmean that we have to compromise ourethicalprincipalsorloseoutfinancially.Todaythereareanumberoflenderswillingtoprovideamortgageoneco-properties,eithernewbuildorrenovation,andthereareavarietyofcompanies thatuseethicalprinciplestoguidetheirinvestmentandworkingpractices. Inadditiontoborrowingmoneytobuyorbuildyourproperty,thereareothertypesofpropertyinvestmentinwhichyoumaywishto become involved, and again, this type of investment does notmeanthatyouhavetocompromiseyourethicalprinciplesor loseoutfinancially.Theseissuesarediscussedinthenextchapter.

Usefulorganizations

EcologyBuildingSociety

TheEcologyBuildingSociety isamutualorganization thatgrantsmortgagesonpropertiesandprojectsthathelptheenvironment,such

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asrenovationofemptyorderelictbuildings,eco-newbuild,organicsmallholdings,earthsheltersandtraditionalconstructionbuildings.It will lend to owner-occupiers, landlords, housing cooperatives,housingassociations,companiesandindividuals.

EcologyBuildingSociety7BeltonRoadSilsden,KeighleyWestYorkshireBD200EETel:08456745566Fax:01535650780E-mail:[email protected]:www.ecology.co.uk

EthicalInvestmentResearchService(EIRIS)

EIRIS carries out independent research into corporate behaviour.Thisprovidesinformationforpeoplewhowanttoinvestethically,helping them tomake informed and responsible investmentdeci-sions.IFAswhoofferethicaladviceaboutmortgagesarelistedintheonlinedirectorywhichyoucanaccessfromthewebsite.

EthicalInvestmentResearchService80–84BondwayLondonSW81SFTel:02078405700Fax:02077355323E-mail:[email protected]:www.eiris.org

Usefulwebsiteswww.fsa.gov.ukTheFSAistheindependentregulatorsetupbythegovernmenttolookafterthefinancialservicesindustryandprotectcustomers.TheFSA website provides a useful comparative table for mortgages,enablingyoutosearchfor,andcompare,thetypesofmortgagethatmightsuityourneeds.


www.thepfs.orgThe Personal Finance Society (PFS) is the merged professionalassociation of the Life Insurance Association and the Society ofFinancial Advisers. Visit this website to use the online directoryoffinancialadvisers intheUnitedKingdom.Thewebsitecontainsusefulinformationaboutvarioustypesofinvestmentandobtainingfinancialadvice.

www.unbiased.co.ukThisistheIndependentFinancialAdviserPromotion(IFAP)website.Itisadirectoryof9,000individualsandorganizations,coveringover90percentofregisteredIFAsintheUnitedKingdom.OnthewebsiteyoucansearchforanIFAinyourareabygender,investmenttype,qualification and themethod inwhich youwould like to pay foradvice.

www.cml.org.ukThe Council of Mortgage Lenders is the trade association formortgagelendersintheUnitedKingdom.Itisamajorproviderofmarketinformation,economicanalysesandhousingstatistics.ItalsoproducesHousingFinanceOnline,whichisausefulonlinepublicationfeaturingtopicalarticlesonthehousingandmortgagemarkets.Allarticlesarefreetodownload.

FurtherreadingEIRIS(2002)EthicalMortgagesandInsurance,availableasdownload-able PDF fromwww.eiris.org. This is a useful publication thatdiscusses a variety of ethicalmortgage and insuranceproductsandproviders,alongwithcontactdetailsofthoselisted.

Investors

Aspropertyowners,allofusmakeafinancialinvestment.Thismightbeinthepropertyitself,ourmortgage,endowments,lifeassurance,individualsavingsaccounts(ISAs),self-investedpersonalpensions(SIPPs) and other pensions. Yet many of us have little control,influenceorknowledge abouthowourmoney is investedonourbehalf.Althoughwe canmakedecisions about our ownpropertythatmeet our personal values and greenphilosophy, decisions ofthisnaturecanbetakenoutofourhandswhereotherinvestmentsareconcerned. However,thisdoesnothavetobethecase.Itispossibletomakeinvestment decisions based on your personal values and ethicalprinciples. Through careful research and investment in funds runby specialistmanagers it is possible to invest both in progressivecompanies that share your values and in green property,withoutaffectingthereturnonyourinvestment. Thischapteroffersadviceondefiningyourinvestmentphilosophy,finding out about ethical investment opportunities, researchingsuitablecompaniesandseekingtheadviceofprofessionals.

DefiningyourinvestmentphilosophyWhenchoosingthetypesoffunds,companiesandgreenpropertyinwhich to invest,youneed to thinkabout theethical issues thatareimportanttoyou.YourgreenphilosophydiscussedinChapter1willprovideausefulstartingpoint,asitwillhelpyoutothinkaboutyourethicalprinciples.However,whereinvestmentsareconcerned,there are other issues you need to consider when defining yourinvestmentphilosophy.Tohelpyoutochoosetherightinvestment,thinkaboutpositiveandnegativescreening. Positive screening involvesmakingdecisionsbasedonpositiveattributes.Itwillincludethefollowingissues:

6


Is it important to you to choose a company and/or propertythathelptocontributetowardsasafeandhealthyenvironmentby reducing harmful emissions, saving energy and usingenvironmentallysoundbuildingmaterials?

Areyouinterestedincompaniesthatproduceorofferecologicallysuperiorproducts,orecologicallysuperiorpremises?

Areyouinterestedincompaniesthatuseecologicalprinciplestodrivetheirnewproductdesign,developmentorinvestment?

Is it importantthatyouonlyinvest incompaniesthatproduceproductsortakepartinactivitieswithwhichyouagree?

Is it important that an organization contributes to charitablegroupsorusesprofitsforthebenefitofmembers?

Doyou intendto invest incompanies thatpayadecent livingwagetotheiremployeesandprovidegoodworkingconditions?

Negative screening involvesmaking decisions about funds, com-panies or property that youwould exclude because of their typeor because of activities inwhich they are involved. This negativescreeningcouldincludesomeorallofthefollowing:

Investment and/or involvement in products or activitieswithwhichyoudisagree: forexample, tobacco,gambling,weapons,nuclearenergy,animaltestingandpornography.

Companiesthathaveapoorrecordofproductand/oremployeesafety.

Companies that have problems with employee relations orexploitationofworkers.

Multinationalcompaniesthathaveapoorrecordofcommunity/countryinvolvement.

Investmentand/orinvolvementincountriesthathaveproblemswithhumanrights.

Investment and/or involvementwith countries that are doingnothingtoreduceenvironmentalharm.

Companiesand/orpropertiesthatcauseenvironmentaldamage.

Propertiesthathavelittlepotential forgreendevelopment(seeChapter9).

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TypesofethicalpropertyinvestmentEthical investment is also called socially responsible investment(SRI).TherearenowmanydifferenttypesofSRIthatyoucanselecttoprovideincomeand/orgrowth,andthereareavarietyofdifferenttypes of green property investment with which you can becomedirectlyorindirectlyinvolved.

Propertyinvestment

It is possible to invest in commercial and residential projects, intheUnitedKingdomand overseas, that are both environmentallyresponsibleandfinanciallyrewarding.Therearetwomainreasonsfor this. First, environmental concerns are growing among thepublic,businessandpoliticalcommunities,andsecond,developersand investors realize the greater potential for saving money andmaking largerprofits over the long term, even though short-termcostsmaybehigher.Atthetimeofwritingthegreenbuildingmarketisaprofitablenichewithrelativelylittlecompetition.Inthismarket,potential customers are willing to pay more for environmentallyfriendlyproperties. There are a variety of ways in which you can invest in greenproperty:

Self-build an eco-friendly house for personal use or to let totenants(seeChapter10).

Refurbish or renovate a property using green materials forpersonaluse,tolettotenantsortoletcommercially(seeChapter9).

Invest inabuy-to-letgreenproperty (seeChapter7).Propertypricesarestill rising, therewillalwaysbeademandforrentalproperties and there are an increasing number of tenantsinterestedingreenissues.

Buy shares in an ethical property development company foreithercommercialorresidentialproperty.Usethenegativeandpositive screeningmethodsdescribedabove tomake sure thatthecompanymeetsyourgreencriteria,andconsultCompaniesHousetocheckthelegitimacyofthecompany(detailsbelow).


Investineco-tourismbuildingprojectsworldwide.Overrecentyearsanumberofprojectshavebeensetupaimedatconservinglandorprotectingwildlifeinendangeredareas.Todothiseco-villages have been established for environmentally friendlytouristswhoare also the investors.Dependingon theamountyouinvest,youhaveaguaranteedlengthofstayinthevillage,eitheratnocostoratareducedcost,andifyouoptintotherentalpoolyouwill receivean income fromtheproperty,usuallyonamonthlybasis.Aswithanyinvestmentofthisnature,carefulresearchmustbeconductedtochecktheviability,reliabilityandlegitimacyofthecompany.

Investinoverseaseco-developmentprojects.Asthedemandforenvironmentallyfriendlypropertiesincreasesworldwide,savvydevelopersareprovidingtheopportunityforpeopletoinvestinpropertiesoverseasthatarebuiltfollowingecologicalprinciples.These include lessening the impactof thedevelopmenton thelocalenvironment,protectingbiodiversityandhelpingthelocalcommunitybyprovidingtraining,jobsandadecentwage,with-outexploitation.Investorshavetheopportunitytobuypropertiesoutright,orholdastakeorpercentageofaproperty.Again,youmust conduct careful research to check theviability, reliabilityandlegitimacyofanycompanyinwhichyouchoosetoinvest.Youshouldalsoconsiderthestabilityandeconomicclimateofthecountryinwhichthedevelopmentissituated.

Investinpropertythroughyourownpropertypensionfund(seebelow).

Personalpensions

Therearetwowaysthatyoucanuseyourpensiontoinvestinproperty:first,throughapropertyfundrunbyaspecialistfundmanager,andsecond,throughself-investmentinaspecificproperty.

PropertyfundsIfyouareinterestedinpropertyinvestmentit ispossibletoinvestyourmoney in commercial property, offices, shops, factories andwarehouses,butyouwillneedtochooseaspecialistfundmanagerthat offers this service. Not all pension companies will offer thisserviceandonlyafewwillofferpropertyfundsthatspecializeingreenproperty.Also,because thepropertymarketcanbeunpredictable,

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mostwillsuggestthatyouspreadyourinvestmentintootherfunds,suchasbondsandequity funds, andyouwill need tomake surethat these fundsalsomatchyourgreenphilosophy.Thiswillhelpyoutoreceivefundsfromelsewhereshouldthepropertymarketbeindeclinewhenyou choose to take yourpension.Agood ethicalfinancialadviserwillbeabletoofferadviceonsuitablefunds. In property funds the value of units increases with the rentsreceived from the leaseofproperties.Holdingsare independentlyvaluedperiodically,andifthisrevealsanincreaseinvalue,thevalueof the units increases. Your investment performance, therefore, isdependent on the propertymarket and on the skill of your fundmanager. There are two types of pension that will enable you to investinapropertyfund.First,personalpensionplansareavailabletoUKresidentsundertheageof75.Intheseschemesmoneyisinvestedbyanapprovedfundmanagerandthefundsarebuiltupforretirement.Ethicalandpropertyfundchoiceshavebeenavailableforsometimeonmanypersonalpensions.MoreinformationcanbeobtainedfromtheEthicalInvestmentAssociation(detailsbelow). Second,stakeholderpensionschemesareavailable toUKresidentsundertheageof75,whetherornottheyareinemployment.Unlikemost personal pension plans, there are no penalties on stoppingcontributionstoanindividual’sfundorontransferringthebenefitstoanotherscheme.Somestakeholderpensioncontractsofferethicalandpropertyinvestmentchoices.Moreinformationcanbeobtainedfromanethicalfinancialadviserinyourarea.DetailsofthesecanbeobtainedfromtheEthicalInvestmentAssociation(detailsbelow). More information about both these types of pension can beobtainedfromthePensionsAdvisoryGrouporfromtheDepartmentforWorkandPensions(DWP)(detailsbelow).

Self-investmentPersonalpensionscanbeusedtoinvestincommercialproperty,andsinceApril 2006 in residential property. Property pension savingsofferconsiderabletaxadvantages;intheshorttermfordeductionsagainstincomeorcorporationtaxforpersonalcontributions,andinthelongtermontax-freelumpsumsuponretirementandlumpsumsfreeofinheritancetaxpayableondeath.Also,thepensionschemedoesnothavetopaytaxontherentitreceivesfromthepropertyandthereisnocapitalgainstaxtobepaidwhenthepropertyissold. Inmanycasesyouwillbeabletoraiseamortgagetopurchasetheproperty,subjecttostrictHMRevenueandCustomslimits.Forsometypesofpensionitispossibletochooseyourownpropertyandact


asmanageroftheproperty.Thisenablesyoutomatchthetypeofpropertyandmethodofmanagementwithyourgreenphilosophy.However, you will need a professional to run the pension fundbecauseyouneedtouseanauthorizedprovider toqualify for taxrelief. Therearetwomainoptions.Smallself-administeredschemes(SSAS)aresetupbycompaniesforselectedemployees,oftenthecompany’sdirectors,andtendtobeusedbyfamily-runandsmallbusinesses.Theyarenotapplicableifyouareself-employed.Theseschemescanbecostlytorun,andifyouareinterestedinthistypeofpensionyoushouldseekprofessionaladvicetodeterminewhetheritisthemostappropriaterouteforyoutotake.Second,self-investedpersonalpensions(SIPPS)canbesetupbyemployedorself-employedindividualswiththehelpofaprofessionaltrusteeandanadministrator.ThesepeopleororganizationsmustbeHMRevenueandCustomsapproved.TobuyapropertytheSIPPmusthavesufficientfunds,eitheroutrightorwith amortgage, and it is restricted in the amount that it canborrow.More information about SIPPS can be obtained from theSIPPProviderGroup(detailsbelow). When considering property for your pension youmust realizethatalthoughoverthe longtermpropertycanprovetobeagoodinvestment,thismaynotalwaysbethecase.Aswithanypropertyinvestment you need tomake careful decisions about buying therightpropertyfortherightpriceintherightlocation.Youalsoneedto realize that there may be periods when the property remainsuntenanted,andthatyourassetsarenotliquid–propertiescantakealongtimetosell,whichcanbeaproblemifyouneedcashurgently. Thepropertyyoubuycanbefreeholdorleasehold,butyouwillneedtomakesurethatthereisatleast50yearstorunonthelease.Ifyouare interested inpurchasinganeco-friendlyproperty,goodgreencredentialscanaddvalueandmakeiteasiertolettotenantswhounderstandthesavingsthatcanbemadeonenergybills.Itispossibletoredevelop,refurbishandextendthepropertyusingcashthat has accumulated in the pension scheme or within the limitsof the mortgage, subject to the usual planning permissions andregulations.Itisalsopossibletoredevelopthepropertyforonwardsale,althoughifyourpensionschemeisseentobe‘trading’itcouldbeliabletopaycorporationtax. If you are interested in this type of pension you should seekprofessionaladvice,asHMRevenueandCustomshasstrictrules,regulations and procedures that should be followed. Propertypensionfundscanbesetupfairlyquickly,anditispossibletotransfercertainpensionschemes,althoughcareshouldbetakentomakesure

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thatanyfundsthataretransferredreceiveafairvaluationandthatyoudonotloseanyvaluableprotectionunderyourexistingscheme.Comprehensive,user-friendlyadviceaboutalltypesofpensioncanbe obtained from the Pensions Advisory Service (details below).FurtherinformationcanbeobtainedfromtheDepartmentforWorkandPensionswebsite(www.dwp.gov.uk).

Endowments

Todaythereareanumberofethicalfundproviderswhowillprovidehousepurchaseendowmentproductsthroughethicalfunds.How-ever,allendowmentproductscontainanelementofrisk,ashasbeenhighlightedbythemediaoverrecentyears.Toavoidproblemsyoushouldseekprofessionaladvicefromanadvisorwhooffersadviceon ethical investment.Use themember’s directory on the EthicalInvestmentResearchServicewebsitetofindanadviserinyourarea(detailsbelow).

Individualsavingsaccounts

Individual savings accounts (ISAs) can be linked to interest-onlymortgages, with the proceeds from the ISA investment used topay off the loan at the end of the term. The ISA holds shares, ineither individual companies or unit and investment trusts, andthe proceeds are allowed to grow tax-free. There are a variety ofethical ISAs currently available, and at time of writing, ethicalfundsaremarginallyoutperformingtheirpeersovertheshortterm,illustrating that you do not have to compromise financial returnsfor ethicalprincipals. Someexpertsbelieve that this situationwillcontinue,asenvironmentalissuesarehighonthepoliticalagenda,whereasothersbelievethatreturnsfromethicalISAshavepeaked.Aswith any investment, there are risks attached and you shouldseekindependentfinancialadvicebeforeyoumakeaninvestment.

Lifeassurance

Thereareanumberofethicalfundprovidersthatofferlifeassuranceproductsthroughtheirethicalfunds.Allmortgagecompaniesinsistthatyouhaveadequatelifeassurancetocoveryouandyourfamily


intheeventofyourdeath,butyoudon’thavetocompromiseyourethicalprincipleswhenchoosingalifeassurancepolicy.Youcanfindoutwhichethicalfundsprovidelifeassuranceproductsbyconsulting‘Investmentfunds–theEIRISethicalfundselector’,availableontheEIRISwebsite(seeChapter5).

ResearchingandquestioningorganizationsIf you already hold investment funds there are questions thatyoucanask tofindoutmoreabout the typeof investment that isbeingmadeonyourbehalf.Allfinancialprovidersmakeuseofthemoneyyouhave investedwhenyou arenotusing it, so questionthemtofindoutwhattheyaredoingwithit.Theymustsupplythisinformationwhenrequested.Ifyoufindthatyouarenothappywiththeinvestmentsbeingmadeonyourbehalfyoucandiscussthiswithyourfinancialprovidertofindoutifitcan,andiswillingto,makechanges.If it isnotabletomakechanges,youcanwithdrawyourfundsandconsiderinvestingelsewhere,althoughyouwillneedtoconsiderfinancialpenaltiesandfeesthatmaybepayable. When researching new organizations, and questioning yourcurrentfinancialservicesprovider,thefollowingpointswillhelp:

Asktoseethecompany’scodeofbusinessethics.

Askaboutthecompany’senvironmentalandsocialpolicies,andhowtheseapplytoinvestingyourmoney.

For pensions, ask to see a statement of investment principles,whichsetsout theprinciplesemployedby thecompanywheninvesting yourmoney. If this does not include environmentalandsocialissues,findoutwhy.

Ethical and socially responsible fundmanagers carryoutbothpositive and negative screeningwhendeciding on investmentopportunities.Findoutwhethersuchscreeningiscarriedoutbyyourfinancialserviceprovider.Ifnot,findoutwhynot.

Ifyouare intendingtobuyshares,contact thecompanydirectformore information about its ethical policy.Companieswithagoodethicalrecordwillbehappytosupplyyouwithall theinformationyouneed.

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UsingprofessionalsWhenchoosingafinanceprofessionalyouneedtomakesure thatyou choose an experienced, qualified, independent person whoagreeswith,or is able tounderstand,yourgreenphilosophy.Youshouldalsomakesurethatyoureadanydocumentsyouaregiven,includingthesmallprint,beforesigningacontractorenteringintoanagreement.Agoodadviserwilltaketimetogettoknowyou,andwillaskrelevantquestionsaboutyour investmentplansandyourgreenphilosophy, if youhave indicated to himor her that this isimportanttoyou.Whenchoosingasuitableprofessional,youshouldconsiderthefollowingpoints:

Isheor sheamemberofaprofessionalassociation?Does thisprofessionalassociationensurethattheprofessionalkeepsuptodatewithhis/hertrainingandabidesbyacodeofconduct?

Isheorsheauthorizedtoofferfinancialandinvestmentadvice?Forhowlonghashe/shebeenauthorized?Youcancheckwhethera professional is authorized by contacting the FSA ConsumerContactCentreortheFSAFirmCheckService(seeChapter5).

DoesheorshehaveaclearunderstandingofethicalinvestmentandSRIissues?Isheorshekeepingabreastofnewissuesandchangesinthemarket?

Doesheorsheunderstandyourgreenphilosophy,andishe/sheabletoincorporateyourviewsintoyourfinancialplanningand/orinvestment?

Doesheorsheroutinelyaskabouttheethicsofcompanieshe/sherecommendsforinvestment?

Isheorshewillingtorecommendpreviousclientswhocanactasreferees?

Istheprofessionaltiedtoaparticularcompany?Ifthisisthecaseheorshewillnotbeabletorecommendsuitableproductsthatarenotprovidedbythatcompany(seeChapter5).

Howis theadviserpaid,byfeesorbycommission?Ifyouareto pay a fee, howmuchwill you need to pay? If payment isby commission, does the adviser tend to recommend specificproductsthatattractahighercommission?


Areyouabletogetonwiththeprofessional?Hasrapportbeenestablished?Doyoutrusthimorhertodothebestforyou?Ifnot,moveontoanotherprofessional.

SummaryIf you conduct careful research andworkwithprofessionalswhounderstand the issues that concern you, it is possible to makeinvestment decisions that match your green philosophy. EthicalinvestmentandSRIarebecomingincreasinglypopular,withmoreandvariedopportunitiesavailable.Thismeansthatyoudonothaveto compromiseyourgreenprinciplesor loseoutfinanciallywhenyoumakeinvestments. OneofthemostpopularwaystoinvestinpropertyintheUnitedKingdom is to buy a property to let to tenants. This provides anopportunity toworkwithin your green philosophy, advertise thegreencredentialsofyourpropertyandtoletittolike-mindedtenantswhowillbeabletorespectyourviews.Theseissuesarediscussedinthenextchapter.

Usefulorganizations

UKSocialInvestmentForum(UKSIF)

UKSIF was launched in 1991 and is a membership network forUK SRI.Members include retail and institutional fundmanagers,financial advisers, SRI research providers, consultants, trade uni-ons, banks, building societies, NGOs and interested individuals.Amemberdirectory is availableon thewebsitealongwithusefulinformationaboutSRI.

UKSocialInvestmentForumHolywellCentre,1PhippStreetLondonEC2A4PSTel:02077499950E-mail:[email protected]:www.uksif.org

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EthicalInvestorsGroup

The Ethical Investors Group has been established to provide aspecialistfinancialadviceservicetopeoplewhocareabouttheworldanditspreservation.Adviceisofferedtoindividuals,charities,not-for-profitgroupsandcommercialorganizations.Fiftypercentoftheprofit earned fromcommissionand fees isdistributed to charitiesandgroupsnominatedbyclients.Contactthegroupforinformationaboutitsfees.OnitswebsiteyoucanusetheEthicalFundDirectory,which is a comprehensive list of all ethical funds available in theUK.

EthicalInvestorsGroupMontpellierHouse,47RodneyRoadCheltenhamGL501HXTel:01242539848Fax:01242539851E-mail:[email protected]:www.ethicalinvestors.co.uk

CompaniesHouse

The main functions of Companies House are to incorporate anddissolve limited companies, examineand store company informa-tiondeliveredundertheCompaniesActandmakethisinformationavailabletothepublic.

CompaniesHouseCrownWayMaindy,CardiffCF143UZTel:08703333636E-mail:[email protected]:www.companieshouse.gov.uk

ThePensionsAdvisoryService(TPAS)

TPASisanindependent,voluntaryorganizationthatisgrant-aidedbytheDepartmentforWorkandPensions.TPASoffersusefulanddown-to-earth information about pensions, helping to explaincomplexrulesandregulationsinawaythatcanbeunderstoodby


the layperson.Itwillalsohelpmembersof thepublicwhohaveaproblem, complaint or disputewith their occupational or privatepensionarrangements.

ThePensionsAdvisoryService11BelgraveRoadLondonSW1V1RBTel:08456012823Fax:02072338016E-mail:[email protected]:www.pensionsadvisoryservice.org.uk

Usefulwebsiteswww.ethicalinvestment.org.ukThisisthewebsiteoftheEthicalInvestorsAssociation(EIA),whichis an association of financial advisers from around the UnitedKingdomwhopromoteethicalinvestmentandSRI.TheaimoftheorganizationistoincreasepublicaccesstofinancialadviceonethicalinvestmentandSRI,andraisestandardsamongfinancialadvisersofferingthis typeofadvice.Onthewebsiteyoucanobtainadviceaboutethical investmentandaccessadatabaseofethicalfinancialadvisersintheUnitedKingdom.

www.sipp-provider-group.org.ukTheSIPPProviderGroupistherepresentativebodyforSIPPoper-atorsinnegotiationsandconsultationwithHMRevenueandCus-toms,theDepartmentofWorkandPensionsandothergovernmentbodies.Itdoesnotofferadvicetothepublic,butonthewebsiteyoucanfindmoreinformationaboutSIPPSandadirectoryofmembers.

FurtherreadingHancock,J(2005)AnInvestor’sGuidetoEthicalandSociallyResponsible

InvestmentFunds:Auniqueanalysis ofUKbased investment funds,KoganPage,London

Landlords

Landlords sometimes have a reputation for being unscrupulouspeople keen tomake a quick buck.Whilemaking a decent profitisimportantformostlandlords,especiallywhentheyhaveworkedhardtoprovideahabitableproperty,manydohaveotherconcerns.These include the upkeep of their property, the welfare of theirtenants,andconcernfortheenvironmentinwhichtheylive. Relationships between landlord and tenant tend to be moreamicableandtrustingwhentheyhavecommoninterestsandgoalsthatbondthemtogether.Concernfortheenvironmentprovidessuchabond,andifyou,asalandlord,careabouttheenvironmentandmarketyourpropertytolike-mindedtenants,relationshipswillbecementedandproblemsreduced.Also,asenvironmentallyfriendlypolicy is highon thepolitical agenda, there are awidevariety ofschemes and grants available to help you to get your propertyhabitableandsavemoney. Thischapteroffersadviceon theschemesandgrantsavailable,providinginformationabouteligibilitycriteriaandapplicationpro-cedures,alongwithadviceonsourcinggreenappliances,marketingyour property to like-minded tenants and overcoming problemsthroughgreenactions.Forinformationaboutsourcinggreenbuildingmaterials,fixtures,fittingsandfurnishings,consultChapter9.

UnderstandingtheGreenLandlords’SchemeIn2005thegovernmentannounceditsintentiontoencouragefurtherinvestment in energy efficiency by landlords through a GreenLandlords’ Scheme.A schemeof this typewasdeemednecessarybecause itwas acknowledged that cost savings from investing inenergyefficiencyaredifficult for landlordstorecover in increasedrent.

7


Thefirstpartoftheschemeinvolvesadditionstothelandlords’energy savings allowance (LESA) which was introduced in 2004(seebelow).Thesecondpartinvolvesareviewofthecurrentwearand tearallowancewhichprovidesadeductionon taxableprofitsforwearandtearoffurniture,fixturesandfittings.Thesuggestionis that this allowance shouldbe tied inwith the energy-efficiencylevelofthepropertyandrunalongsidethenewenergyperformancecertificates(seebelow). Atthetimeofwritingthegovernmentisinvitingcommentsanddiscussionson the scheme tofindoutwhat improvements canbemade.Itisexpectedthatfurtherannouncementswillbemadeinthe2007budget.

KnowingaboutgrantsandloansforlandlordsThereareavarietyofgrantsandloansavailableforpeoplewholetproperty. For most grants, landlords make a direct application iftheymeettheeligibilitycriteria.However,somegrantsareavailableonlyforyourtenantsiftheyareinreceiptofcertainbenefitsorareclassedas ‘vulnerable’. Ifyouwant to takeadvantageof this typeofgrantyouwillneed tofindoutwhetheryour tenantsmeet theeligibilitycriteriaanddiscusswhether theyarehappytomakeanapplication.ThistypeofgrantisdiscussedinChapter8.Grantsforwhichlandlordscanapplydirectarediscussedbelow.

Theenergyefficiencycommitment

In the United Kingdom the government requires that energycompanies fund energy improvements in domestic homes.Underthe energy efficiency commitment (EEC), companies are obligedto provide grants for homeowners to install cavity wall and loftinsulation. Although it is aimed at homeowners, landlords can also takeadvantage of this scheme for some or all of their properties. Atthispresenttimethegrantprovidesa£200discountforcavitywallinsulation and £150 for loft insulation. These grants are changingconstantly, so for the most up-to-date information consult yourlocalauthorityoryourlocalenergyefficiencyadvicecentre(detailsbelow).

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Housesinmultipleoccupation(HMO)grants

Ahouseinmultipleoccupation(HMO)isdefinedas‘ahousewhichisoccupiedbypersonswhodonotformasinglehousehold’.Thisincludesthefollowingtypesofaccommodation:

bedsits;

sharedhouses;

hostels;

lodgings;

somehostelsorbedandbreakfastestablishments;

housesthathavebeenconvertedintoself-containedflats.

Local authorities offer discretionary grants to landlords to helpthemmakeanHMOfitforhumanhabitationandcarryoutrepairsorupgradeforthenumberofoccupiers.Inmostareasthisincludesgrantstoimproveenergyefficiency,althoughsomeauthoritieswillrestricttheirgrantstospecificimprovementssuchasfiresafety. Somelocalauthoritiesplacealimitontheamountofgrantavail-able,whereasothersdonothaveamaximumlimitbutthenumberofgrantsawardedisrestrictedbyavailablefinances.Inmostcaseslandlords have to make a means-tested contribution towards theworks,basedon therent tobereceived fromtheproperty.Grantsarenotgivenuntiltherequiredplanningpermissionsandbuildingregulationsapprovalhavebeengranted(seeChapter10). Thepropertywillneedtocontinuetobeletforaspecifiedperiod,mustbeadequatelyinsuredandmustbemaintainedinafitcondition.Somelocalauthoritiesspecifytherentlevelsthatmustbecharged,andrequirethegranttoberepaidinfullifconditionsarebreachedor theproperty is soldwithina specified time.Contactyour localauthorityformoreinformationaboutthisscheme.

Loanschemeforhousingrepairs

Somelocalauthoritieswillofferloanstolandlordswhoarewishingto repair and renovate their property. In some cases loans willbe given only if the property has been deemed unfit for humanhabitation. The loans are interest free and repayable by landlordsafteraspecifiedperiod,usuallyfiveyears.Localauthoritiesspecify


amaximumamountofloan,whichcouldbeupto£20,000,andneedtoapproveascheduleofworksbeforealoanwillbegranted.Theseloans are not offered in all parts of theUnitedKingdom.Contactyourlocalauthorityformoreinformation.

Renovationgrants

Renovationgrantsaredesignedtohelpowner-occupierscarryoutrepairsorimprovementstotheirproperties.However,insomeareasthegrantsareavailablefortenants,iftheyhaveafullrepairingleaseorafixed-termtenancyofatleastfiveyears,andforlandlords(formoreinformationaboutgrantsfortenants,seeChapter8).Somelocalauthorities enable you to include energy-efficiency improvementswithintheworks. Inmostcasesthesegrantsarediscretionaryandwilldependonthefundsavailable.Toobtainagrantyouwillneedtoholdthefreeholdand intend to live inor let theproperty foraspecifiednumberofyears. Your property will need to have been classed ‘unfit’ forhabitationorhavefailedthenewhousinghealthandsafetyratingsystem(HHSRS)assessment.ThiscameintoforceinApril2006inEnglandandlaterintheyearinWales.Itisanewriskassessmenttoolusedtoassesspotentialriskstothehealthandsafetyofoccupantsinresidentialproperties.Itreplacesthehousingfitnessstandardwhichwassetout in theHousingAct1985.More informationabout thisassessmentcanbeobtainedfromtheDCLG(seeChapter3). Youwillnotbeeligibleforthismeans-testedgrantiftheworkcanbecarriedoutunderotherassistancesuchasaninsuranceorathird-partyclaim.Contactyourlocalauthorityformoreinformationaboutthisgrant.

Emptypropertygrants

Thesegrantsareavailabletohelppeopleinterestedinrestoringanemptyproperty.Some localauthoritieswill specify theamountoftimethatapropertymusthavebeenemptybeforeagrantwillbeoffered,andsomewilloffergrantsonlyifthepropertyistobemadeavailable for private letting through a registered social landlord.If this is the case local authorities are very specific about the endproduct in terms of size of rooms, standard of accommodation,décor,fixturesandfittings,energyefficiencyandheating.Oncethe

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property is renovated itmustmeet the criteria setout in thenewHHSRS. Localauthoritieswillpayapercentageofthecostofworks,usuallyin the regionof 30 to 70per cent,withmost specifying anupperlimit.Theamountofgrantyouwill receivedependsonanumberof factors including the typeandsizeofproperty, its locationandtheintendeduseoncetheworkiscomplete.Ifyousellthepropertyorceasetoletitwithinaspecifiednumberofyearsyouwillhavetorepaythegrant.Contactyourlocalauthorityformoreinformation.

KnowingabouttaxincentivesforlandlordsIf you are a landlord letting an individual property or a numberofproperties there are two schemesoffering tax relief for energy-efficiencymeasures.Thesearethelandlords’energysavingsallow-anceandtheenhancedcapitalallowance.

Thelandlords’energysavingsallowance

Thelandlords’energysavingsallowance(LESA)wasintroducedin2004toprovideallprivatelandlordswhopayincometaxwithup-fronttaxreliefoncapitalexpenditureonenergy-efficientmaterials.Itisnotavailableforlandlordsthatpaycorporationtax(seeenhancedcapitalallowancebelow).Initiallytheschemewasofferedforcavitywallandloftinsulation,thenitwasextendedtoincludesolidwallinsulationinrentedaccommodation.InApril2006theschemewasextendedfurthertoincludedraught-proofingandtheinsulationforhotwatersystems. Under this scheme you are able to deduct the cost of the newinsulationwhen calculating your taxable profits from letting resi-dential accommodation, up to £1,500 per property. To claim thisreliefyoumustincludetheexpenditureasadeductioninyourself-assessmenttaxreturn.Thisallowanceisinadditiontothe10percentdeductionthatHMRevenueandCustomscurrentlyallowsforwearandtearoffurniture,fixturesandfittings.MoreinformationabouttheLESAcanbeobtainedfromyourlocalauthority.Theschemeisduetoexpirein2009.


Theenhancedcapitalallowance

Theenhancedcapitalallowance(ECA)schemewassetuptoencour-ageUKbusinessestoreducecarbonemissions,whichcontributetoclimatechange.Thisschemeprovidesup-front taxrelief,allowingbusinessestoclaim100percentfirst-yearcapitalallowancesagainsttheirtaxableprofits.Alandlordthatpayscorporationtaxorincometax may be eligible for this scheme. This provides you with theopportunityofclaiming100percentofthetaxbackonanyenergy-savingtechnologythatyoubuy. ECAsareclaimedinthesamewayasothercapitalallowancesonthecorporationtaxreturnforcompanies,andtheincometaxreturnforindividualsandpartnerships.Onlyenergy-savingproductsthatmeet the scheme’s published energy-saving criteria can attract anECA.Fordetailsaboutthecurrenttechnologythatmeetsthecriteria,andformoreinformationaboutthescheme,consultChapter9.

ProducinganenergyperformancecertificateFromJune2007anyonewishingtosellapropertymustproduceahomeinformationpackwhichwillincludeanenergyperformancecertificate. Although it is intended that the certificate will beincorporated into this pack when properties are placed on themarket,landlordswillalsoneedtomakethecertificateavailabletoeachnewtenantwhentheylettheirproperty(seeChapter4formoreinformationabouthomeinformationpacks). Asalandlorditisyourresponsibilitytoorganizetheproductionofacertificate,anditisestimatedthatthecostwillbearound£150.Eachcertificatewilllastfor10yearsunlessmajorrenovationworkis carried out. If you decide tomake improvements that have aninfluenceontheenergyefficiencyofyourproperty,youcanapplyvoluntarilyforanothertest.

Sourcingenergy-efficientwhitegoodsTheESTpointsoutthatanenergy-efficientfridgefreezerusesnearlyathirdasmuchenergytodothesamejobasa10-year-oldappliance.Thismeans that youmaybe able tomake a saving of £45 a yearbybuyinganenergy-efficientappliance.Throughencouragingyourtenantstousethewashingmachineonalowertemperature(30ºCor

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40ºC)youmaybeabletosaveuptoathirdonelectricitybillsovertheyear.Forlandlordswhodecidetoprovideadishwasherintheiraccommodation,afurther£20ayearcouldbesavedthroughbuyinganenergy-efficientappliance,according to theEST.However,youshouldnotethatthesefiguresareonlyestimatesandactualsavingsdepend on a number of related factors, such as current type andamountofusage,numberofoccupants,andtypeandconditionoftheexistingappliance. If the rent on the accommodation you let is inclusive of bills,buyingenergy-efficientwhitegoodscouldhelp to saveyouup to£100ayearonelectricitybills.Evenifyoudonotincludebillsintherentyouintendtocharge,youcanadvertiseyourpropertytolike-mindedtenantswhowillbeimpressedbythesavingstobemadeontheirutilitybillsovertheyear.Itisusefultoincludethisinformationina tenants’pack thatyoucanshowtoprospective tenantswhentheylookaroundyourproperty. Whenyousourcewhitegoods,lookfortheEUenergylabelwhichmust,bylaw,bedisplayedclearlyonallrefrigerationandlaundryappliances,dishwashersandelectricovens.Onthetopofthelabelthe energy ratings are displayed, with ‘A’ the most efficient and‘G’ the leastefficient.Refrigerationappliancesnowhavean ‘A++’rating,whichindicatesexceptionalenergyefficiency.Thelabelalsoincludesinformationaboutenergyconsumptionandrunningcosts;washing,spinninganddryingperformanceforlaundryappliances;waterconsumptionandcapacity;andinformationaboutnoiselevels,althoughthisdoesnothavetobesuppliedbylaw. TheESTwebsitehasadatabaseof retailers thatsupplykitchenappliances carrying the Energy Saving Recommended logo. Thisisdisplayedonthemostefficientappliances,andmeansthat theymeetorexceedgovernmentrecommendationsforenergyefficiency.On the website you can also find information about appliancesthat are specifically recommended for their energy efficiency (seeChapter1). Some local authorities provide grants for landlordswanting tosource energy-efficient white goods. Contact your local authorityoryour localenergyefficiencyadvicecentre formore informationaboutschemesinyourarea.Youcanobtaincontactdetailsofyourlocalenergyefficiencyadvicecentrebytelephoning0800512012.


MarketingyourenvironmentallyfriendlypropertyMarketingistheartofappealingtopeople’swantsandneedsinsuchawaythattheybecomeinterestedinyourproductorservice.Thegreencredentialsofyourpropertycangiveyouanedgeinthemarketplace,helpingyoutochargehigherrentsandattractlike-mindedtenantswhowillrespectandlookafteryourproperty(seebelow).However,markets,trendsandfashionchange.Yourmarketingstrategyneedstotakeaccountofthis,andyouneedtomakesurethatyouareableand willing to change with these fluctuations. When developingyourstrategy,thinkaboutthepresentandfutureconditions.Isthereanythingthatcouldchangeyourpotentialmarketinthefuture,andhowcouldyourespondquicklytothesechangessothatprofitsarenotaffected?Greenissuesarehighonthepolitical,publicandmediaagendaatpresent,butwill thisbe thecase in the future?Will theenvironmentalmovementgainpace,andareyouableandwillingtoupdateyourpropertytokeepupwiththesechanges? Onceyouhaveaimedyourpropertyat thegreenmarket, thinkaboutyoursalesstrategy.Nowthatyouknowyourtargetmarket,youknowwhatwillappeal–itisuptoyoutosellthesebenefitssothatpeopleareinterestedinyourproperty.Acompetitiveedgecanbegainedbyconsideringthefollowingstrategies:

Advertisethegreencredentialsofyourproperty.Chooseplacestoadvertisethatarepopularwithenvironmentallyawaretenants.

Offer an excellent service. Follow up all enquiries efficiently,quickly andwith courtesy. It is important to remain on goodtermswithpotentialtenants,especiallyaswordofmouthissuchan important free advertising tool, especially among environ-mentalists.

Tryuniquepackaging.Whenadvertisingyourproperty,trysome-thingalittledifferent.Makeyourpropertystandouttopeoplewhoareinterestedingreenissues.

Emphasizetheenergyefficiencyofyourpropertyandthesavingsthatprospectivetenantscanmakeontheirbills.

Satisfyspecificneedsofyourcustomers,forexamplebyprovid-inginformationaboutlocalrecyclingschemes,decoratingwithenvironmentallyfriendlymaterialsandfurnishingwithnaturalfabrics.

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Offer a competitive price and show your willingness tonegotiate.

Test tomodify your product. If you do not let your propertyquickly,invitepeoplearoundforan‘openhouse’tofindoutwhytheyarenotinterested.Bewillingtomodifyyourproperty,rentlevelandgreenstrategyaccordingly.

Develop a consistent and coherent promotion and advertis-ing strategy. Keep records and change strategy if you are notachievingtherequiredresults.

Advertisingyourpropertycanbeexpensive–youneedtoworkoutaneffectivestrategythatdoesnotcostalotofmoney.Advertisingon the internet can be an effective means, as can placing anadvertisementinthepropertypagesofthelocalnewspaperorusinglocallettingagents.Wordofmouthcanbeoneofthemosteffectivefree advertising tools. As environmental issues are high on thepoliticalandmediaagenda,utilizethistopersuadealocaljournalisttowriteareviewaboutyourproperty,orwriteanarticleoradvertforthelocalenvironmentalgroupnewsletter. Whenpotentialtenantscontactyou,findouthowtheyheardaboutyourpropertyandkeeprecords.Overtimethiswillshowyouthemostcost-effectiveadvertisingstrategy,andyoucaneliminatethosethatdonotwork sowell. It is important tomonitorandevaluatethe effectiveness of yourmarketing strategyon a regular basis sothatyoucanrespondtoproblemsandmakechangesassoonastheyoccur.

OvercomingproblemsthroughgreenactionLandlordsfaceavarietyofproblemsthatariseasaresultofowningpropertyandlettingtotenants.Ifyouhaveboughtapropertyandare letting it for investmentpurposes, it isessential thatyoukeepitwellmaintainedandingoodcondition.Thiswillhelptoattracttenants,andthepropertywillbetterholdorincreaseitsvalueifandwhenyoudecidetosell. Asalandlordyouhavealegalresponsibilitytorepairthestruc-ture and the exterior of the property. This includes maintainingandrepairingdrains,pipes,gutters,doorsandwindows.Youmustmakesurethattheinstallationsforthesupplyofgas,electricityandwateraremaintainedinasafeworkingorderandthatyouhavethe


appropriategasandelectricitytestcertificates.Thepropertymustbekeptatastandardandfitnesssuitableforhabitation,andmeettheconditionsforthenewHHSRSassessmentdescribedabove.Formoreinformationaboutyourrightsandresponsibilitiesasalandlord,seeTheCompleteGuidetoPropertyDevelopmentforSmallInvestors(detailsbelow). If you choose tobecomeagreen landlordandworkwithyourtenantstomakeyourpropertymoreenvironmentallyfriendly,youcanovercomemanyoftheproblemsthatyoualreadyhave,ormayencounter,asalandlord.SomeofthetypicalproblemsarelistedinTable 7.1. These are followedwith suggestions about the type ofgreenactionthatcanbetakenandthebenefitsthatcanbegainedbytakingthesesteps.Youmayfinditusefultoincorporatetheseissuesintoyourtenants’pack.

SummaryEnvironmentalandethicalissuesarebecomingincreasinglyimport-antforlandlordswhorealizethattenantswithsimilarconcernsarelikely torespectand lookafter theirproperty.Thereareanumberofgrants,loansandtaxincentivesavailableforlandlordswhowishtomakeenergy-efficientimprovementstotheirproperty,andthereareschemesavailabletohelpwiththepurchaseofenergy-efficientappliances. Forlandlords,animportantpartofdevelopingagreenpropertyisthattenantsunderstandthemeasuresthathavebeentaken,respectthelandlord’senvironmentalphilosophyandlookafterthepropertyinwhichtheylive.Sometenantswhoareinreceiptofcertaintypesofbenefitsareeligibletoapplyforgrantsthatarenotavailableforlandlords.Thistypeofapplicationmaybebeneficialtobothpartiesandhelpwiththerunningandupkeepoftheproperty.Theseissuesarediscussedinthefollowingchapter.

Usefulorganizations

Localauthorities

Yourlocalauthorityisausefulsourceofinformationandadviceformanyaspectsofresidentiallettingandenergyefficiency.Contactthehousingorenvironmentalhealthdepartmentformoreinformation

Table7.1 Overcomingtypicalproblems

Problem Action Benefit

Leakingguttersanddrainpipes.Damagetobricksandfoundations,rottingwoodwork,problemswithdamp.

Encouragetenantstoreportproblems.Unblock,flush,patch,replaceand/orrenewguttersanddrainpipes.Installwater-harvestingmeasures(seeChapter11).

Helpsmaintainstructureofbuildingbychannellingwateraway.Saveswaterbyharvesting.Encouragestenantstoreusewaterongarden.Helpsfosterinterestingardenandhelpswithmaintenance.

Rubbishandlitterbuild-up.Encouragesvermin,ahealthhazardandsmelly.Causescomplaintsfromneighboursandill-feeling.

Providerecyclingbinsandcompostbinswithinstructions.Installacoveredrecyclingareaandprovidedetailsofrubbishcollectiondates(seeChapters2and11).

Helpsenvironmentbycuttingdownonwaste.Stopsrubbishbuild-up,smells,problemswithverminandcomplaintsfromneighbours.Fostersgreatercommunityspirit.

Damagetofixtures,fittings,décorandfurniturethroughlackofrespectandcarelessness.Attheendofthetenancythepropertyisleftinastateofdisrepairanduntidiness.

Advertiseforgreentenants,whotendtobemoreresponsibleandcareful.Encouragetenantstoreuseandrecycle.Provideadequatecleaningmaterialsandtools.

Needtoreplaceitemslessfrequently.Savestimeandmoneyandisbetterfortheenvironment.Lesstime,energyandmoneyspentoncleaningandrepairing.Lessuseofcleaningproductsthatmaybeharmfultotheenvironment.

Leakingtapsand/orpipes.Waterdamagetoproperty.Problemswithdampandwaterwastage.

Encouragetenantstoreportproblemsassoonastheyoccur.Provideinformationabouthowtoturnoffthewaterandwhattenantsshoulddowhengoingaway.Insulatepipesandreplacewashers/tapswhererequired.Checkforleaksbetweeneachtenancy.

Saveswaterandslowslimescalebuild-up.Preventsdamagetobuildingstructureandfixtures,fittingsandfurniture.Savesmoneyandtimeifrepairsarecarriedoutimmediately.

Mouldandmildewgrowthonwood,paper,carpetsandfoods.Potentialhealthhazard.Causesdamagetowalls,décorandsoftfurnishings.Looksunsightlyandwillputoffprospectivetenants.Encouragestheuseofstrongchemicalsanddetergentsthatareharmfultotheenvironment.

Provideinformationaboutthecauseoftheproblem.Encouragetenantstoventilatethepropertyandreduceindoorhumidity(seeChapter8).Repairwaterleaksimmediately.Tacklemouldandmildewbetweentenancies.Replacemouldyabsorbentsurfacessuchasceilingtilesandcarpets.Reducecondensationoncoldsurfacesthroughinsulation.

Savesmoneythroughlessreplacementofabsorbentsurfacesandiskinderontheenvironment.Reductionmeanslessneedtousedetergentsandstrongchemicalstotackletheproblem.Tenantsarelesslikelytoexperiencehealthproblems.

Complaintsfromneighboursaboutnoise.

Advertiseforgreentenantswhotendtobemoreresponsibleandrespectfulofothers,withagreaterawarenessoftheirsurroundingcommunity.Youshouldremainonfriendlytermswithneighboursanddealwithproblemsassoonastheyarise.

Creatingasenseofcommunityanddevelopingfriendshipswithneighbourswillreducecomplaintsandhelptenantstofeelathome.Italsoencouragestenantsandneighbourstorespectandcareforpropertyinthearea.

Callsfromtenants24hoursaday,oftenaboutproblemstheycouldaddressthemselves.

Advertiseforgreentenantswhotendtobemoreresponsibleandmature,thusdealingwithproblemsthemselves.Prepareacomprehensivetenants’packwhichincludesimportantinformationonwhichtheycanactwithoutdisturbingyou.

Helpstomaintainagoodrelationshipwithyourtenants.Lesstime,money,fuelandenergyspentonwastedjourneysandtelephonecalls.

Table7.1 Overcomingtypicalproblems(continued)


Tenantsleavingthepropertyowingmoneyforutilitybills,counciltaxortelephonebills.

Advertiseforgreentenantswhotendtobemoreresponsibleandmature.Talktothemaboutgreentariffsandenergyefficiencytoreducecostsandharmtotheenvironment(seeChapter2).Installenergy-efficientappliancestoreducecosts.Encouragetenantstouseenergy-efficientbrowngoods(seeChapter8).

Reducesproblemsdealingwithutilitycompanies.Reducesproblemswithpropertyblacklistinganddebtcollectorschasingpasttenants.Cutsdownonlettershavingtobereturnedandstopsfuturetenantsbeinghassled.

Coldanddraughtyaccommodation.Unpleasantfortenants,badfortheirhealthandwillnotencouragethemtorespectyourproperty.

Obtaintherelevantgrantstoinstallanenergy-efficientheatingsystemandinsulationbeforelettingproperty.Encouragetenantstoreportanyproblems.Keepuptodatewithannualsafetychecksandsupplyrelevantinformationtotenants.

Reducedenergybills,addsvaluetoyourproperty,encourageslike-mindedtenantstorentyourpropertyandhelpstomaintainthebuilding.Grantshelpyoutosavemoneyonrefurbishmentandrenovationcosts.Safetychecksreducethepossibilityofharmtotenantsand/orcontractors.

Table7.1 Overcomingtypicalproblems(continued)



abouthomeenergyefficiencygrants,renovationgrants,emptyprop-ertygrantsandthehousesinmultipleoccupation(HMO)grant. Many local authorities have established a landlords’ forum orlandlords’ association. Membership is usually free and you canmeet other landlords in the area to discuss energy efficiency andother relevant topics. Most produce a newsletter or other usefulpublicationsaimedatlandlords.

Localenergyefficiencyadvicecentres

The EST has a network of advice centres located across England,Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. These centres are able toprovideexpertadviceonenergyefficiency,and informationaboutgrants and tax incentives for landlords hoping to make energy-efficient improvements to their properties.You canobtain contactdetails of your local centre byvisitingwww.est.org.uk/myhome/localadviceandenteringyourpostcodeintheboxprovided,orclickon the relevantmap location.Alternatively, you canuse the formontheESTwebsitetosendanenergy-relatedquestiontoyourlocalcentre.

Usefulwebsiteswww.eca.gov.ukOnthiswebsiteyoucanobtaindetailsabout theenhancedcapitalallowance (ECA) scheme and information about the technologiesthatareincludedwithinthisscheme.Ifyouprefer,youcancontacttheECAAdministrator(tel:08701906236,fax:08701906318,e-mail:[email protected]).

www.hmrc.gov.ukOn thiswebsite you can obtainmore information about claimingECAs,alongwithinformationaboutallothertaxissues.

www.livingclean.co.ukOn thiswebsiteyoucanobtainenvironmentally friendly cleaningproductsthatarebasedonnaturalproductsandfreefromharmfulchemicals.Thecompanyalsooffersacleaningserviceforlandlords,using its own environmentally friendlyproducts to clean carpets,upholstery,ovensandbathrooms.

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FurtherreadingDawson,C(2006)TheCompleteGuidetoPropertyDevelopmentforthe

SmallInvestor,KoganPage,LondonAssuredandShortholdTenancies:Aguideforlandlords,downloadablebooklet for landlords inEnglandandWales, available from theDCLGwebsite(www.communities.gov.uk)

TheESTproduces a number of leaflets that youmayfinduseful.TheycanbeorderedfromtheESTwebsite(seeChapter1)orbytelephoning(0845)1207799:

InternalWallInsulationinExistingHomes(CE17/GPG138) EffectiveUseofInsulationinDwellings(CE23)

EnergyEfficientRefurbishmentofanExistingHouse(CE83/GPG155)

1 Tenants

Some people living in rented accommodation feel that it is notpossibletomakemany‘green’choicesaboutwheretheylivebecausethesechoicesareconstrainedbythelandlordandtheneedtofindaffordable, convenient accommodation. However, this is not thecase.Therearemanysmallchangesthattenantscanmaketoworktowardsagreenerwayof livinginrentedproperty,andgraduallymorelandlordsareunderstandingthebenefitsthatcanbegainedbyprovidingmoreenvironmentallyfriendlyaccommodation. This chapter offers advice about choosing green rental accom-modation; working with your landlord to make environmentallyfriendlychanges;understandinghowtobecomemoreenergyeffi-cient in private rented accommodation; reaching consensus withother tenants; buying energy-saving brown goods; savingmoneythroughimprovedenergyefficiency;andobtaininggrantsfortenantswhoareinreceiptofbenefits.

ChoosinggreenrentalaccommodationAt the present time more and more landlords are realizing thebenefits that can be gained from making green changes to theirproperties and advertising to like-minded tenants. In particular,they realize that there are financial savings to bemade, that theycan take advantage of a number of government grants, and thatenvironmentallyfriendlytenantsaremorelikelytorespectandlookaftertheirproperty(seeChapter7).Thismeansthattherearemoreeco-friendlyrentalpropertiesonthemarket,andthatiftherearenosuchrentalpropertiesinyourarea,theremaybescopetoworkwithyourlandlordtoimprovetheenergyefficiencyofhisorherpropertyandyourhome(seebelow). Whenchoosingagreenpropertytorent,youshouldconsiderthefollowingissues:

8

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Find out about levels of rent, amount of deposit, length andtypeoftenancyagreement,whatisincludedintherentandtheterms,conditionsandresponsibilitiesofyouandthelandlord.Ifyouaresearchingforanenvironmentallyfriendlyproperty,youmighthavetobepreparedtopayahigherrent.However,somelandlordsmay bewilling to offer a longer contract if you canprovethatyouhavesimilargreenphilosophiesandunderstandthe importance of looking after the property and helping theenvironment. This is important if you are hoping to cultivatethegardenandgrowyourownfood,asthiscanbealong-termproject(seeChapter11).

Check that the tenancyagreementmeetsyourrequirements.Atenancy agreement consists of ‘express terms’ that have beenagreedbetweenyouandthelandlord,and‘impliedterms’thatincludetherightsgivenbylawandarrangementsestablishedbycustom andpractice. To avoid confusion andpossible disputeyourlandlordshouldclearlystatehisorherresponsibilities,andthoseexpectedofyou,inthecontract.Ifthelandlordisinterestedin improving the green credentials of the property, he or shemightincluderelevantissueswithinthedocument.Youshouldcheck that you are happywith all parts of the contract beforesigning.TheOfficeofFairTrading(OFT)providesguidanceonunfaircontracttermsintenancyagreements,andifyoubelievethatacontractisunfairyoucanreportthelandlordtotheOFT(detailsbelow).

Check the inventory to make sure that it is correct and upto date. Some landlords may use an independent inventoryagentwhowill prepare the inventory, includingdetails of thecontents,adescriptionoftheirconditionandinformationaboutresponsibilitiesintermsofdamageandbreakages.Ifthelandlordhas sourced environmentally friendly contents, the inventorymay include information about when and how these shouldbereplaced.Theinventorywillneedtobesignedseparatelytothe contract.More information about inventory agents can beobtainedfromtheAssociationofIndependentInventoryClerks(detailsbelow).

Ask to see the energyperformance certificate. From June2007all landlordsmustmake this certificate available to each newtenantwhen they let their property. Thiswill enable you andthe landlord torecognize,understandand improve theenergyefficiencyoftheproperty(seebelow).


Askabouttheheatingsystemthat is inplace. Ifyour landlordhas recently installed a new high-efficiency condensing boileryouwillbeabletosaveasignificantamountofmoneyonyourgasbilleachyear(seebelow).

Asktoseeexamplesofpreviousgas,electricityandwaterbills,ifpossible.Thiswillhelpyoutounderstandhowmuchyouhavetopayeachyearonutilities,anditmayprovideanindicationofwhereandhowsavingscanbemade. Ifyoufindthatbillsarehigh, youmay be able to discussmaking changes to improveenergyefficiencywithyourlandlord(seebelow).

Findoutaboutthetimesanddatesoflocalwasteandrecyclingcollection schemes, and make sure that the property has thenecessarycollectionbins/boxes.Ifnot,youcancontactyourlocalauthoritydirecttoobtainthem.Somelandlordswillprovidethisinformation in a tenants’ pack. This pack should also containinformationonhowtoworkthecentralheating,photocopiesofrelevantinstructionmanualsforwashingmachines,microwavesandsoon,andthelocationofmetersandstopcocks.

Rememberthatconscientiouslandlordsarealsomakingdecisionsaboutwhetheryouwillbeasuitable tenant.Obtainreferencesfrom a previous landlord if possible and take them to yourviewing,althoughsomelandlordswillwanttofollowuptheirownreferences.Thinkinadvanceaboutyourgreenphilosophysothatyoucandiscusstheissueswiththelandlord.

MakingimprovementswithyourlandlordAsatenantyouwillbeunabletomakemanyimprovementstothepropertythatyourentwithoutfirstseekingthepermissionofyourlandlord.Ifyouareproposingsmallenergy-efficientimprovementssuchassimpledraft-proofingmeasures,yourlandlordmaybehappytoletyougoaheadonyourown,butyoumustcheckthatthisisthecasebeforestartinganywork.However,formostimprovementsitissensibleandpreferabletoworkwithyourlandlordsothatbothparties are happy, disagreements can be discussed and problemsovercome. It is important to establish a good rapportwith your landlord.Once you have done this, and if your landlord is interested inenvironmental issues, itmay be possible to discussmakingmoresubstantial green improvements to the property. The energy per-

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formancecertificateandreportwillpointoutwaysthattheenergyefficiency of the property can be improved, and since this mustbeprovidedbythelandlorditgivesyouscopetodiscusschangesthat can be made. Although financial savings tend to be madeby the person living in the property, you should point out to thelandlordthatenvironmentallyfriendlywaysoflivingarebecomingincreasinglypopular,andthatifheorshemakesthechanges,he/sheshouldbeabletoletthepropertymorequicklyinfuture,tomoreresponsible tenants. Ifyour landlordpays someorallof thebills,obviouslyheorshewillbemostinterestedinmakingchangesthatcouldhelphim/hertosavemoney. Your landlord has a legal responsibility to carry out certainrepairs to the structure and exterior of theproperty, and tomakesure that gas, electricity and water supplies are in safe workingorder.Thisisalegalrequirementandyourlandlordcannotgetoutoftheseresponsibilitiesbyaddingclausestothecontract.Ifrepairsare needed it is an ideal opportunity to suggest energy-efficientimprovements,especiallyifanewboilerornewbathroomsuiteisrequired,forexample. You have the right to live in the property undisturbed for theperiodof time statedon the contract, andyour landlorddoesnothave the right to enter your home without written permission.However,youneedtoworkwithyourlandlordonthis.Allproblemsshouldbereportedimmediately,andit is importanttoallowyourlandlord or contractors the access required to make the repairsand improvements.When conducting repairs your landlord doesnothavetherighttoenterotherpartsofyourhomewithoutyouragreement.Youwillhavetoputupwithsomedisruption,butifyouarehappythattheimprovementswillsaveyoumoneyandhelptheenvironment,thedisruptionshouldnotbetoomuchofaproblem.Negotiate suitable timeswith your landlord for thework to takeplace,andyoushouldnotbedisturbedmorethannecessary. If your landlord agrees to have a new energy-efficient boilerinstalledyoushoulddiscussyourneedswithhimorhersothatthemostappropriatechoicecanbemadeforyouandtheproperty.Youmayfindithelpful tobepresentwhenthenewboiler is installed.Thatwayyoucandiscussoperatinginstructionswiththe installerandyourlandlord,andmakesurethatyouobtainacontactnumberin case there are any problems with the new installation. If youhave built a good relationshipwith your landlord, he or shewillbehappyforyoutocontacttheinstallerdirectifanyproblemsareencountered.


Althoughmanylandlordsareconscientiousandhappytoworkwiththeirtenantstomakeimprovementstotheproperty,youmustbeawarethatthereare,unfortunately,someunscrupulouslandlordsoperating.Someofthesepeoplemayrealizethat, throughmakingimprovementstotheirproperty,theywillbeabletochargeahigherrent.However,theycannotraisethelevelofrentforthedurationofyourtenancyagreementunlesstheystipulatedthis inthecontractor theyhaveyouragreement. If they try to raise the rentwithoutyouragreementyoucanapplytoarentassessmentcommitteeforadecisiononrentlevels,especiallyifyoubelievethatyourlandlordistryingtochargetoomuch.Thismustbedonebeforethedateonwhichthenewrentisdue.Moreinformationaboutthisprocedurein England and Wales is available on the DCLG website (www.communities.gov.uk) and in Scotland from the Scottish Executivewebsite (www.scotland.gov.uk). To find the address of your localrentassessmentcommittee,lookinthetelephonebookunder‘rentassessmentpanel’.

ReachingaconsensuswithothertenantsFormost tenantsfinancialsavingsare important,andif this is thecasewithotherpeopleinyourhouseyoushouldfinditfairlyeasyto reacha consensus about environmentally friendly changes thathelpyoutosavemoney(seebelow).However,notallenvironmentalimprovementsareaboutsavingmoney,andyoumayfinditdifficulttoconvinceotherpeopletochangetheirhabitsandlifestyleiftheyareunable toseeanypersonalbenefitsand if theydon’thave thesamecommitmentasyoutohelpingtheenvironment. Ifyouareintendingtorentapropertywithfriendsitshouldbeeasierforyoutoconvincethemtochangetheirhabits,asyoumayalready have a lot in common through your existing friendship.However,ifyouarerentingaroominapropertywithpeopleyouhavenevermetbefore,itismuchhardertodiscussenvironmentalimprovementsandchanges.Theeasiestway,inthesecircumstances,is to chooseaproperty inwhich the landlordhasalready tried tomake green improvements. Thiswillmean that the landlordwillhave screened tenants and chosen thosewhomheor shebelieveshaveaninterestingreenissues.Ifthisisthecasealltenantswithinthepropertyshouldbeabletoworktogethertodevelopahouseholdgreencodeofaction. In some cases, however, you may rent a room in a propertywhere the landlord and other tenants have no concern about the

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environmentandgreenwaysofliving.Ifthisisthecaseitmaystillbepossibletoconvincethemaboutthefinancialsavingsthatcanbemade,andsuggestwaysthattheycanbecomemoreenergyefficient.Mosttenantswillbeinterestedinspendinglessmoney,unlesstheyareverywealthyorcareless.However,wealthytenantstendtomoveonquicklyandyoumayhavebetterluckwiththenexttenant.Itispossibletoestablishrulesandroutinesbetweentenantssothatanynewtenantishappytofitintothese,believingthemtohavebeenlongestablished.Thesecouldincluderulesaboutrecycling,switchingofflightsincommunalareasofthepropertyandmonitoringenergyandwaterwastage. Ifyoulivewithothertenantswhohavenointerestinwhatyouaretryingtodoandnointentionofchangingtheirhabits,itisimportantnot to try tobullyorcajole themintodoingsomethingtheydon’twanttodo.Thiswillcauseill-feelingandleadtoarguments.Inthesecircumstances all you cando is continuewith your greenway oflife,satisfiedintheknowledgethatyouaredoingyourbit for theenvironment.

BecomingmoreenergyefficientThere aremanyways that you can becomemore energy efficientwithinyourhome,andseveralwaysthatyour landlordcanmakeyourhomemoreenergyefficient.Asatenantyouhaveresponsibilityforallbrowngoodsthatarenotprovidedbythelandlord,andallgasandelectricalappliancesthatyouhavearighttotakewithyouwhenyouleavetheproperty.Youcanbecomemoreenergyefficientby buying energy-saving brown goods and appliances that areendorsedbytheEST(seebelow).Foralistofrecommendedproductsandsuppliers,consulttheESTwebsite(seeChapter1). Inadditiontobuyingenergy-savinggoods,thereisfurtheractionyoucantakeinyourhometoreducetheamountofenergythatyouuse. If you can convince other tenants todo the same, thenmoreenergyandmoneywillbesaved:

Takeashowerinsteadofabath,andpersuadeotherstodothesame.Indeed,somerentalpropertiesarenowonlysuppliedwithshowers.

Makesurealllightsareswitchedoffwhennotinuse.Askyourlandlordtofitenergy-savinglightbulbs,orfitthemyourself.Itmaybepossible andpreferable to askyour landlord to installtimedlightswitchesincommunalareas.


Find outwhether your landlord has boughtwhite goods thatcontaintheenergy-savinglogo.Ifnot,whengoodsneedreplacingdiscusstheoptionswithyourlandlordandpointoutthebenefitstobegainedbybuyingenergy-efficientwhitegoods.

Make sure the insulation is adequate. Thepropertymayneedcavity wall insulation, loft insulation and draught-proofing.Smalljobscanbedonebyyourself,butyoumustdiscussthesewithyourlandlordfirst.Pointoutthatyourlandlordcanobtaingrantsforwallandloftinsulation(seeChapter7).Ifyouareonbenefitsyoumaybeabletoapplyforcertaingrantsforalterationstotheproperty(seebelow).Again,youshoulddiscussthiswiththelandlordbeforemakinganapplication.

Don’tleaveelectricalequipmentonstand-by,andmakesurethatyouhaveadesignatedresponsiblepersonwhocancheckthatallelectricalequipmentandheatingisswitchedoffandunpluggedwhentenantsgoawayorleavetheproperty.

Discusscentralheatingusagewithothertenants.Workouttheoptimum time for which the heating can be programmed tocomeonandgooff.Whenarepeoplegettingupinthemorningsand going to bed at night?When is heat beingwasted or notneeded?

Buyingenergy-savingbrowngoods‘Browngoods’areitemsofelectricalequipmentthat,ingeneral,arenotprovidedbyyour landlord inrentedaccommodation. Instead,theyareitemsthatyoubuyyourselfandtakewithyouwhenyoumove,suchastelevisionsets,stereosandotherelectricalgoods. Recently the EST included brown goods in its ‘Energy SavingRecommended’scheme.Atpresent,thisincludesintegrateddigitaltelevisions(IDTVs)whichhavethecapacitytoreceivedigitaltele-visionwithouttheneedforaset-topbox.Theswitchfromanalogueterrestrial transmissions to digital takes place between 2008 and2012,sothemarketinIDTVsisexpandingrapidly.IfyoulookfortheEnergySavingRecommendedlogowhenyoumakeyourpurchase,youwillbeabletomakesmallsavingsonthepurchasepricethroughusing lesselectricity.More informationabout theswitch todigitaltelevisioncanbefoundontheDTI’sdigitaltelevisionwebsite(www.digitaltelevision.gov.uk).

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The EST also endorses energy-saving mains controllers whichsense when a computer has been turned off, and automaticallycut the power to any computer peripherals such as printers andspeakers. The EST has found that, on average, consumers spend£700ayearonelectronicproducts in thehome,so throughtakingcaretobuyenergy-efficientelectronicgoods,youcanmakesavingsonyourelectricitycoststhroughtheyear.Thismayhelpyoutoworktowardscoveringthecostsofyourelectronicpurchasesoverthelongterm. Tofindsuppliersofbrowngoodscarryingtheenergysavinglogo,consultthedatabaseontheESTwebsite(seeChapter1).

SavingmoneyTheESTbelievesthatahigh-efficiencycondensingboilercouldsaveyouintherangeof£190–240ayearonyourheatingbills,andyoucouldsaveupto£50ayearifyourlandlordinstallsfloorinsulation.Loft insulation,dependingon theproduct your landlord chooses,could save you £60–70 per year on heating bills, and cavitywallinsulationcould saveyouup to£70ayear, according to theNEF.Thesesavings,whencoupledwithyourownenergy-savingmeasureslistedabove,illustratethatyoucouldsaveaconsiderableamountofmoneyeachyearonenergybills.Thesesavingscanbeusedtohelpconvinceother tenants thatmakinggreenchanges is important. Ifyoulivewithyourlandlord,oryourentapropertyinclusiveofbills,thesesavingswillappealtoyourlandlordandencouragehimorhertocontinueanddevelopenergy-savingmeasures. Depending on the green changes that have been made to theproperty, there are other savings that can bemade over the longterm.Forexample,althoughanewboilermaycostyour landlord£1,000–1,500toinstall,youcouldsaveupto£240ayear.Thismeansthattheboilerwillpayforitselfaftersixyears,andsincethelifetimeof a boiler couldbe 10–15years, the savingover the long term issignificant.Also,ifyourlandlorddecidestosellthepropertywhenyour tenancyagreementhasfinished,morepeoplewillbewillingtopayahigherpriceforanenergy-efficienthome(seeChapter4).Again,youshouldnotethatthepossiblesavingsquotedbytheESTandNEFareonlyestimates,andtheactualsavingsyouwillmakedependonanumberofrelatedfactors,suchasexistingappliancesand type of insulation, size and standard of property, number ofoccupantsandlocalclimaticconditions.


ObtaininggrantsfortenantsonbenefitsIf you are on certain benefits and you rent your home from aprivatelandlordthereareanumberofgrantsthatmaybeavailabletoyou.More informationaboutall thesegrants isavailable in theAppendix.

Homeenergyefficiencygrants

Thesegrants are available tohelp tenants and landlords to installenergy-efficient heating and insulation. The grants are means-tested and available to tenants who are onmeans-tested benefitsor low incomes.Landlords arenotmeans-tested, but only receivea percentage of the cost of works. Schemes vary between localauthorities and depend upon available funds. If funds are notavailable,applicantsareplacedonawaitinglist.

Energygrants

Some local authorities offer grants to tenantswho do not qualifyfor the type of grant mentioned above or for the Warm Frontscheme mentioned below. The grants are available for varioustype of insulation and removal of oldmaterials. The schemes areadministered by home improvement agencies (HIA), and specificeligibility criteria apply so you should contact your localHIA formoreinformation(seeChapter1).


Thisschemeisavailablefortenantswholive inWales. It isaimedprimarilyathouseholdswiththegreatesthealthrisks–olderpeople,adultswithchildrenundertheageof16andpeoplewhoaredisabledand chronically sick. Through this scheme a grant is provided tomakehomeswarmer,moreenergyefficientandmoresecure.

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WarmFront(England)

Through this schemeagrant is available to certainhouseholds inEngland. To qualify for the scheme youmust rent from a privatelandlord,haveachildunder16orbeatleast26weekspregnant,andbeinreceiptofstatebenefits.

WarmDeal(Scotland)

Thisschemeprovidesgrantsthatcanbeputtowardsanumberofenergy-savingmeasures for certainhouseholds in Scotland. To beeligiblefortheschemeyouoryourspousemustrentyourhome,beovertheageof60orbeinreceiptofstatebenefits.Thegrantwillhelptopayforcavitywall,loft,pipeortankinsulation,draught-proofingandenergy-efficientlighting.


This scheme helps certain households in Scotland to improve theheatingsystemsintheirhome.ToqualifyfortheschemeyoumustberesidentinScotlandandrentyourhome,whichmustbeyourmainoronly residence.Thepropertyshouldnothaveacentralheatingsystem,orthepresentsystemshouldbebrokenbeyondrepair,andyouwillneedtohavelivedinthepropertyforatleast12monthsandintendtoliveinthepropertyforatleast12monthsoncetheheatingsystemhasbeeninstalled.


Through this scheme grants are provided to improve energyefficiencyfortenantswhorenttheirhomesfromprivatelandlordsinNorthernIrelandandareinreceiptofcertainbenefits.WarmHomesPlusoffersadditionalfinancialsupportforinsulationmeasuresfortenantsovertheageof60whoareinreceiptofcertainbenefits.


SummaryAt the time of writing there are an increasing number of rentalpropertiesavailablefortenantswhoareinterestedinagreenerwayof life. This is because landlords and tenants are becomingmoreenvironmentallyawareandrealizingthattherearefinancialsavingstobemadebychanginghabitsandbecomingmoreenergyefficient.Ifyouareabletobuildarapportwithyourlandlordandwithothertenantsinthepropertyitispossibletomakesmallandlargechangesthathelptosavemoneyandhelptheenvironment. Developingamoreeco-friendlypropertyisbecomingincreasinglyimportant to property developers, whether or not they are alsolandlords, as they too can see the financial and environmentalbenefitstobegained.Theseissuesarediscussedinthenextchapter.

Usefulorganizations

AssociationofIndependentInventoryClerks(AIIC)

AIICwassetupin1996torepresentinventoryclerksandprovideinformationtotenantsandlandlords.Membersmustagreetoabidebyacodeofpractice.OnthewebsiteyoucanfindinformationabouttheTenancyDepositSchemeanddetailsaboutwhatismeantbyfairwearandtear.Thisisusefulifyoufeelthatyourlandlordisunfairlywithholdingyourdeposit.

AssociationofIndependentInventoryClerksCentralOffice,WillowHouse16CommonfieldsWestEndSurreyGU249HZTel/Fax:01276855388E-mail:[email protected]:www.aiic.uk.com

OfficeofFairTrading(OFT)

OFT provides useful advice for anyonewho needs to draw up acontractorsignacontractdrawnupbyanotherperson.

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OfficeofFairTradingFleetbankHouse,2–6SalisburySquareLondonEC4Y8JXTel:[email protected]:www.oft.gov.uk

Usefulwebsiteswww.shelter.org.ukShelter is ahousing charity that campaigns to endproblemswithhomelessness and bad housing. Each year it helps thousands ofpeoplefight for their rights, improve theircircumstancesandfindandkeepahome.Onthiswebsiteyoucanfindusefulinformationabout tenants’ rights, and download leaflets and booklets abouttenancy agreements, landlords’ responsibility and other usefulhousinginformation.

FurtherreadingCallard, S andMillia, D (2001)The Complete Book of Green Living,CarltonBooks,London

Siegle,L(2001)GreenLivingintheUrbanJungle,GreenBooks,TotnesAssured and Shorthold Tenancies: A guide for tenants, downloadablebooklet for tenants in England and Wales, available from theDCLGwebsite(www.communities.gov.uk)

PrivateTenancies,downloadablebookletfortenantsinEnglandfromtheShelterwebsite(detailsabove).InformationforScottish,WelshandNorthernIrishtenantsisavailablefromtherelevantnationalsectionsofthewebsite.

Developers

Peoplewhoareinterestedinpropertydevelopmenthaveagreatdealofscopetobuild,convertand/orrefurbishapropertyinawaythatmatches their green philosophy. This is because environmentallyfriendly practices and materials can drive the development fromthe outset.Althoughundertaking a property development can bea large commitment in termsoffinance, timeandenergy, there istheopportunitytomakeagoodprofitonarewardingandfulfillinggreenproject. Ifyouarethinkingaboutdevelopingagreenpropertyyouneedtobuyappropriatelandand/orbuildings,assessthegreenpotential,assessthefinancialpotential,knowwhattoavoid,knowwhereandhowto sourcegreenbuildingmaterialsandfindoutaboutgrantsandtaxincentivesforyourdevelopment.Theseissuesarediscussedinthischapter.

BuyingapropertyorlandfordevelopmentAs a propertydeveloper you can gain a considerable edge in theproperty market by buying and developing environmentallyfriendlycommercialorresidentialproperties.Todothissuccessfullyyouneedtobeabletoassessboththegreenpotentialandtheincomepotentialofthelandand/orproperty.

Assessinggreenpotential

InChapter3adviceisofferedonrecognizingthegreenpotentialofaproperty inwhichyouwish to live. In addition to thesepoints,youshouldaskthefollowingquestionswhenrecognizingthegreenpotentialofpropertyorlandthatyouwishtodevelopforinvestmentpurposes,whetherthisistosellortolettotenants:

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Whatare theorientation,elevation,geographyandgeologyoftheland/property?Istherepotentialforharnessingwind,solar,geothermalorhydropower(seeChapter2)?Ifyoubelievethatthere is potential for the installation of an alterative source ofenergyyouwillneedtoseekexpertadvicebeforeyoumakeyourpurchase, so that you canmake sure there are no unforeseenproblemsthatcouldarise.

Isplanningpermission likely tobegranted for the installationof renewable energy technologies? Most local authorities willlook favourably on your application, but if the property is alistedbuildingorinaconservationarea,youmaynotbegrantedpermission.Youwillalsoneedtoconsider the impactoncloseneighboursandattempttogaugewhethertheymightobjecttoyourplans.

What building materials have been used to construct theproperty?Couldthesebeconsideredenvironmentallyfriendly?What materials have been used for the fixtures, fittings anddécor? How time-consuming and expensive would it be toreplace harmful products andmaterials that have been used?Woulditbepossible,practicalandviabletoreplacethem?

Whatisthelevelandstandardofexistinginsulationanddraught-proofing? If you are new to property development, simplegreenimprovementscanbemadewithoutbreakingthebankortakingahighlevelofrisk.ThesesimpleimprovementswillbehighlightedontheenergyperformancecertificatethatwillneedtobeproducedaspartofthehomeinformationpackfromJune2007 (seeChapter 4).Once you havemade the improvementsandyourpropertyscoresahigherenergy-efficiencyrating,youmaybeabletore-marketitatahigherprice,althoughyouhavetobeawareofmovementsinthelocalhousingmarkettodothissuccessfully.

Assessingincomepotential

Toeffectivelyassesstheincomepotentialofyourgreendevelopmentyouneedtoconsidermovement in the localmarketandeconomyin termsofpresent and futuredevelopment, and in termsof atti-tudes towards environmentally friendly properties. What otherdevelopmentisgoingonthearea,bothbythelocalauthorityandbyprivatedevelopers?Whatarethegreenfeaturesoftheseproperties


and what prices are being charged? How do these differ fromproperties thatarenotconsidered tobeenvironmentally friendly?Howmucharepeoplewillingtopayforagreenerproperty?Considerthecurrentmarket–isitbuoyant?Arethereplentyofestateagentsin the areawith strong advertising strategies?Discuss themarketwith estate agents to find outwhat is happening currently in thearea,anddiscusstheirpredictionsforthefuture,especiallyintermsof the localmarket for environmentally friendly properties. Howhavehousepriceschangedoverthelastfewyears,andhowdoestateagentsexpectthemtochangeinthefuture? Speaktostaffatyourlocalplanningauthorityandviewdevelop-mentplansfortheareainwhichyourpropertyislocated.Findoutwhatdevelopmentisplannedforthenearfutureandhowofficersfeelthiswillaffectthelocalarea.Askaboutenvironmentallyfriendlypolicyandhow thiswillbedeveloped in the future, especially intermsofrequirementsfornewpropertydevelopments. Thereareseveralwaystoinvestingreenproperty.Somedevelopersdecidetoutilizeshort-terminvestmentopportunities,whereasothersareconcernedaboutthelong-termpotential.Ifyouareinterestedinobtainingabuy-to-letmortgageandlettingyourproperty,youwillneedto thinkabout thisasa long-terminvestment.Although it ispossibletoobtainaloanforashorterperiodoftime,therepaymentswillprobablyexceedyourrentalincome,andmostlenderswillbeunwilling to lend largeamountsofmoney in thesecircumstances.Refurbishing, renovating or converting a property provides theopportunity for shorter-term investment if you intend to sell thepropertyafteryouhavecompletedthework.However,ifyouhopetoobtainamortgageonthistypeofpropertyyouwillhavetobeinaverysecurefinancialpositionandbeabletoconvincethelenderthat it is a viable projectwith profit potential.Youwill also havetoconvince the lenderofyourcompetenceandreliability tocarryout the requiredwork.Green lenderswillwant toknow thatyouhavetheknowledgeandabilitytomaketherequiredenvironmentalchanges. Whenconsidering theshortand/or long-termincomepotentialonaninvestment,thinkaboutwhatishappeninginthelocalareaintermsofregenerationordegeneration.Areasthatareexperiencingdegenerationwithnosignofrecoveryshouldbeavoided,whereasareasthatarebeingregenerated,andareasadjacenttotheseplaces,may offer good investment potential. If you are intending to letyourproperty,makesure that thereare tenantsavailableand thatsaturationpointinthelocalrentalmarkethasnotbeenreached.Ifyouareintendingtoselltheproperty,monitorhousepricesandmake

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surethatyoubuyinanareawherethepricesarerisingratherthanfalling.Finally,youmustmakesurethatthetypeofgreencustomerstowhomyouarehopingtoappealareavailableandwillingtopaythepricethatyouask,whethersellingorlettingyourproperty.

KnowingwhattoavoidThere are certain properties that you should avoid if developinganeco-friendlyproperty is important toyou,especially ifyouareconstrained financially. Although individual circumstances andproperties vary considerably, in general you should think aboutavoidingthefollowingtypesofproperty:

Propertiesthathaverestrictionsplacedonthemintermsofthedevelopmentthatcanbeundertaken.Someoftheseareduetotheparticulartypeofproperty,whereasothersaretodowiththeareainwhichthepropertyislocated.Themostcommontypesofrestrictionareplacedonlistedbuildings,propertiesinsensitiveareasandthroughcovenantsinthetitledeeds.

Buildingsoncontaminatedbrownfieldsites.Inthesecasesinter-ventionmaybetime-consumingandcostlyandyouwouldhavetoarrangeforacommercialcompanytoundertakethetask.

The type of ownership on a property has implications for thesortofdevelopmentyouareabletoundertake,soyouneedtolook into this carefully before making purchasing decisions.For example, leasehold properties may come with restrictivecovenantsthatwillinfluencethetypeofbuildingworkthatyoucanundertake

Land that does not have outline or full planning consent,unlessyouarewillingtoholdontothelandandtakeagamblethat permission will be granted at some point in the future.More information about buying land and obtaining planningpermissionisprovidedinChapter10.

Apropertythatistooexpensivetoconvertorrenovate.Thismaymeanthatyouareunabletomakeaprofitonyourdevelopmentorthatyoudonothaveenoughfinancestocompletethework.

A property that cannot be converted in an environmentallyfriendlyway. In some circumstances itmaynot bepossible toconvertapropertyinthewaythatyouwant.Thismaybebecause


of the existing structure and buildingmaterials, or because ofdifficultaccess,sizeandspaceintheproperty.

Agreenconversion thatwouldnotappeal topotentialbuyers.Convertingsomepropertiesmayhaveanegativevisualimpactwhich would deter the type of people who would otherwiseconsidermakinganoffer.

Conversionsthatare tooeco-friendlyfor the localmarket.Youneed to research the area and market carefully. Some peoplemaywantamoreenvironmentallyfriendlyhome,butwouldbehorrifiedattheprospectofusinganoutsidecomposttoilet.Peoplewhowantaveryeco-friendlywayoflife,however,areunlikelytopayahighpriceforaneco-propertyyouhavedeveloped.Youneedtomakesurethatyoureco-propertymatchesthewantsandneedsofyourlocaleco-market.

A propertywith an existing boundary dispute (see below).Aneighbourindisputecanmakeitverydifficultforyoutocarryoutyourdevelopment,perhapsbyopposingallplanningapplica-tionsorbymakingisdifficulttoaccessyourproperty.

Apropertythatrequiresmoreskillthanyourexistingexpertise.However,ifyouhavethetimeandmotivationyoucanconsidertakingpartinacourseorgainingexperienceonadifferenteco-build(seefurtherreadingbelow).

KnowingaboutrulesandregulationsWhenyoubeginyourgreendevelopmentyoumustmakesurethatyoucomplywiththerelevantrulesandregulations.Theseincludeobtaining the necessary planning permissions, complying withbuildingregulations,obtainingthenecessarystructuralwarranties(ifnewbuild)andarrangingtherightsiteinsurance.TheseissuesarediscussedinChapter10. InadditiontotheserulesandregulationsyoualsoneedtomakesurethatyoucomplywiththePartyWallAct,understandboundaryissuesandavoiddisputeswithyourneighbours.

ThePartyWallAct

ThePartyWallAct1996isrelevantifyouliveinEnglandandWalesandwishtobuildonanexistingwallorstructuresharedwithanother

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property,constructafree-standingwallorthewallofabuildinguptoorastridetheboundarywithaneighbouringproperty,orexcavatewithin6metresofyourneighbour’sbuildingorstructure.TheActstates that youmust not causeunnecessary inconvenience,whichincludesthetimewhenbuildingworksstartsandfinishes.Youmustprovide temporary protection for any adjacent buildings and putrightanydamagecausedbythebuildingwork. UnderthePartyWallActyoumustgivenoticeofyourintentionstoadjoiningowners, even if theworkwillnot extendbeyond thecentrelineofthepartywall.Ifyoufailtoprovidenotice,adjoiningownerscanstoptheworkbyobtainingacourtinjunction.Thebestcourseofactionistokeeponfriendlytermswithyourneighboursand informally discuss your proposals with them. A neighbourmustprovide reasonable access toyourworkers and/or surveyorfor the purpose of carrying out the work. However, you mustgiveyourneighboursat least14daysnotice ifyouwish toaccesstheirproperty.Itisanoffenceforthemtorefuseaccessifyouhavefollowedcorrectprocedures.Again,itisbesttodiscussallchangeswithyourneighbourandpointout that it isalso in their intereststoallowworkersin,becausethenworkcanbefinishedproperlyonbothsides.Iftheadjoiningpropertyisempty,youmaygainaccessafter followingproperproceduresand ifaccompaniedbyapoliceofficer.FormoreinformationaboutthePartyWallActandtofindapersonexperiencedintheworkingsoftheAct,contacttheFacultyofPartyWallSurveyors(detailsbelow).

Boundarydisputes

Boundarydisputescancauseproblemsforyourdevelopment,andthey are becomingmore common in the United Kingdom. Thereare threemain typesofboundarydispute.Thefirst involveshighhedges,wherepeoplebelieveaneighbour’shedgeistoohighandisrestrictingtheuseorenjoymentoftheirproperty.Peopledonotneedtoseekpermissiontogrowahedgeover2metresinheight,andthelocalauthoritywillnotautomaticallytakeactionifthehedgeishigh.Itwillactonlyifitreceivesacomplaint,andwilljudgeeachcase individually. The local authoritywill take into account yoursituation,thatofthehedgeownerandthewidercommunity. The second dispute concerns locating the true position of theboundary.BoundarylocationdisputesareincrediblyhardtosolvebecausetheLandRegistryisnotresponsiblefordefiningboundariesanditisnotpossibleforthemtoknowtheexactlocationofaboundary.


TherededgingontheLandRegistrytitleplanisnotdefinitiveandinsomecasescanbemisleading.Ifadisputeshouldariseonapropertythatyouwishtodevelop,contacttheLandRegistrytoobtainacopyoftheregisterentryforyourneighbour’stitleandcomparethiswithyourown.However, ifyourneighbour’s land isunregistered, theLandRegistrywillbeunabletohelp.Evenbycomparingtitledeedsyoumayfindthatthedisputecannotberesolved.Legaldefinitionsofboundariesarecomplex.Ifyoureallywanttodisputethelocationofaboundaryyouwillhavetoobtainlegaladvice. Thethirdtypeofdisputeinvolvesobstructedrightsofway,andagain youmayfind these disputes difficult to challenge. In somecasestherightofwaymayhavegonecompletelyunrecorded,andalthoughthisdoesnotmeanthattherightofwaydoesnotexist,itmightbedifficulttoprove. Thebestwaytoavoidboundarydisputesisnottobuyintotheminthefirstplace.Whenyouviewproperties,makesurethat therearenoobviousboundaryproblemssuchashighhedgesandblockedrights ofway, and check that the boundaries you can see are thesameasareregisteredwiththeLandRegistry.Iftheydon’tmatch,think twice about buying the property. Once you have bought aproperty,thebestwaytodealwithanypotentialboundarydisputeis to remainongood termswithyourneighbours and attempt todiscussandresolveanyproblemsamicably.Formore informationaboutboundarydisputes,contactyourlocalauthorityortheLandRegistry(detailsbelow).

SourcinggreenmaterialsIfyouareintendingtodevelopyourpropertyinanenvironmentallyfriendlywayitisimportanttoestablishalistofreliable,cheapandfriendlylocalsupplierswhoareabletounderstandandworkwithinyourgreenphilosophy.Iflocalsuppliersarenotavailable,youneedtoweighuptheenvironmentalcostsoftransportingmaterialsfromadistanceagainsttheimportanceofsourcinggreenmaterials.Thishastobeanindividualdecision,whichwillbeaidedbyanunderstandingofthewantsandneedsofyourintendedmarket.Also,ifyoufeelthatyouhavenochoicebuttotransportmaterialsoveradistance,youcanthinkaboutcarbonoffsetschemesthatenableyoutooffsetyourknown carbon emissions by paying towards replenishing carbonstocks(seeChapter2).


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Greenbuildingmaterials

The tips belowwill help you to thinkmore about sourcing greenbuildingmaterials:

Plan your refurbishment or new build carefully. Think abouttheenvironmentalimpactofyourprojectandthematerialsthatyouintendtouse.Planahead,seekingappropriateadvicefromprofessionalsifyoufeelthatyoulacktheappropriateknowledgeand/orexperience.ContactdetailsforavarietyofprofessionalswhoareinterestedingreenbuildingissuescanbeobtainedfromtheGreenRegister(detailsbelow).

Use recycled timber where possible. If this is not possible orpractical, check that timber is locallygrownorFSCaccredited(seebelow).

Trytousedurabletimberspeciesforexternalworkasthiswillreduce theneed touse somuchwoodpreserver. English oak,sweetchestnutandEuropeanlarcharegoodexamplesofthetypeofdurabletimberthatcanbeusedforexternalconstruction.

Choose formaldehyde-free chipboard and MDF. If this is notpossible choose birch plywood, high-density fibreboard orSterlingboard,whichhavemuchlowerformaldehydecontent.

Ifyouareunabletosourcelocallygrowntimberorotherbuildingmaterials,becauseofcostoravailability,thinkaboutcarbonoffsetschemestocoveremissionsfromtransit(seeChapter2).

Choosematerialsthatarenaturalandfromarenewablesource.

Don’t immediately be put off by higher prices for naturalmaterials–sometimesinitialhighercapitalexpenditurecanbeoffsetagainstloweroperatingcosts.Youwillalsocutdownontransportanddeliverychargesifyoucansourcelocallygrown/producedmaterials.

Usenaturalinsulationmaterialsasthesedon’tcontainharmfulchemicals. Natural products may bemade from fire-retarded,recyclednewspapersorfromBritishsheep’swool.

Forinformationaboutawiderangeofproductsthatpromoteenergyefficient, sustainable and healthy buildings, consult the GreenBuildingStorewebsite(detailsbelow).


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Greenfixtures,fittings,furnishingsanddécor

The tips belowwill help you to thinkmore about sourcing greenfixtures,fittings,furnishingsanddécor:

Buyenvironmentallyfriendlypaintsthatarederivedfromplantandmineral ingredients.Mostmanufacturerswillbehappy tosupplyyouwithsamplesandacomprehensivelistofingredientsfor theirpaints. Ifyouwant touseapainterordecoratorwhousesthistypeofproduct,searchtheAssociationforEnvironmentConscious Building (AECB) database for contact information(detailsbelow).

Thinkaboutusinglimewashesinsteadofpaintscontainingharm-fulchemicalsorthathavebeenproducedinawaythatharmstheenvironment.

Wherepossible,avoidorlimittheuseofproductsthatcontainvolatileorganiccompounds(VOCs).Theseareemittedasgasesfromcertainsolidsandliquidsandcanpollutethe indoorandoutdoor atmosphere, contribute towards global warming andlead tohealthproblems,especially forpeoplewhosufferwithbreathing difficulties. Products that contain VOCs includecertain paints, wood preservers, cleaning products, cosmetics,furnishings,officeequipmentsuchasprintersandcopiersandinjected damp-proof courses. More information about theseissues can be obtained from the EnvironmentAgencywebsite(www.environment-agency.gov.uk).

Reduce synthetic chemical usage and use natural fabrics andfurnishings.Itisgenerallybelievedthattheincreasingnumberof allergies and cases of hypersensitivity are caused by anoverloadof synthetic chemicals.However, someproducts thataremarketedas‘hypoallergenic’maynotbethemostenviron-mentally sensitive on the market. You will have to use yourjudgement when sourcing this type of product. An onlinecatalogueofproductsthathelptorelieveallergiesisavailableatwww.healthy-house.co.uk.

Usewoodfinishesthatarebasedonnaturaloilsandwaxes.Thesewillpenetratethewoodandkeepitelasticandhealthy.Theywillalsorepelwaterandarehighlydurable.AfullrangeofinternalandexternalwoodfinishingproductsisavailablefromtheGreenBuildingStore(detailsbelow).

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Choosewater-efficientWCs, flow regulators for taps on bathsandshowers,orwater-savingcartridgesfortapsthatsavewaterandenergy.

KnowingaboutgrantsandtaxincentivesThereareanumberofgrantsandtaxincentivesthatyoucantakeadvantageofforyourpropertydevelopment,aslistedbelow.MoreinformationaboutallthesegrantsandschemescanbefoundintheAppendix.

Theenhancedcapitalallowance

Theenhancedcapitalallowance(ECA)schemewassetuptoencou-rageUKbusinessestoreducecarbonemissionswhichcontributetoclimatechange.Thisschemeprovidesup-front taxrelief,allowingbusinessestoclaim100percentfirst-yearcapitalallowancesagainsttheir taxable profits. If you are a property developer who payscorporationtaxorincometax,youmaybeeligibleforthisscheme.Only energy-saving products that meets the scheme’s publishedenergy-saving criteria can attract an ECA. The technologies thatcurrently appearon theEnergyTechnologyList andare thereforeeligible for the ECA are listed inAppendix 1. HM Revenue andCustoms (HMRC)administersclaimsandwill check fornegligentorfraudulentclaims.MoreinformationaboutmakingaclaimcanbeobtainedfromtheHMRCwebsite(detailsbelow).

Localauthorityschemes

LocalauthoritiesthroughouttheUnitedKingdomoffersomegrantsandloansfordevelopershopingtoimprovetheirproperty.However,most will specify that youmust live in or let the property for aspecifiednumber of years after the development has takenplace,sothesegrantsmaynotbesuitableifyouintendtosellthepropertyoncedeveloped.Eligibilitycriteriavarybetweenlocalauthoritiesandwilldependonthegrantorloanforwhichyouareapplying.Localauthorityschemesvaryfromyeartoyear,dependingonthefundsavailable,socontact thehousingsectionofyour localauthority tofindoutwhatisavailable.Manynowpublishdetailsoftheirgrants


ontheirwebsiteorpublishaninformationleafleton‘housinggrants’or‘energy-efficiencygrants’.


Thesegrantsareavailable tohelpowner-occupiers, landlordsandtenantstoinstallenergy-efficientheatingandinsulation.Thegrantsaremeans-testedandavailabletohomeownersandtenantswhoareonmeans-testedbenefitsor low incomes. Itmaybepossible foradevelopertoobtainthesegrantsifyouintendtoletyourpropertyto vulnerable tenants. Landlords are not means-tested, but onlyreceive a percentage of the cost ofworks. Schemes vary betweenlocalauthoritiesanddependuponavailablefunds.Iffundsarenotavailableapplicantsareplacedonawaitinglist.

Renovationgrants

Renovationgrantsaredesignedtohelpowner-occupierscarryoutrepairsorimprovementstotheirproperties.However,insomeareasthegrantsareavailablefortenants,iftheyhaveafullrepairingleaseorafixed-termtenancyofatleastfiveyears,andforlandlordsanddevelopersiftheyintendtolettheirpropertytovulnerabletenants.Some local authorities enable you to include energy efficiencyimprovementsintheworks.Toobtainagrantyouwillneedtoholdthefreeholdandintendtoliveinorletthepropertyforaspecifiednumberofyears.Yourpropertywillneedtohavebeenclassed‘unfit’forhabitationorfailedthenewHousingHealthandSafetyRatingSystem(HHSRS)assessmentwhichcameintoforceinApril2006inEngland.

Emptypropertygrants

Thesegrantsareavailabletohelppeopleinterestedinrestoringanemptyproperty.Localauthoritieswillpayapercentageofthecostofworks,usuallyintheregionof30–70percent,withmostspecifyinganpriceupperlimit,usuallyaround£10,000.Theamountofgrantyou will receive depends on a number of factors, including thetypeandsizeofproperty,itslocationandtheintendeduseoncetheworkiscomplete.Ifyousellthepropertyorceasetoletitwithina

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specifiednumberofyears,youwillhavetorepaythegrant.Somelocal authorities will specify the amount of time that a propertymusthavebeenemptybeforeagrantwillbeoffered,andsomewillonlyoffergrantsifthepropertyistobemadeavailableforprivatelettingthrougharegisteredsociallandlord.Ifthisisthecase,localauthoritiesareveryspecificabouttheendproduct,intermsofsizeof rooms,standardofaccommodation,décor,fixturesandfittings,energy efficiency and heating. Once the property is renovated itmustmeetthecriteriasetoutinthenewHHSRS.


Somelocalauthoritieswillofferloanstohomeowners,landlordsanddeveloperswhoarewishingtorepairandrenovatetheirproperty.Insomecasesloanswillonlybegivenifthepropertyhasbeendeemedunfitforhumanhabitation.Theloansareinterestfreeandrepayablebyhomeownerseitherwhenthepropertyissoldorbequeathed,orin the case of landlords, after five years. Local authorities specifya maximum amount of loan, which could be up to £20,000, andneedtoapproveascheduleofworksbeforealoanwillbegranted.Homeownersshouldcheckwhetherthisisthemostsuitablemethodofraisingfinances,as,intheeventoftheirdeath,relativeswillneedtopaybacktheloan,whetherornottheyselltheproperty.


An HMO is defined as ‘a house which is occupied by personswho do not form a single household’. Local authorities offerdiscretionarygrantstolandlordstohelpthemmakeanHMOfitforhumanhabitation,orcarryoutrepairsorupgradeforthenumberof occupiers. This includes grants to improve energy efficiency.Inmost cases landlords/developers have tomake ameans-testedcontribution towards theworks, based on the rent to be receivedfromtheproperty.Grantsarenotgivenuntiltherequiredplanningpermissionsandbuildingregulationsapprovalhavebeengranted.Thepropertywillneedtocontinuetobeletforaspecifiedperiodoftime,mustbeadequately insuredandmustbemaintained inafitcondition.Somelocalauthoritiesspecifytherentlevelsthatmustbecharged,andrequirethegranttoberepaidinfullifconditionsarebreachedorthepropertyissoldwithinaspecifiedperiod.



ThroughtheLowCarbonBuildingsProgrammeindividualhouse-holderscanapplyforgrantstohelpwiththeinstallationofrenewablesources of energy for their homes. Larger grants are available forcommunitiesthatdecidetoinstallrenewableenergytechnologyforcommunityuse.Forpropertydevelopers theremaybe conditionsattached to these grants, so you should check eligibility criteriabeforemakingyourapplication.


The Scottish Community and Householder Renewables InitiativeoffersgrantsandadvicetopeopleinScotlandwhowishtodeveloprenewablesourcesofenergy.It ispossibleforbuilders,developersand architects to apply for grants on behalf of future owners ofhousestheyarebuilding.Toqualifyforagrantyoumustownthepropertywheretherenewableenergysystemistobeinstalled,youmustobtainaquotationfromanaccreditedinstallerandyoumustuseanapprovedinstallerusinganapprovedsystem.

SummaryIfyouarehopingtodevelopapropertytolettotenantsortosellonforaprofit,youhaveconsiderablescopeformakinggreenimprovementsandworkingwithinyourgreenphilosophy.With careful researchandplanningyoucanmakesurethatyouchoosetherightplotoflandand/orpropertyandthatyousourceenvironmentallyfriendlymaterialsthatmeettheexpectationsofyourintendedmarket. Aswithallpropertydevelopmentyouneedtomakesurethatyoucomplywiththerelevantlawsandlegislation.Thisisofparticularimportance ifyourdevelopment involves largeextensionsornewbuild.Issuesthatareofconcerntopeoplewhoarethinkingaboutbuildingtheirownhousearediscussedinthenextchapter.

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Usefulorganizations

FacultyofPartyWallSurveyors

Members of the Faculty of PartyWall Surveyors are experiencedintheproperworkingsoftheAct.Theycanbeemployedtoservethe appropriate notices for you and see that the Act is properlyimplemented.

FacultyofPartyWallSurveyors19ChurchStreetGodalmingSurreyGU71ELTel:01424883300Fax:01424883300E-mail:[email protected]:www.fpws.org.uk

AssociationforEnvironmentConsciousBuilding(AECB)

AECBisanetworkof individualsandcompanieswithacommonaim of promoting sustainable building. On the website you canfind informationabout improving theenvironmentalperformanceof your property, choosing eco-friendly products and avoidingdamaging chemicals, using timber, and planning and developingeco-friendlyproperties.

AssociationforEnvironmentConsciousBuildingPOBox32LlandysullSA445ZATel:08454569773E-mail:[email protected]:www.aecb.net

Usefulwebsiteswww.landregisteronline.gov.ukLandRegisterOnlineprovideseasyaccess todetailsofmore than20 million registered properties in England and Wales. You can


download copiesof titleplans and registers inPDF format for £3each,payableonlinebycreditcard.

www.eca.gov.ukOnthiswebsiteyoucanobtaindetailsabout theenhancedcapitalallowance (ECA) scheme, and information about the technologiesthatareincludedwithinthisscheme.Ifyouprefer,youcancontacttheECAAdministrator(tel:08701906236,fax:08701906318,e-mail:[email protected]).


www.fsc.orgTheForestStewardshipCouncil (FSC) isan internationalnetworkthatpromotestheresponsiblemanagementoftheworld’sforests.Ithasanaccreditationandlabellingschemethroughwhichpurchaserscan ensure that their timber comes from forests that meet FSCstandards.

www.greenbuildingstore.co.ukThisisthewebsiteoftheGreenBuildingStore,whichisownedandrun by Environmental Construction Products Ltd. This companyhasspecializedinenvironmentallysensitivebuildingproductssince1995,andiscommittedtoenergy-efficient,sustainableandhealthybuildings.Onthewebsiteyoucansearchthefullproductrangeforglazing, guttering, insulation, paints and wood finishes, sanitaryware, tapsandwater-savingproducts, timberpreservation,water-efficientWCs,andwindowsanddoors.

www.greenregister.orgTheGreenRegister is a training andnetworking organization forprofessionals who are interested in sustainable building issues,includingarchitects,builders,surveyors,engineersandtradespeople.YoucanaccesstheGreenRegisterbygeographicallocation,andfullcontactdetailsofmembersareprovided.

www.salvoweb.comSalvoisapartnershipthataimstosupportdealerswhoholdstocksof architectural salvage, reclaimed building materials, demolitionsalvage and recycledmaterials.Where possible it encourages fair

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tradeandeco-friendlyactivities.Contactdetailsfordealers,suppliersandcraftspeoplecanbeobtainedfromthewebsite.

FurtherreadingDawson,C(2006)TheCompleteGuidetoPropertyDevelopmentforthe

SmallInvestor,KoganPage,LondonHarland,E(1999)Eco-Renovation:Ecologicalhomeimprovementguide,ResurgenceBooks,London

Plowright,T(2007)Eco-centresandCourses,GreenBooks,Totnes

1 Self-builders

Self-buildisbecomingmorepopular,andoneofthereasonsforthispopularity ismore demand for eco-friendlyways of living. Newhousesprovide this opportunity as they can be builtwith energyefficiency in mind, with good insulation, energy-saving devicesand lower runningcosts. It isnowpossible toobtainanew-buildmortgage which provides some of the finance up front so thatyou don’t have to sell your existing home or move into rentedaccommodationwhileyouarebuildingyourproperty.Also, therearesomegoodgovernmentincentivesandtaxsavingsavailablefornew-buildprojects. Thischapterprovidesinformationonbuyinglandforanewhouse,obtainingplanningpermission,workingwithinbuildingregulations,planning and designing your house, purchasing environmentallyfriendlymaterials,usingsustainableenergysourcesandobtaininggrantsandtaxincentives.

BuyinglandThere are fourmainways to buy land, and themethod that youchoosewillhaveaninfluenceonthepriceandthelikelihoodofyourobtainingplanningpermissionforyourgreenproject.

Buyinglandwithfullplanningpermission

Theeasiestway tobuy landonwhichyouknowthatyouwillbeabletobuildistobuyaplotthatalreadyhasplanningpermission,as inmost casesplanningpermission runswith the land andnotwith the applicant (you should check that this is the case beforepurchasing).However,thedrawbackisthatthistypeofplotwillbemuchmoreexpensivethanotherland,andtheplansforthebuilding

10

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willalreadyhavebeendrawnup,soyouwillhavelittleinputintothestructureanddesignof theproperty.While itmaybepossibletomakeminorchangeswithoutpermission,orreceiveapprovalforsomealterations,youwillgenerallyhavetofollowtheoriginalplansandthesemaynotmatchyourwants,needsandgreenphilosophy.Ifyoudecidetomakeanychangestooriginalplans,youmustseekadvicefirst. However,thistypeoflandpurchaseistheeasiestoptionasyouknowthatplanshavealreadybeenapproved,soyousaveyourselfconsiderabletimeandworryoversubmittingplansyourself.Also,aseco-friendlynew-buildishighonthepoliticalandpublicagenda,ifyouconductcarefulresearchandtakeyourtime,youmaybeabletofindaplotwithplansthatmeetyourgreenrequirements.

Buyinglandwithoutlineconsent

Anotherwaythatbuildingplotsaresoldiswithoutlineconsent.Thismeansthat,inprinciple,adevelopmentwillbeacceptableontheplot.However,youwillneedtosubmitafullplanningapplicationanditifdiffersgreatlyfromtheschemeputforwardforoutlineconsent,successisnotguaranteed.Landwithoutlineconsentischeaperthanlandwithfullplanningpermission,butmoreexpensivethanlandwithoutanytypeofpermission.

Buyinglandwithoutplanningpermissionorconsent

Byfarthecheapestwaytobuylandiswithoutplanningpermissionorconsent.However,buyinglandforbuildinginthiswayisabiggamblebecauseyoudonotknowwhetherpermissionwilleverbegranted to build your house. You must conduct careful researchbefore choosing this option. In particular, youwill need tomakesurethattherearenostringsattachedtothepurchaseoftheland,assomewillstipulatenodevelopmentorthatthelandmustremainforagriculturaluse. Itisimportanttohaveaninformalchatwithyourlocalplanningauthority,asitsstaffwillbeabletogiveyouageneralideawhetherpermissionwouldeverbegrantedon theplot.Youcanalsoviewthedevelopmentplans for your local area,whichwill give you abetterideaofwhetherthereisapossibilitythatplanningpermissionmay be granted. Information about local development plans can


beobtained fromtheplanningportal (detailsbelow). Ifanarea isalreadybeingdeveloped,youmaystandabetterchanceofreceivingplanningapproval,whereas it ismuchharder to receiveapprovalin areas such as conservation areas or those with a vocal, activecommunity against development. However, the green credentialsofyourproposedbuildingmayhelptoconvincepeople thatyourprojectwillnotharmtheenvironmentorbeaneyesore.

Buyinglandwithanexistingbuilding

It is possible to buy landwith an existing building that could bedemolished, or altered considerably, to produce your own eco-friendlybuilding.Ifyouchoosethisoptionyouwillneedtoconductcareful research tofindoutwhetheryouare able todemolish theexistingbuilding.Ifthebuildingislisted,locatedinaconservationareaorhasbeenissuedwithabuildingpreservationnotice,youwillneed listedbuildingand/or conservationarea consentbeforeyouundertakeanywork,andit isnotguaranteedthatconsentwillbegiven.Itisanoffencetodemolish,alterorextendalistedbuildingwithout listed building consent, and the penalty can be a fine ofunlimited amount, imprisonment or both. You will also need tomakesurethatthelocalauthorityhasnotmadeanArticle4directiverestricting the demolition or alterations that you could normallymakeunderpermitteddevelopmentrules.Moreinformationaboutlisted buildings and conservation areas can be obtained from theEnglishHeritagewebsite(www.english-heritage.co.uk). Foralldemolitionofresidentialpropertyyoumustseekadvicefromyourlocalplanningauthoritybeforeworkstarts.Youwillneedto agreedetails ofhowyou intend to carryout thedemolitionoralterationsandhowyouproposetorestorethesiteafterwards.Youwillneedtoapplyforaformaldecisionaboutwhetheryourplansare approved – this is called a ‘prior approval application’.Moreinformation about making this application can be obtained fromyourlocalplanningauthority. You will have to apply for planning permission on all newbuildingsoralterationsthatyouareproposing,andyouwillneedtofindoutwhetheryouhavetousethesamefootprintofthebuildingyouintendtodemolish.Allpermissionshouldbesoughtbeforeanywork begins as, even if the building is fire or stormdamaged, ordilapidated,planningpermissionapprovalisnotguaranteed.

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Findinglandforsale

Findingtherightplotcantakealongtime.Youwillneedtobepatientandconductcareful,detailedresearch.Usethewebsiteslistedbelowtostartyoursearch,andbuildupalistofusefulestateorlandagentswhocanhelpyoutofindaplot.Alternatively,youcanusea landagenttodotheworkforyou.Heorshewilltakeacutofthepriceyoupayfortheland,soyouwillneedtoagreetermsandmakesurethatthepriceandserviceareacceptable.Ifyouuseanexperiencedandknowledgeablelandagentheorshewillbeabletofindtherighttypeofplotandofferadviceaboutthelikelihoodofplanningpermissionbeinggranted. Buildingplots and land agents canbe found fromtheBuildingPlotwebsite(www.building-plot.org.uk),butcaremustbetakenwhenchoosinglandoranagentanditisadvisabletoseeklegaladvicefromawell-qualifiedprofessional.

ObtainingpermissionIfyouhavechosentopurchaselandwithoutplanningpermission,oryoualreadyownlandonwhichyouwouldliketoself-build,youwillneedtoobtainplanningpermission.

Obtainingoutlineconsent

Onewaytofindoutwhetheryouhaveachanceofyourplansbeingapproved without spending a great deal of money drawing upintricateplansistoputinanapplicationforoutlineconsent.Thisisaformofplanningconsentdesignedtotesttheprincipleofwhetheror not a new development is acceptable. When you submit anapplicationforoutlineconsent,theplanningauthoritycanrequestasmuch information as it requires in order tomake an informeddecision. However, decisions about materials, style, design andlandscapingwillnothavetobemadeatthispoint.

Obtainingfullplanningpermission

Ifyoudecidetomakeafullapplicationyouwillneedtodrawupdetailedplansofyourproposedbuilding.Thiswillneedtoincludethe size, layout,positionandexternalappearanceof thebuilding.


Youwillalsoneedtoconsiderissuesofaccess,landscapingandtheimpact on the local neighbourhood. Theplanning authoritieswillwant to know about existing infrastructure, including roads andwatersupplies,andhowyourproposedbuildingwillfit into this.Youmust also include information about theproposeduseof thebuilding. Ifeco-designis important toyou, theapplicationshouldincludecomprehensivedetailsofyourplans,especiallyifyouintendtogenerateyourownenergyand/orlimitcarbonemissions,asthismayhelpyourapplication.

Makingaplanningapplication

Beforeyoumakeanapplication,getintouchwithyourlocalplanningauthority–contactdetailscanbeobtainedfromtheplanningportal(seebelow). Speak to staff aboutwhatyou intend todoand seektheiradvice.Youcanalsofindoutwhetherthereareanyanticipatedproblemsanddiscusspossiblewaystoovercomethem. Application forms can be obtained from your local planningauthority,oryoucanmakeyourplanningapplicationonlinethroughtheplanningportal (details below). If yourplans are refused it ispossibletorevisethemandsubmitanewapplication,oryoucouldmake an appeal (see below). If your plans have been approved,generallyyoucanstartworkstraightaway,butyoushouldcheckthatyoudon’tneedotherapprovalssuchasconservationareaconsentbeforeyoubeginwork.Allworkmuststartwithinthreeyearsoryouwillberequiredtoapplyagainforpermission.

Makinganappeal

Youhavetherighttoappealagainstallplanningrefusals.Todothisyouneedtoputtogetherallthefactsintoawrittenstatement,whichisthensenttothePlanningInspectorateinBristol.Aninspectorisappointedtoreadthroughallsubmissions,visitthesiteanddecidewhether the council should have approved the application. Theprocessmaytakeuptofourmonths.Appeals inEnglandmustbesubmittedwithin sixmonthsof the refusal. Formore informationaboutmakinganappeal,contactthePlanningInspectorate(detailsbelow).

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Usingcharteredbuildingsurveyors

Ifthisisthefirstpropertyyouhavebuiltandthefirsttimeyouhaveprepared a planning application, youmay find it useful to enlistthehelpofanexperiencedcharteredbuildingsurveyor.Heorshewillworkwithyoutofindoutexactlywhatyouwantanddiscusswhether it will be both possible and permissible, helping you tomaximize the potential of your site andworkwithin your greenrequirements.CharteredbuildingsurveyorscanalsohelpwiththepreparationofplanssuitableforBuildingRegulationspurposes(seebelow).Tofindacharteredbuildingsurveyorinyourarea,contacttheRoyalInstituteofCharteredSurveyors(RICS)(detailsbelow).

Understandingrules,regulationsandproceduresThereareavarietyofrules,regulationsandproceduresthatyouwillneed tounderstandand followwhenyoubuildyourownhouse.TheseincludeBuildingRegulationsapproval,structuralwarranties,appropriateinsurance,andhealthandsafetylegislation.

BuildingRegulationsapproval

Before you begin any work on a new building you must obtainBuildingRegulationsapproval. Ifyoucarryoutworkwithout therequiredapprovalyoucouldfaceprosecution.BuildingRegulationscanbecomplex,andifyouareindoubtyoushouldmakesurethatyou receive the appropriate advice specific to your project beforeyoubeginwork.Thiscouldbefromanarchitect,buildingsurveyororstructuralengineer. During construction the building work is checked at variousstagestomakesurethatitcomplieswithBuildingRegulationsandisinaccordancewiththeapprovedplans.FromApril2006newrulesstatethatpartofthisassessmentmustincludeairpressureleakagetesting, andnewdwellingsmustmeet aminimumoverall energyperformancestandardintermsofatargetcarbondioxideemissionrate.Writtenrecordsaremadeduringeachinspection,andifthereareanyproblemstheyareraisedwiththebuilderand/ortheapplicant.Follow-upinspectionsaremadeifanyremedialworkisneeded.Iftheworkiscompletedsatisfactorilyacompletioncertificateisissuedattheendofthejob.Thiscertificatewillberequiredwhenyoudecide


tosellorremortgageyourproperty,andshouldbeincludedinyourhomeinformationpack(seeChapter4). Toapply forBuildingRegulations approvalonanewpropertyyouwillneedtomakeafullplansapplication.Allapplicationformscanbeobtainedfromyourlocalplanningauthorityordownloadedfromitswebsite.Alternatively,youcanusethegovernmentpublicserviceswebsitetoenteryourpostcodeandbedirectedtotherelevantauthoritywebsite(www.direct.gov.uk).Afullplansapplicationneedstocontaindetaileddrawingsoftheproposedbuildingwork;siteorlocationplans,detailingsiteboundariesandthepositionofpublicsewers;firesafetydrawings,whererequired;copiesofthestructuraldesign and calculations; an application form and appropriate fee.The application form should be completed fully and accurately,with all the necessary paperwork attached, as thiswill help yourapplicationtorunsmoothlyandavoiddelays.Adecisionisusuallyissuedwithinfiveweeks,althoughitmaytakeuptoeightweeksinsomecircumstances.

Structuralwarranties

Everynewhomeneedsa structuralwarranty toprotect itsowneragainst the risk of latent defects.Although it is not amandatoryrequirement,youshouldtakeoutawarrantyasyouwillfinditverydifficulttosellyourhomewithinthefirst10yearsofconstructionwithoutone.This is becausemortgage companieswill notoffer amortgage to potential buyers on a property under 10 years oldwithoutawarranty,whateveritsgreencredentials. IntheUKthe largestwarrantyprovider is theNationalHouse-BuildingCouncil (NHBC),and twoof its schemesare suitable forself-builders–BuildmarkandSolo.More informationabout theseschemescanbeobtainedfromtheNHBCwebsite(www.nhbc.co.uk).Other warranties that are suitable for self-build include Zurich’s‘Newbuild’and‘Custombuild’warranties(www.zurich.co.uk)andtheSelf-BuilderStructuralGuarantee(www.self-builder.com).

Siteinsurance

When you decide to self-build you must protect yourself, youremployeesandyourinvestmentbyarrangingsuitablesiteinsurance.Yoursiteinsuranceshouldcoverthefollowing:

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the existing structure, if there is one, and new work againstsuch losses as fire, theft, flood, stormdamage, vandalism andaccidentaldamage;

buildingworks,temporaryworksandmaterials;

yourownandhiredplant,toolsandequipment;

residentialcaravans,sitehuts,containersandcontents;

employees’toolsandpersonaleffects;

employer’sliability,whichwillcoveryouifanythinghappenstoanyoneworkingonyoursite;

public liability, which will cover you if anything happens toanyonevisitingyoursite;

legalexpensescover,whichwillhelpyouifadisputeariseswithprofessionals,localauthorities,suppliersorcontractors;

personalaccidentinsurance;

optionalbuildinginsurance.

Ifyouplaceasinglecontractwithabuilder,architectoreco-specialist,heorsheshouldarrangeappropriateinsurance,butyoumustcheckthatthisisthecasebeforeworkstarts.

Healthandsafetylegislation

Minimumstandardsarelaiddownbylawintheinterestsofhealthand public safety. They are there to protect you and your familyfromunsoundworkthatcouldplaceyouindanger.Contraventionof these laws can lead toprosecutionand thepossible impositionofsubstantialfines.Beforeyoubeginanyoftheworkyourself,youmustfindoutabouttheseminimumstandards.Someworkonyourpropertycanonlybecarriedoutbyaninstallerortradespersonwhoisregisteredwiththeappropriategovernment-approvedbody. Alwaysbeawareofthehealthhazardsattachedtoanyworkyouintendtocarryoutyourself.Conductariskassessmentbeforeyoubeginthework.Thisinvolvesmakingjudgementsaboutthelevelofriskinvolvedanddecidingwhatyoucandotoreducetherisktoanacceptablelevel.Ifthisisyourfirstprojectyoumayfinditusefultoseektheadviceandguidanceofafullyqualifiedprofessional.MoreinformationabouthealthandsafetycanbeobtainedfromtheHealth


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andSafetyExecutiveInformationLine:(0845)3450055orfromitswebsite(www.hse.gov.uk).

PlanninganddesigningUnlessyouareanexperiencedplannerordesigneritisadvisabletoworkwithaprofessionalwhenyoubegintodevelopanddesignyournewhome.Therearethreemainwaysthatyoucandothis.Thefirstistoworkwithanarchitectwhocanhelptoputyourideasonpaper,advisingwhethertheyarefeasible,practicalandpossiblewithinyourbudget.Thesecondistoworkwithaneco-designspecialist,suchasabuildingcompany,amanufactureroranexperiencedindividual.Thethirdmethodistoconstructyourowneco-houseusingoneofthekitsavailableonthemarket.

Workingwithanarchitect

An architect can advise you on planning permission, BuildingRegulations,healthandsafety,eco-design,anddealwiththeauthori-tiesonyourbehalf. Ifyoudecide toemployanarchitectyouwillneedtoagreeonthescopeandcostofarchitecturalservicesbeforetheprojectisstarted.Thinkabouthowmuchofanarchitect’sservi-ces youwish to use, from an initial designdiscussion through tofullcompletionoftheproject.Allnegotiationsshouldbeagreedinwriting,andyoushoulddevelopagoodworkingrelationshipwithyourarchitect. Architect’s fees can be based on a percentage of the total con-structioncost,ontheamountoftimetakenfortheprojectoronanagreedlumpsum.Whenchoosinganarchitectaskforabreakdownofthefeesinvolved.Youshouldspeaktoseveralarchitectstofindoutwhatservicestheycanofferandthepricestheycharge.Formoreinformationaboutchoosingandworkingwithanarchitect,contacttheRoyalInstituteofBritishArchitects(detailsbelow).

Workingwithaneco-designspecialist

Companies,manufacturersorindividualprofessionalsthatspecializeineco-designoftenofferacompleteplan,designandsupplyservice,whichmeansthatyoudonothavetoemployaseparatearchitect,


designerorbuilder.Ifyouchooseareliableandcompetentcompanyorindividualyoucansaveyourselfconsiderabletimeandeffort,astheywillalsobeabletoofferadviceaboutplanningpermissionandbuildingregulations.Youcanworkwiththespecialisttomakesurethatthedesignofthepropertymeetsyourwants,needsandgreenrequirements. When choosing an eco-design specialist, use the relevant tradeormembershipassociation tofinda fullyqualifiedand legitimateindividualorcompany,suchas theUKTimberFrameAssociationorStrawBaleBuildingAssociation(seebelow).YoucanalsousetheSelfBuildPackageCompanyDirectoryontheBuildStorewebsitetoobtaincontactdetailsoforganizationsinyourarea(detailsbelow).Trytomakechoicesbasedonpersonalrecommendations,referencesandevidenceofpreviouswork.Askaboutqualifications,experience,warrantiesandinsurance.Gettoknowthespecialistandmakesurethat you can work happily with him or her. In particular, makesurethatheorsheunderstands,andcanworkwithin,yourgreenphilosophy.

Workingwithaneco-kit

If you are an experiencedbuilder, or very competent inDIY, it ispossibletopurchaseahouseinkitformandconstructthepropertyyourself.Ifyouchoosethisoptionyoumusthavetherequiredlevelofskillandconductthoroughresearchintothetypeofkitsavailable.Kits comewith drawings specific to each kit and a builder detailbookthatshowshowitallfitstogetherandwhatelseyouwillneedtopurchasetocompleteyourbuilding. In general, kits are loaded by forklift truck onto an articulatedlorry,soyouwillneedtomakesurethatthevehiclecanaccessyoursiteandthatyouhireaforklifttrucktounloadthekit.TheTimberFrameAssociationprovidesausefulstartingplaceforyourresearch(detailsbelow).Ifyouwanttoimproveyourskillsandlearnmoreaboutbuildingyourhome,detailsofcoursescanbeobtainedfromtheWalterSegalSelfBuildTrustwebsite(www.segalselfbuild.co.uk).Moreinformationaboutallaspectsofself-buildcanbeobtainedfromtheself-buildwebsite(detailsbelow).


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EthicalpurchasingandsourcingWhensourcingmaterialstrytoavoidbuyingitemsthatareharmfulordamaging to theenvironment,andonlybuywhatyouneed toavoidproductandfinancialwaste.Wherepossibletrytouselocal,natural or renewable sources, and choose durable products thatneedlittlemaintenance.Insomecasesyoumayalsobeabletoobtainsalvagedmaterialsfromreclamationyards,localrefusesites,skips,charityshopsandauctionhouses(seeusefulwebsitesbelow).Onlyusemanufacturersthathaveaprovenenvironmentalmanagementrecord– they shouldbeable toprovideall this informationuponrequest.Iftheycannot,considerusinganothercompany. If youneed tobuy timbermake sure that it carries the logoofthe Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), as this ensures that it hascomefromresponsiblymanagedforests.Checkforrotifreusingoldtimber,especiallydryrot,whichsmellsofmushroomsandhaswhitespreadingtendrils.Also,checkthatthetimberhasnotwarpedandthatitdoesnotcontainwoodworm,whichischaracterizedbysmallroundholesthatmaybefilledwithsawdustiftheactivityisrecent.MoreinformationaboutbuyingtimberisprovidedinChapter9. When buying materials such as loft insulation, draft proofing,cavitywallinsulationandglazing,chooseenvironmentallyfriendlymaterials and look for the Energy Saving Recommended logo,as thisensuresenergyefficiencyandwillhelpyoutosavemoneyonrunningcosts.Contactdetailsof localretailerscanbeobtainedfromtheEnergySavingTrustwebsite(www.est.org.uk)andgreenmaterials and products can be obtained from the Green BuildingStore(detailsbelow).

GeneratingyourownenergyThe different types of sustainable energies that are available tohomeowners and house-builders are discussed in Chapter 2. Ifyoudecidetobuildyourownhomeyoumayhavemoreflexibilityabout the type of energy that you can install, as you can designyourhouseandchooseaplotthatmeetstherequirementsofyourenergysource(s).Usingyourownsourceofenergyalsoprovidestheopportunitytobuildinareasthatarenotsuppliedbythenationalgrid, thus cutting down on connection costs and providingmorechoiceaboutwhere tobuild.However,althoughyouwill saveonconnectioncosts,youmustbepreparedtospendmuchmoreonthe

Self-builders 183

installation of renewable energy technologies, although you willmakesavingsonfuelbillsoverthelongterm. Ifyouareconsideringgeneratingyourownenergy,thefollowingpointswillhelpyoutothinkabouttheissuesinvolved:

Do you need planning permission? Planning issues such asvisualimpact,noiseandconservationwillneedtobetakenintoaccount.Thelocalplanningauthoritywillbeabletoofferadviceaboutwhetheryouneedplanningpermissionandwhetheritislikelytobegranted.Certaintechnologieswillnotneedplanningpermission,whereas otherswill, so you should seek specialistadviceattheplanninganddesignstageofyourproject.

Arethesiteconditionssuitableforyourproposedmicro-genera-tiontechnology?Havetheseconditionsbeenresearchedcarefullytochoosethemostappropriatetechnology?Forexample,know-ledge of localwind conditions is important for designing andpositioningwindturbines.Toobtainanestimateofwindspeedsintheareaofyourproperty,consulttheUKWindSpeedDatabaseon the British Wind Energy Association website (www.bwea.com).

Are you intending to use a stand-alone or a grid-connectedsystem? Thiswill depend on the type of technology that youwanttoinstallandtheareainwhichyourpropertyislocated.Ifyouchooseastand-alonesystemyoumayneedbatterystorage,an inverter to convert direct current electricity to alternatingcurrent electricity and a controller to divert power to anotherusefulsourcewhenthebatteryisfull.Youwillalsoneedtothinkabout using another energy source, such as a diesel generatorwhenweather conditions are not right for energy generation.Ifyouchoose touseagrid-connected system,you stillneedaconverterbutnobatterystorageisrequired.Youcanalsosellanyunusedorexcesselectricitybacktoyourlocalelectricitysupplycompany.

Whatonsitemaintenancewillberequiredandhowoften?Whowillcarryoutthismaintenance?

Whatwarrantiesandguaranteesareofferedontheinstallationandequipment?

Whatistheexpectedlife-spanofturbines,panelsandbatteries?Howoftenwilltheyhavetobereplacedandatwhatcost?

Howoftenwillequipmentneedtobeserviced?


ObtaininggrantsandtaxincentivesThereareavarietyofschemesandtaxincentivesavailabletopeoplewhowishtobuildtheirownhouseintheUnitedKingdom.

Stampdutyexemption

FromApril2007therewillbenostampdutypayableonnewlybuiltzero-carbonhomesforatleastthreeyears.However,somedevelopersandenvironmentalistsarescepticalaboutthepracticalitiesofsuchapolicy,pointingoutthatitisunclearhowthegovernmentisgoingtomeasureenergyconsumption.Forexample,willthisdefinitionrelateto the building, the occupants or the construction techniques andmaterials?Atpresent,thereareveryfewtrulyzero-carbonbuildingsin theUnitedKingdom, and some campaignersbelieve that therewillbesuchstringentcriteriaattachedtoachievingexemptionthatitwillbeimpossibleforbuildersanddeveloperstoobtain.Ifyouarehopingtobuildazero-carbonhomeyouwillneedtoseekspecialistadviceat theplanninganddesignstage.More informationcanbeobtainedfromtheAECB(detailsbelow)andfromtheGreenBuildingwebsite:www.newbuilder.co.uk.

DIYbuildersandconvertersrefundscheme

If you are intending to build your ownproperty, it is possible toclaimaVATrefundonyourmainconstructioncosts.However,youareexcludedunderthisschemeifyourdevelopmentisforbusinesspurposes,suchasspeculativedevelopmentortolettotenants.Rulesandregulationsarecomplexandyoushouldseekfurtheradviceifyouwishtotakeadvantageofthisscheme.ItispossibletohireaVATconsultanttomakearefundclaimforyou.Moreinformationabouthiring a consultant can be obtained from the Institute of IndirectTaxation(www.theiit.org.uk).

TheScottishCommunityandHouseholderRenewablesInitiative

If youare a builder,developeror architect living in Scotland it ispossible toapply forgrants for renewableenergy technologiesonbehalf of future owners of houses you are building or designing

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through the Scottish Community and Householder RenewablesInitiative(seetheAppendix).


ThroughtheLowCarbonBuildingsProgrammeindividualhouse-holderscanapplyforgrantstohelpwiththeinstallationofrenewablesources of energy for their homes. This includes new-build andcovers the installationof solarphotovoltaics,wind turbines, smallhydro, solar thermal hot water, heat pumps (ground/water/airsource)andbio-energy.MoreinformationaboutthesegrantscanbeobtainedfromtheDTI’sLowCarbonBuildingsProgrammewebsite(www.lowcarbonbuildings.org.uk)orbytelephoning08009150990.

SummarySelf-buildprovidesagoodopportunitytoplananddesignahousethat suits your wants, needs and green requirements. However,choosing this option requires a greatdeal of research, hardwork,commitment, patience and enough up-front finance to be able tobegin, and see through, the project. Nevertheless, once you havebuilt your eco-home the personal, financial and environmentalrewardswillbeworthallthetimeandeffortthathavegoneintotheconstructionofyourhome. Thefinalphaseofyournew-buildprojectwillinvolvelandscapingandgardening, andagain, there aremanyways thatyourgardendesign and gardening habits can reflect your green philosophy.Theseissuesarediscussedinthefollowingchapter.

Usefulorganizations


The RICS is the largest organization for professionalsworking inproperty,landandconstructionworldwide.RICSmembershavetoadheretoastrictcodeofconductandarerequiredtoupdatetheirskills and knowledge continually.Allmembersmust haveproperinsuranceandcustomersareprotectedbyanRICSformalcomplaintsservice.



PlanningInspectorate

The Planning Inspectorate processes planning and enforcementappeals,andholdsinquiriesintolocaldevelopmentplansinEnglandandWales.

PlanningInspectorateTempleQuayHouse,2TheSquareBristolBS16PNTel:01173726372Fax:01173728443E-mail:[email protected]:www.planning-inspectorate.gov.uk

RoyalInstituteofBritishArchitects(RIBA)

RIBAisamemberorganizationwithover30,000membersworldwide.Youcanfindanarchitectusingoneoftheonlinedirectories.

RoyalInstituteofBritishArchitectsRIBAClientServices66PortlandPlaceLondonW1B1ADTel:02075805533Fax:02072551541E-mail:[email protected]:www.riba.org

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StrawBaleBuildingAssociation(SBBA)

SBBAisaninformalassociationofpeoplewhohaveaninterest instraw bale building.Members include environmental enthusiasts,sustainable builders, architects and building officials. The SBBAofferscourses,workshops,booksandvideosforanyoneinterestedinstrawbaleinformation.

StrawBaleBuildingAssociationHollinroydFarm,ButtsLaneTodmordenOL148RJTel:01442825421E-mail:[email protected]:www.srawbalebuildingassociation.org.uk

UKTimberFrameAssociation

TheUKTimberFrameAssociation is the tradeassociation forUKtimberframemanufacturers,andthesector’skeysupplier.Youcanfindatimberframemanufacturer,designer,erectorandsupplieronthewebsite,alongwithusefulinformationaboutallaspectsofthetimberframeconstructionmethod.

UKTimberFrameAssociationThee-centreCooperageWayBusinessVillageAlloaFK103LPTel:01259272140Fax:01259272141E-mail:[email protected]:www.timber-frame.org

WWF

WWF is the world’s largest independent conservation charity,andwas established in theUnitedKingdom in 1961.WWF-UK isinvolved in the ‘One Million Sustainable Homes’ project, whichinvolves working with government, industry and consumers tobring sustainablehomes from the fringesof thehousing sector tothemainstream.On itswebsiteyoucandownloadan information


leaflet to find out more about this project. You can also accessthe ‘housebuilder sustainability toolkit’, which offers advice onsustainabilityissuestohouse-builders.

WWF-UKPandaHouse,WeysideParkGodalmingSurrey,GU71XRTel:01483426444Fax:01483426409www.wwf.org.ukE-mail:[email protected]

BuildingResearchEstablishment(BRE)

BREisacollectionofresearchscientists,engineers,architects,sur-veyors, psychologists, administrators, managers and others whobringtogethertheirknowledgeandexpertisetoadviseonsustainableconstructionandthebuiltenvironment.Theyprovideavarietyofconsultancy, testingandcommissionedresearchservices.TheBREbookshopprovidesafullrangeofsustainableconstructionbooks.

BuildingResearchEstablishmentLtdBucknallsLaneWatfordWD259XXTel:01923664000E-mail:[email protected]:www.bre.co.uk

Usefulwebsiteswww.planningportal.gov.ukOnthiswebsiteyoucanfinddetailed informationaboutplanningpermission and building regulations, including details of yourlocalplanningauthorityandlocaldevelopmentplans.Thewebsiteguidesyouthroughtheplanningprocess,providingcomprehensiveand user-friendly information and advice for anyone wishing tomake a planning application.Depending onwhere you intend tobuild,youmaybeabletomakeanapplicationonlineonceyouhaveregistered.

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www.plotfinder.netThis is a subscription service for providing building plots andrenovationprojectsintheUnitedKingdom,inassociationwithHome-buildingandRenovatingmagazine.

www.propertyspy.comThis company offers land for sale on greenfield and green-beltsites around theUnitedKingdom.However, the landpurchase isspeculative–noplanningpermissionisofferedontheplots.

www.plotbrowser.comThiswebsite isa subscriptionservice inconjunctionwithSelfbuildand Design magazine, offering regularly updated informationaboutplots, conversionor renovationopportunities in theUnitedKingdom.

www.self-build.co.ukThiswebsiteprovidesuseful informationaboutallaspectsof self-build,includingmortgages,insurance,warranties,findingsuppliersandmanufacturers,andfindingland.

www.buildstore.co.ukThiswebsiteprovidesuseful informationaboutallaspectsof self-build,includingusefulmeasurementconverters,adviceabouthousedesign,sourcingmaterials,buildingregulations,constructioncosts,planningconsiderationsandobtainingvalueformoney.

www.aecb.netThe Association for Environment Conscious Building (AECB)is a network of individuals and companies with a common aimof promoting sustainable building. On the website you can findinformation about improving the environmental performance ofyourproperty;choosingeco-friendlyproductsandavoidingdamag-ing chemicals; using timber; and planning and developing eco-friendly properties. Themessage-board service is a usefulway toreceivetailor-madeadviceandinformationaboutallaspectsofself-build.

www.salvoweb.comSalvoisapartnershipthataimstosupportdealerswhoholdstocksof architectural salvage, reclaimed building materials, demolitionsalvage and recycledmaterials.Where possible it encourages fair


tradeandeco-friendlyactivities.Contactdetailsfordealers,suppliersandcraftspeoplecanbeobtainedfromthewebsite.

FurtherreadingChiras,D(2004)TheNewEcologicalHome:Acompleteguide togreen

buildingoptions,ChelseaGreen,PostMills,VermontDean,A(2003)GreenbyDesign,GibbsMSmith,Layton,UtahHall,K (ed) (2005)The Green Building Bible,GreenBuildingPress,Llandysul

Harris,CandBorer,P(2005)TheWholeHouseBook:Ecologicalbuildingdesignandmaterials,2ndedn,CentreforAlternativeTechnology,Machynlleth

Kennedy,Jetal(2002)TheArtofNaturalBuilding:Design,construction,resources,NewSociety,GabriolaIsland,BritishColombia

Roaf,S(2001)EcoHouse:Adesignguide,ArchitecturalPress,OxfordSnell, C and Callahan, T (2005) Building Green: A complete how-to

guidetoalternativebuildingmethods,LarkBooks,Asheville,NorthCarolina

Vale, B andVale,R (2002)The New Autonomous House: Design andplanningforsustainability,ThamesandHudson,London

1 Gardeners

Makingchangestoyourgardeninghabitsisoneoftheeasiestwaystoworktowardsachievingyourgreengoals.Evenifyoudonothavealargegardenitispossibletomakesignificantchangesthatcanhelpyoutosavemoneywhileimprovingthehealthofyourfamilyandhelpingtheenvironment. Thischapteroffersadviceonreusingandrecycling,composting,organicgrowing,conservingwaterandenergyinthegarden,sourc-ingenvironmentallyfriendlyproductsandfindingoutaboutgrantsanddiscountschemes.

ReusingandrecyclingGardens provide an ideal opportunity to reuse and recyclewastefrom thehome and from thegarden.Bothgarden andhouseholdwaste canbecompostedandreusedon thegarden,althoughcareneedstobetakenwhendecidingwhatmaterialscanbecomposted(seebelow).Otheritemsfromthehousecanbereusedinthegarden,suchasplasticbottlestohelpdirectwatertoplantrootsandkeepslugs and snails and badweather fromyoungplants; old carpetstocovercompostheaps;usedgroundcoffee laidaroundfavouriteplantstodeterslugsandsnails;oldpots,pansandothercontainersusedforplantingorrainwatercollection.Also,userecycledmaterialswhendesigningyourgarden:forexampleyoucanuse‘glass’gravelinstead of freshly mined rock, and starter plant pots made fromrecyclednewspapers.Tofindacompanyofferingrecycledproductsfor your garden, consult the Recycled Products Guide (www.recycledproducts.org.uk). Ifyoudonotcompostyourowngardenwasteyoushouldtakeadvantage of the green waste disposal service run by your localauthority.Thisgreenwasteiscompostedandofferedbacktolocalresidents,usuallyfreeofchargeorforasmallfee.Thismeansthat

11


careshouldbe takentoensure that thewaste isnotcontaminatedwithproductsthatcannotbecomposted,suchasplasticsorwoodthat has been treated with preservatives. Also, you should notincludepaper,cardboardorkitchenwastewithyourgreenwaste.Somelocalauthoritiesplacerestrictionsontheamountofcompostyou can take each visit if it is free, and youwill need to provideyourownbagsandshovel.Thisisausefulsourceofsoilimproverforpeoplewhoareunabletocomposttheirownmaterial.Contactyourlocalauthorityfordetailsaboutgreenwastedisposalschemesinyourarea.

CompostingCompostingisanexcellentformofrecycling. It isausefulwaytogetridofgardenandkitchenwaste,andwhendugintothegarden,compostprovidesvaluablenutrientsandimprovesthestructureofyoursoil.Itisnotnecessarytobuyanexpensivecompostbin,unlessyouwishtodosoforaestheticreasons.Insteadyoucanmakeyourowncompostheapinacornerofyourgarden,orobtainacheaporfreecompostbinfromyourlocalauthority(seebelow).Ifyouwantyourcompostingtoworkquickly,yourbinorheapshouldbeatleastametrecubedinsize. Whenbuildingyourheaporplacingyourbin,dosoonapieceofstrongwiremeshasthiswilldiscouragerodents.Youcancompostanythingthathaslived,butyoushouldavoidfishandmeatbonesas, again, thiswill help to discourage rodents. It is also better toavoidperennialweedsanddiseasedplants–theheatofthetipmaykillsome,butnotall,diseasesandweeds.Youshouldcompostbothgreenmaterial(softgardenwastesuchasgrass)andbrownmaterial(straw,hayandtwigs)ataratioofabout25:1.Sawdustandwoodshavingscanbeusedsparingly,butmakesure that theyhavenotbeen treated with wood preserver. Tough items will need to bechoppedwith shearsbefore composting.Glossypaperandcolourprintshouldbeavoided. Agoodwaytostartthebinistousegrasscuttingsinterspersedwithlayersofcrumplednewspapertoadepthofatleast30centimetres,coveringwithalayerofoldcarpet,oralid,tokeeptherainout.Thecompostneedstobekeptmoistbutnottoowet,oritwillbegintosmellstronglyandwillnotrotdownasquickly.Youmayneedtoaddwaterifyourcompostistoodry.Thecontentsofthebinshouldbemovedaroundorstirreduponcethetemperaturebeginstofall.

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Inthesummeritshouldtakesixtoeightweeksfortheheaptofinishcomposting,andinthistimeitwillneedstirringtwoorthreetimes.Throughthecoldermonths,orincolderclimates,aheapcantakeuptoayeartofinish.Ingeneral,themoreeffortyouputintomanagingyourcompost,thequickeritwillfinish. More information about composting can be obtained fromsomeof thepublications listedbeloworfromtheGardenOrganicwebsite (details below). The Community Composting Networksupports and promotes the community management and use ofwastebiodegradableresources,andoffersadviceandtrainingonallaspectsofcommunitycomposting(www.communitycompost.org).

Wormcomposting

Ifyouhavechildrentheymightbeinterestedinwormcomposting.This isanenvironmentally friendlyactivity thatcan takeplaceallyear long with minimum effort and knowledge. The worms arenativeredworms,whichdiffer fromearthworms in that they liveondecayingorganicmatterratherthaninthesoil.However,ifthewormsescapetheywillnotdoanydamagetoyourgarden. Wormsdigestwastetoproducewormcastings,andunlikeothercompostingmethods,wormeriesdonotworkathightemperatures.Ingeneral, ifyoustartawormerywitharound1,000worms,yourcompostwillbereadytouseonthegardenin8to12months.Thewormsareabletodigestcookedanduncookedfruitandvegetablewaste,stalebread, teabagsandeggshells.Theycanalsoeatsomepaperandcardboardinsmallamountsandcoffeegroundsinsmallamounts.Youshouldavoidglass,treatedwoods,metals,meatscrapsanddairyproducts. Some of thewebsites listed below supplywormeries and offermoreinformationabouttheiruse,orcontactyourlocalauthoritytofindoutwhetheritofferssubsidizedwormeries.MoreinformationaboutusingwormeriescanbeobtainedfromtheRHSwebsite(detailsbelow).

OrganicgrowingTraditional agricultural systems controlled pests and diseasethroughdiversificationandcrop rotation,with farmersplantingawidevarietyofcropsalongsideeachotherandchangingcropson


aregularbasis.Thisslowedthespreadofdiseaseandpeststhatarecommon in today’s intensive, chemically dependent agriculturalproduction, where one commercial crop dominates and chemicalcompaniesinfluencewhatfarmersuseontheirland. Todaythereareseveralhundredpesticidechemicalsthatareusedin intensive foodproductionaround theworld,both togrowandstorethecrop.Theproblemsassociatedwithsuchwidespreaduseof pesticidesdonot only involve the risk of consumingmaterialsthatmaybe harmful to our health, but also include the exposureofagriculturalworkers topesticides,exposure to local inhabitantsand environmental damage. The Pesticide Action Network UK(PAN UK) points out that, at present, the UK government onlytestsforaproportionofthesechemicals,andsinceitisimpossibletotellthroughtasteandsmellwhatweareconsuming,wedonotknowwhatweareingestingandwhatharmisbeingcaused.Theseproblems can be reduced through direct action such as lobbyingpoliticiansandsupermarkets,bybuyingorganic,ethicalorFairtradeproduceorthroughgrowingyourownfruitandvegetables.Formoreinformationaboutalltheseissues,consultthewebsitesofFairtrade,PANUKortheEthicalTradingInitiative(detailsbelow).

Biologicalandnaturalpestcontrol

Ifyoudecidetogrowyourownproduce,orwanttodiscouragepestsfromotherplants,therearemanywaysthatyoucandosowithoutresortingtotheuseofharmfulchemicals:

Understandtheenemy.Gettoknowmoreaboutthepeststhatareattackingyourplants.Onceyouknowmoreaboutthepestsyoucanfindouthowtodeterthemfromyourgarden.ConsulttheRHSwebsiteforinformationandadviceaboutcommonpestsanddiseases(detailsbelow).

Therearemanyplantsthatdifferentpestsdon’tlike,andthesecanbeplantedinamongotherplantstodeterpests.Forexample,itisthoughtthatslugshatearomaticplantssuchaslavenderandchives,whilerosemaryandsagemaydetercarrotfly.

Createawildlifegardenthatencouragesnaturalpredatorssuchastoads,frogs,hedgehogsandladybirds(seebelow).

Use humane traps and solar-powered electronic deterrents todiscourage pests such asmice and cockroaches. Beer traps orupturnedflowerpotscanbeusedtocatchslugsandsnails.

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Somepests,suchascarrotfly,onlycreateproblemsuptoacertainheight from theground, soutilize raisedplantersor surroundyourcropswithlightweightscreenstostoptheproblem.

Reducemoist, shadyareas in thegarden thatencouragesnailsandslugs.Thinoutplantsandencourageairtocirculate.

Lay thick layers of mulch on open areas to discourage snailsandslugs.Theytendtodislikematerialswithroughandjaggededges.

Usedecoystodiscouragepestsfromfavouriteplants.Forexampleyoucanuseabarrierofvegetationsuchascomfreyleaves,whichtendtobefavouredbyslugs.

Usebarrierstodeterpests:forexample,woodashorpurecoalsootwilldiscourageslugs.

Handpickslugsandsnailsfromyourgarden.Althoughthiscanbe time-consuming, it is a very effective control method. Thebesttimeistwohoursaftersunset,andyoushouldsearchforthepestsinmoistareasandontheundersideofleaves.

Soilmanagement

Soilmanagementisanimportantpartoforganicgrowing.Throughcarefulmanagementyoucanhelptoenhancesoildrainage,improvesoilstructure,boostfertilityandpreventdroughtstress,nomatterwhat your soil type. Soil is made up of water, minerals, air andorganic matter.Within the soil there are a wide variety of livingorganismssuchasearthworms,fungi,bacteria,protozoa,arthropodsand algae. Soil organic matter contains dead organisms, plantmatterandotherorganicmatteratvariousstagesofdecomposition.Organicmatterservesasareservoirforplantnutrientsandhelpstobuildsoilstructureandimprovetexture.Foranorganicgroweritisimportant tomaintainabalancedsoil compositionandencouragelivingorganismsthatwillhelptoimprovethequalityofthesoil. One of the easiestways to do this is through composting (seeabove).Ifyoudonothaveyourowncompostandyouneedtobuysome,makesurethattheSoilAssociationsymbolisonthebag,asthisensuresthatthematerialisorganic(detailsbelow).Othercompostcanbeobtainedfromyourlocalwasteandrecyclingcentre. Anotherwaytoimprovethequalityofyoursoilistodouble-digitintheautumn,asfrostwillhelptobreakitdownfurther.Whenthe


bedisdugforthefirsttimeyouwillneedtoaddplentyoforganicmatter andbreakdown the clods asmuch as possible. If you areapplyingleafmouldormanureforfoodcrops,dosointhespringbefore youbegin to growyourplants. Try to limit the amount ofwalkingon freshlydug soil as itwillbegin to compact.Keep soilsurfacescoveredatalltimes,usingoldcarpetormulchinthewinter,compostinthespringandcropcoverinthesummerandautumn.Thiswillkeepweedsdown,retainwaterandpreventproblemswitherosion,leachingandcompaction. Asanorganicgroweryoushouldnotuseanyproductsthatwillharmthesoilorthelivingorganismswithinthesoil,suchasweedkillersorslugpellets.Usethebiologicalcontrolmethodsdescribedabovetocontrolpestsanddisease.FormoreinformationaboutsoilmanagementcontacttheRHSorHYDRA(detailsbelow).

Growingfood

Forfirst-timegrowersitisimportanttodiscusswhattogrowwithallmembersofthefamily–adultsandchildrenaremorelikelytobecomeinvolvedandhelpwiththeworkloadiftheylikewhattheyaregoingtoeat. It isalsousefultoplanyourgardenandconductcarefulresearchintowhichtypeofplantsgrowinthebestlocations.Youneedtofindoutwhatfoodgrowsatwhattimeoftheyear,andplanyourgardensothatyouhavefoodallyearround.Somecropshaveaspecificharvesttime–staggerplantingsothatyouarenotinundatedwithtoomuchofonecropatonetime.Ifyouhaveasmallgarden,growfoodthatonlyneedsasmallspaceandavoidspreadingplants.Avoidplantingunder treesor inareas thathave toomuchshadeorlittlenaturalwater.Youshouldtrytoavoidplantingagainstlarge north-facingwalls, as these have little sunlight and create arainshadow. Trytouseorganicallygrownseedswherepossibleandfindoutwhetheritispossibletosourceseedsandplantslocally,asthiswillhelpyoutounderstandwhatlocalvarietieswillsuittheconditionsin your garden. Avoid genetically modified varieties, and avoidtheuseofslugpelletsandweedkillers(seeabove).OntheGardenOrganicwebsitethereisalargeamountofusefulinformationaboutgrowingorganicfood,includingideasaboutthevarietiesofplantstouse,recognizinganddealingwithweeds,andtreatingcommondiseaseswithouttheuseoftoxicchemicals(detailsbelow).

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CreatingawildlifegardenCreatingawildlifegardenisanenjoyableandeducationalactivityfor children, and it encouragesnaturalpredators thatwillhelp tocontrol thepests inyourgarden.When creatingyourgardenyouneedtothinkaboutfourthingstoencouragewildlife–food,water,shelterandplacestobreed.Also,ifyouaddplentyofvarietytothestructureanddesignofyourgarden,youwillincreasethenumberofwildlifevisitorsthroughouttheyear.Trees,birdboxesandfeedersencourage birds, and hedges are more effective at encouragingwildlifethanfences.Ifyouareunabletogrowahedge,usetrellistogrowclimbingplantsupwallsandfences. Whenplanting,choosetreesandshrubsthatprovideberriesforbirds and other creatures, and try to ensure that plants flower atdifferenttimesoftheyeartoencouragebeesandotherinsectsoveralongerperiod.Usefulinformationaboutnativeandnon-nativetrees,shrubs andhedges canbeobtained from theWild aboutGardenswebsite(detailsbelow). Pondswillencourage frogsand toads,especially if theyhaveamarshy area to provide shelter for their young.When creating apond,makesurethattheedgesarenottoosteep.Insteadtheyshouldbegently sloping so thatamphibiansandother creatures, suchashedgehogs,canclimbout.Thecentreofthepondneedstobedeepenoughthatitdoesnotfreezeinwinter–around55–70centimetreswillprobablybeenough.Ifyouarefillingthepondwithtapwater,letitrestforafewdayssothatthechlorinecandissipateandthenaddabucketofwaterfromamaturepond.Thiswillcontainplantsporesandcellsthatwillhelptocolonizeyourpond.Birdbathsorsmallfountainsprovidewaterforbathinganddrinkingwhenapondisnotpractical.Formoreinformationaboutcreatingawildlifepond,consult thePondConservationTrustwebsite(www.pondtrust.org.uk).

ConservingwaterandenergyAs our climate becomes more unpredictable and droughts morecommon,itisimportanttothinkaboutwaysofconservingwaterinthegarden.Therearemanysimple,cheapandeffectivechangesthatcanbemadewithonlyasmallamountofeffortonyourpart:


Savewaterinthegardenbymakingsurethatyoursoilisrichinorganicmatter(seeabove).

Ifyouareveryseriousaboutsavingwateryoucouldthinkaboutinstallingrainwaterharvestingsystemsoragravity-fedsystemfortoilets.Thesetypesofsystemwouldneedthebackingofthewholefamily,andyoushouldcarefullycomparethecostswiththe environmental benefits.More information about rainwaterharvesting systems can be obtained from the UK RainwaterHarvestingAssociation(detailsbelow).

During hosepipe bans, remove half the leaves of large-leafedplantsandwaterasclosetotherootsaspossible.Afunnelorhalfabottledugintothesoildirectlyovertherootswillhelpyoutotargetthewaterandreducewastage.ConsulttheRHSwebsiteforup-to-dateinformationaboutwhichareasinthecountryareexperiencingahosepipeban(detailsbelow).

Cover the soilwithmulch to retainwater, especially over thedriersummermonths.Youcanrecyclehouseholdmaterialsforthispurpose.

Useasmanywaterbuttsasthesizeofyourpropertyandgardenwillallow.Collectrainwaterfromtheroofofyourhome,sheds,greenhouses andgarages. Suitablewater butts can be orderedfromtheCATwebsite(www.cat.org.uk/shopping).

Recycle‘greywater’fromthehome,includingthebath,showerandkitchensink.However,makesure thatyouhavenotusedstrongdetergentsandthatthewaterisnottoosaltyorgreasy,andspreadthewaterthinlyacrossalargearea.Soapsandshampoosinthewaterwillnotharmyourplants.Simplediversionkitsareavailabletohelpyoudivertwaterfromyourdownpipeintobutts(seewebsitesbelow).

Usedriportrickle irrigationsystems,ratherthanhosepipesorsprinklers.

Buyandplantnewplantsinautumnandspringsothattheygetmorerainwaterandneedlesswatering.

Pots, containers and hanging baskets needmore watering, sokeeptheirusetoaminimum.

Digsoilintheautumnandneverinthesummer,asmuchwatercanbelostthroughevaporation.

Gardeners 199

Choose drought-resistant plants.Advice about these plants isofferedontheRHSwebsite(detailsbelow).

Conservingenergyinthegardenisalsoimportant,andtodaythereareanumberofproductsthatutilizesolarpower, includingsolar-poweredgardenlights,solarwaterpumpsandsolarwaterfountainsforgardenwaterfeatures,andelectronicdeterrentdevisesforpests,whichalso runonsolarpower.Theseproductsareavailable fromgoodgardencentresorfromsomeoftheonlineshopslistedbelow.

SourcingenvironmentallyfriendlyproductsandmaterialsThereareavarietyofcompaniesthatspecializeinprovidingproductsforgardenerswhoareinterestedinenvironmentallyfriendlyproductsandmaterials(seeusefulwebsitesbelow).TheOrganicDirectoryisausefulbookthatlistscertifiedorganicvegetableboxschemes,shops,restaurantsandotheruseful information (detailsbelow).Tocheckthegreencredentialsofproduceorproductslookforendorsementand/orsupportfromanyofthefollowingorganizations:

theWildlifeTrust;

theBirdcareStandardsAssociation;

theBritishTrustforOrnithology;

theRoyalSocietyfortheProtectionofBirds;

theRoyalSocietyforthePreventionofCrueltytoAnimals;

theWorldWildlifeFund;

theBirdsandBusinessAlliance;

theVegetarianSociety;

theBarnOwlTrust;

theRoyalHorticulturalSociety;

ButterflyConservation;

EnglishNature;

theMammalsTrust;


theWoodlandTrust;

thePondsConservationTrust;

theSoilAssociation.

Certification

There are a number of organizations that certify organic produceandproductssoldintheUnitedKingdom.Tradersshoulddisplayacertificateandhaveatradingschedulethatlistsalltheproductsthathavebeenlicensedbytherelevantorganization.Ifyouareindoubtabouttheorganiccredentialsofproduceorproducts,youshouldasktoseethecertificateorthetradingschedule.Ifthetraderisunabletoproducethis,yetissellingtheproduceasorganic,itisrecommendedthatyoureporthimorhertotherelevantcertifyingbodyortoyourlocaltradingstandardsoffice.Certificationbodiesforwhichyoucancheckinclude:

TheSoilAssociation(www.soilassociation.org);

Organic Farmers and Growers Limited (www.organicfarmers.com);

theScottishOrganicProducersAssociation(www.sopa.org.uk);

theOrganicFoodFederation(www.orgfoodfed.com);

Demeter (the Biodynamic Agricultural Association: www.biodynamic.org.uk);

the Irish Organic Farmers and Growers Association (www.irishorganic.ie);

OrganicTrustLtd(www.organic-trust.org);

CMiCertification(www.cmi-plc.com);

QualityWelshFoodCertification(www.wfsagri.net);

AsciscoLimited(www.soilassociation.org).

KnowingaboutgrantsanddiscountschemesManylocalauthoritieshaveaschemethroughwhichtheyprovidecompostbinsatagreatly reducedpriceor freeof charge.Contact

Gardeners 201

your localauthority for informationaboutyour localscheme.YoucanalsocontactyourlocalauthorityfordetailsofitsLocalAgenda21plan.Theseplanscameaboutasaresultofthe1992EarthSummitinRiodeJaneiro,atwhichtheAgenda21planwasdevisedasawaytomove towards sustainabledevelopment.Local authoritieswereasked to devise a plan thatwould protect the local environment,use local resources and services, and use natural resources moreefficiently.Through thisplan local authoritiesoffergrants to localcommunities to improve the environment in which they live.Examples of schemes include the Environment and CountrysideGrantSchemeandtheBiodiversityGrantScheme.Contactyourlocalauthoritytofindoutwhatgrantsareavailable,andforinformationabouteligibilitycriteria. Although funding organizations are unlikely to offer grants toindividuals for creating a more environmentally friendly gardenfor personal use, there are a number of other organizations thatwilloffermoney to communitygroups forvarious typesofgreenproject,includingcreatinganorganicgardenforcommunityuse,orforcleaningandtidyingderelictland.Formoreinformationaboutgrants, application procedures and eligibility criteria, contact therelevantorganization:

Awards for all (tel: 08456002040;website:www.awardsforall.org.uk);

BigLotteryFund(tel:08454102030;website:www.biglotteryfund.org.uk);

HeritageLotteryFund(tel:02075916042;website:www.hlf.org.uk);

LotteryFunding(tel:08452750000;website:www.lotteryfunding.org.uk).

SummaryTherearemanyenvironmentallyfriendlychangesthatyoucanmakeinyourgarden,includingreusingandrecyclinghouseholdmaterialsand organic matter, composting, organic cultivation, creating awildlife garden, buying environmentally friendly products, andconservingwater and energy.Most of these changes are cheap tomake,somewillsaveyoumoney,andwitha littletimeandeffortyouwillhaveagoodsupplyoffreefood.


Throughoutthebookadviceandinformationhasbeenofferedonallaspectsofbuying,developingandinvestingingreenproperty.Aswithgardeningdiscussedinthischapter,manyofthechangesyoumakewillleadtofinancialsavings,ahealthierlifestyleandhelptoimprove theenvironment for futuregenerations.Usefuladdressesandwebsitesareprovidedattheendofthebookforthoseofyouwhowishtocarryoutfurtherresearch.Iwishyoueverysuccessinachievingyourgreenpropertygoals.

Usefulorganizations

TheRoyalHorticulturalSociety(RHS)

TheRHS isaUKcharitydedicated toadvancinghorticultureandpromotinggoodgardening.YoucanobtaininformationandadviceaboutallaspectsofhorticulturefromtheRHS.Thewebsitecontainsa useful problem solver that helps you to understand and solveproblemsyoumayfaceinyourgarden,suchaspests,plantdiseaseandfungi.

RoyalHorticulturalSociety80VincentSquareLondonSW1P2PETel:08452605000E-mail:[email protected]:www.rhs.org.uk

TheWildlifeTrust

TheWildlifeTrust is apartnershipof 47wildlife trusts across theUnitedKingdom.ItisaUKcharitydedicatedtoconservingwildlifehabitatsandspecies.Youcanfindoutmoreaboutitswork,obtainusefulpublicationsandfindinformationaboutyour local trustonthewebsite.

TheWildlifeTrustTheKiln,Waterside,MatherRoadNewarkNottinghamshireNG241WTTel:08700367711

Gardeners 203

Fax:08700360101E-mail:[email protected]:www.wildlifetrusts.org

GardenOrganic

Garden Organic is the working name of the Henry DoubledayResearchAssociation(HDRA),whichisacharityfororganicgrowing,dedicatedtohelpinggardeners,farmersandmembersofthepublicwhoareinterestedinorganicmethods.Onitswebsiteyoucanfinduseful informationaboutallaspectsoforganicgrowing, includingcomposting, sourcing products, school projects and obtainingorganicfoodonabudget.

GardenOrganicRytonOrganicGardensCoventryWarwickshireCV83LGTel:02476303517Fax:02476639229E-mail:[email protected]:www.gardenorganic.org.uk

TheSoilAssociation

The Soil Association is an environmental charity that promotessustainable,organicfarming.ThroughSoilAssociationCertificationLtd, organic certification is offered to farmers, growers, foodpro-cessorsandpackers,retailers,caterers,textileproducers,healthandbeautymanufacturersandimportersfromtheUnitedKingdomandoverseas.You can look for this certificationwhen checking to seethattheproductsyouarebuyingareorganic.TheSoilAssociationwebsitecontainsusefulinformationonlivinganorganiclifestyle.

TheSoilAssociationBristolHouse,40–56VictoriaStreetBristolBS16BYTel:01173145000Fax:01173145001E-mail:[email protected]:www.soilassociation.org


PesticideActionNetworkUK(PANUK)

PANUKisanindependent,non-profitorganizationthatpromoteshealthyfood,agricultureandanenvironmentthatwillprovidefoodandmeetpublichealthneedswithoutdependenceontoxicchemicals,andwithoutharmtofoodproducersandagriculturalworkers.Onitswebsiteyoucanfinduseful informationandpublicationsonawidevarietyofissuesconcerningtheavoidanceoftoxicchemicals,controllingpests in thegardenandhome,anddisposingsafelyofunwantedpesticides.

PesticideActionNetworkUKDevelopmentHouse56–64LeonardStreetLondonEC2A4JHTel:02070650905Fax:02070640907E-mail:[email protected]:www.pan-uk.org

TheFairtradeFoundation

The Fairtrade Foundation licenses the FAIRTRADEmark to pro-ducts in the United Kingdom that meet international fair tradestandards.Thismarkisanindependentconsumerlabelthatappearson products as a guarantee that disadvantaged producers in thedevelopingworldaregettingabetterdeal.YoucanfindoutmoreaboutFairtradeproductsandsuppliersonitswebsite.

TheFairtradeFoundationRoom204,16Baldwin’sGardensLondonEC1N7RJTel:02074055942Fax:02074055943E-mail:[email protected]:www.fairtrade.org.uk

TheEthicalTradingInitiative(ETI)

ETIisanallianceofcompanies,NGOsandtradeunionorganizations.Itexiststoensurethattheworkingconditionsofworkersproducing

Gardeners 205

fortheUKmarketmeetorexceedinternationallabourstandards.Onthewebsiteyoucanfindmoreinformationaboutethicaltrade.

TheEthicalTradingInitiative2ndfloor,CromwellHouse14FulwoodPlaceLondonWC1V6HZTel:02074041463Fax:02078317852E-mail:[email protected]:www.ethicaltrade.org.uk

Usefulwebsiteswww.wildaboutgardens.orgThisisanewprojectfromtheRHSandWildlifeTruststhataimstobringtogethertheworldsofgardeningandnatureconservationforthebenefitofpeopleandwildlife.Onthewebsiteyoucanfindusefulinformationandadviceaboutestablishingawildlifegarden.

www.ukrha.orgTheUKRainwaterHarvestingAssociation(UK-RHA)isacompanylimitedbyguaranteethatservestoactasafocalpointfororganiza-tionswith business interests in the rainwater harvesting industry.On its website you can accessmore information about rainwaterharvestingandobtaincontactdetailsofmembers.

www.ernest-charles.comThisisthewebsiteofEarnestCharles,acompanythatspecializesinproductsforgardenwildlife,includingsafeandhumanedeterrentsforpests,soilimprovers,birdseed,feedersandbaths,booksandgifts.Thecompanyhelpstodevelopbirdfeedproductsandcontributestowildlifetrusts.Moreinformationandtheonlinestorecanbeaccessedfromthewebsite.

www.naturalgardening.co.ukOn this website you will find a range of fertilizers and compostbalancersthatwillhelpyoutoenrichyourgardensoilinanorganicway.


www.impactpublishing.co.ukImpactPublishingspecializesinmodern,practicalguidestogarden-ing,lifestylechoicesandtheenvironment.Onitswebsiteyoucanfindbooksaboutcreatingwildlifegardensandponds,greenparenting,growingfruitandvegetablesandproducingperfectlawns.

www.greenpestco.comThe Green Pest Company is a family-run business that suppliesenvironmentallyfriendlyproductstocontrolpests.

www.recycleworks.co.ukThis companymanufactures and sells recycling products such ascomposting equipment, water butts, waste organization systemsandshredders.Italsohasa‘giveaway’servicethatenablesuserstoofferunwanteditemsingoodconditionfreeofcharge.

www.wigglywigglers.co.ukThiscompanyofferssustainableproductsthatoffervalueformoney,from various type of worm composting equipment to bird boxesandfeeders.Onthewebsiteyoucanfindusefuladviceaboutwormcomposting.

FurtherreadingLitchfield, C (ed) (2005)The Organic Directory 2006, Green Books,Totnes

Roulac,J(1998)BackyardComposting,GreenBooks,TotnesScott,N(2003)CompostingforAll,GreenBooks,TotnesWarren, P (2003)How to Store your Garden Produce: The key to self

sufficiency,GreenBooks,Totnes

AppendixGrants,loansandtaxincentives

RegionalschemesLocalauthoritiesthroughouttheUnitedKingdomofferanumberofgrantsforhomeownersandlandlordstoimprovetheirproperty.Inmostcases,homeownerswillneedtobeinreceiptofstatebenefits,classedas‘vulnerable’homeownersoronlowincomes.Thosewhoareonlowincomesmustcompletea‘financialresources’formwhichprovidesinformationabouttheirpersonalincome,andthismustbebackedupwithevidence.Grantsforlandlordstendnottobemeans-tested.Instead,alandlordmayreceiveapercentageofthecostofthework,ratherthanthefullamountthatwouldbepayabletomeans-testedhomeowners. Eligibilitycriteriavarybetweenlocalauthorities,andwilldependonthegrantforwhichyouareapplying.However,forhomeownergrantsyouwillneedtoholdthefreeholdoftheproperty,intendtoliveinthepropertyforaspecifiednumberofyearsandhavethepropertyas your sole residence. You will also need to meet the financialcriteriamentionedabove.Landlordswillneedtodemonstratethattheyintendtoletthepropertyforaspecifiednumberofyearsafterimprovementshavebeenmade. Applicationproceduresvary,butingeneralyouwillneedtocheckthat youmeet the eligibility criteria, fill in the appropriate forms,includingafinancialassessment,andprovidetherequiredevidence.Thiscouldincludebankstatements,wageslipsandbenefitbooks.Yourlocalauthoritywillletyouknowwhetheryourapplicationhasbeensuccessful,andifnot,willtellyouwhy.Inmostcasesyouhavethe right to appeal against thedecision. In some local authorities,evenifyourapplicationissuccessful,youwillbeplacedonawaitinglistuntilfundsbecomeavailable.

208 Appendix

In some cases an environmental health officer or improvementgrantsofficerwillvisityourpropertytoassessyourneedsandhelpyou tofindoutwhichgrants are themost suitable.A scheduleofworkswillbedrawnuptoitemizetheworkthatneedsdoing. Some local authorities have a list of approved contractors thatmustbeusedtocarryoutthework,whereasothersrequireyoutoobtainquotationsfromlocalcontractors.Ifthisisthecase,thelocalauthoritywillinspectthequotationtocheckthatitisreasonable,andwillwantcontactdetailsforthecontractor,tocheckthatheorsheislegitimateandnotarelationorfriendofyours.Somewillprovidealistofbuilderstohelpyouchooseareliableorganization Local authority schemes vary fromyear to year, depending onthe funds available, so contact the housing section of your localauthority tofindoutwhat is available.Manynowpublishdetailsoftheirgrantsontheirwebsiteorpublishaninformationleafleton‘housinggrants’or‘energy-efficiencygrants’.Thefollowinggrantsareexamplesofwhatmaybeavailableinyourregion.


Thesegrantsareavailable tohelpowner-occupiers, landlordsandtenantstoinstallenergy-efficientheatingandinsulation.Thegrantsaremeans-testedandavailabletohomeownersandtenantswhoareonmeans-testedbenefitsorlowincomes.Landlordsarenotmeans-tested,butonlyreceiveapercentageofthecostofworks.Schemesvary between local authorities and depend upon available funds.If funds are not available applicants are placed on awaiting list.Schemesshouldcoversomeorallofthefollowingenergyefficientimprovements:

wallinsulation;

loftinsulation;

laggingofpipesandcylinders;

draftproofingofwindowsanddoors;

energy-efficientlighting;

heating controls including timer, hot water thermostat andthermostaticradiatorvalves;

Appendix 209

acentralheatingsystemwithcondensingboilerwherethereisnocentralheatingsysteminstalled;

additionalventilationwhererequired.

Energygrants

SomelocalauthoritiesoffergrantstohomeownersortenantswhodonotqualifyforthetypeofgrantsmentionedaboveorfortheWarmFrontschemementionedbelow.Thegrantsareavailableforvarioustypesof insulationandremovalofoldmaterials.Theschemesareadministered by home improvement agencies (HIA), and specificeligibility criteriaapply, soyou shouldcontactyour localHIA formoreinformation(seeChapter1).

Renovationgrants

Renovationgrantsaredesignedtohelpowner-occupierscarryoutrepairsorimprovementstotheirproperties.However,insomeareasthe grants are available for tenants, if they have a full repairingleaseorafixed-termtenancyofatleastfiveyears,andforlandlords.Some local authorities enable you to include energy-efficiencyimprovementsintheworks. Inmostcasesthesegrantsarediscretionaryandwilldependonthefundsavailable.Toobtainagrantyouwillneedtoholdthefreeholdandintendtoliveorletthepropertyforaspecifiednumberofyears.Yourpropertywillneedtohavebeenclassed‘unfit’forhabitationorfailedthenewHousingHealthandSafetyRatingSystem(HHSRS)assessment.ThiscameintoforceinApril2006inEnglandandlaterintheyearinWales.Itisanewriskassessmenttoolusedtoassesspotential risks to thehealthand safetyofoccupants in residentialproperties,anditreplacestheHousingFitnessStandardwhichwassetoutintheHousingAct1985.Youwillnotbeeligibleforagrantif thework can be carried out under other assistance such as aninsuranceorthird-partyclaim.Thegrantismeans-tested.

Emptypropertygrants

Thesegrantsareavailabletohelppeopleinterestedinrestoringanemptyproperty.Localauthoritieswillpayapercentageofthecostof

210 Appendix

works,usuallyintheregionof30–70percent,withmostspecifyinganupper cost limit, usually around£10,000.The amountof grantyouwillreceivedependsonanumberoffactors,includingthetypeandsizeofproperty,itslocationandtheintendeduseoncetheworkis complete. If you sell thepropertywithina specifiednumberofyearsyouwillhavetorepaythegrant. Somelocalauthoritiesspecifytheamountoftimethatapropertymusthavebeenemptybeforeagrantwillbeoffered,andsomewillonlyoffergrantsifthepropertyistobemadeavailableforprivatelettingthrougharegisteredsociallandlord.Ifthisisthecase,localauthoritiesareveryspecificabouttheendproduct,intermsofsizeof rooms,standardofaccommodation,décor,fixturesandfittings,energy efficiency and heating. Once the property is renovated itmustmeetthecriteriasetoutinthenewHHSRS.Ifyouceasetoletthepropertywithinaspecifiedperiodoftime,youwillhavetorepaythegrant.


Some local authorities offer loans to homeowners and landlordswhowishtorepairandrenovatetheirproperty.Insomecasesloanswillonlybegivenifthepropertyhasbeendeemedunfitforhumanhabitation.Theloansareinterestfreeandrepayablebyhomeownerseitherwhen the property is sold or bequeathed, or in the case oflandlords, after five years. Local authorities specify a maximumamountofloan,whichcouldbeupto£20,000,andneedtoapproveascheduleofworksbeforealoanwillbegranted. Homeownersshouldcheckthatthisisthemostsuitablemethodofraisingfinances,as,intheeventoftheirdeath,relativeswillneedtopaybacktheloan,whetherornottheyselltheproperty.


Ahouseinmultipleoccupation(HMO)isdefinedas‘ahousewhichisoccupiedbypersonswhodonotformasinglehousehold’.LocalauthoritiesofferdiscretionarygrantstolandlordstohelpthemmakeanHMOfitforhumanhabitation,orcarryoutrepairsorupgradeforthenumberofoccupiers.Thisincludesgrantstoimproveenergyefficiency. Some local authorities place a limit on the amount of grantavailable, whereas others do not have a maximum limit, but the

Appendix 211

numberofgrantsavailableisrestrictedbyavailablefinances.Inmostcaseslandlordsmustmakeameans-testedcontributiontowardstheworks,basedon therent tobereceived fromtheproperty.Grantsarenotgivenuntiltherequiredplanningpermissionsandbuildingregulationsapprovalhavebeengranted. Thepropertywillneedtocontinuetobeletforaspecifiedperiod,mustbeadequatelyinsuredandmustbemaintainedinafitcondition.Somelocalauthoritiesspecifytherentlevelsthatmustbecharged,andrequirethegranttoberepaidinfullifconditionsarebreachedorthepropertyissoldwithinaspecifiedperiod.

NationalschemesThereareanumberofschemesthatareavailableforhomeowners,landlordsandand/ordevelopersacrossoneormorecountriesoftheUnitedKingdom,asdescribedbelow.


This scheme isavailable forhomeownersand tenantswho live inWales.Itisaimedprimarilyathouseholdswiththegreatesthealthrisks–olderpeople,peoplewithchildrenundertheageof16andpeoplewhoaredisabledandchronicallysick.Throughthisschemeagrantofup to£2,700 isprovided tomakehomeswarmer,moreenergy efficient and more secure. The grant can be used for thefollowingimprovements:

loftinsulation;

cavitywallinsulation;

draught-proofing;

hotwatertankinsulation;

gasroomheaterswiththermostaticcontrols;

electricstorageheaters;

convertingasolid-fuelopenfiretoamodernglass-frontedfire;

low-energylightbulbs.

212 Appendix

When an enquiry is received, an approved surveyor is sent toyour property tomake an assessment and decide upon themostappropriateimprovements,explaintheschemeandhelpyoutofillintherelevantforms.Anapprovedcontractorisarrangedtocarryoutthework.TheschemeisfundedbytheNationalAssemblyforWalesandmanagedbytheEagaGroup(seeusefulorganizations).Moreinformationabouttheschemecanbeobtainedbytelephoning08003162815.

WarmFront(England)

WarmFrontwaslaunchedinJune2000astheHomeEnergyEfficiencyScheme.Throughthisschemeagrantof£2,700or£4,000(ifoilcentralheatinghasbeenrecommended)isavailabletocertainhouseholdsinEngland.Toqualifyfortheschemeyoumustownyourownhomeorrentfromaprivatelandlord,haveachildunder16orbeatleast26weekspregnant,andbeinreceiptofstatebenefits. Anassessorwillvisityourhometodecidewhatenergyefficiencymeasuresneedtoputintoplace.Ifthecostofthesemeasuresexceedsthetotalvalueofthegrant,householdersmayberequiredtomakeacontribution.Theschememanagerappointsanapprovedcontractortocarryoutthework(seeEagaGroupinusefulorganizations). Ifyouareaprivatelandlordyouwillneedtoagreetoalltheworksandmay need to pay an additional contribution. Once the workhasbeencarriedoutyouarenotable to increase therentonyourpropertyuntiloneyearafterinsulationmeasureshavebeeninstalledand two years after heating measures have been installed. MoreinformationabouttheschemecanbeobtainedfromtheDepartmentforEnvironment,FoodandRuralAffairswebsite (www.defra.gov.uk)orbytelephoning08003166011.

WarmDeal(Scotland)

Thisschemeprovidesgrantsofupto£500whichcanbeputtowardsa number of energy-saving measures for certain households inScotland.Tobeeligiblefortheschemeyouoryourspousemustownor rent yourhome, be over the age of 60 or be in receipt of statebenefits.Thegrantwillhelptopayforcavitywall,loft,pipeortankinsulation,draught-proofingandenergy-efficientlighting. An assessor will visit your home to discuss your needs and

Appendix 213

arrange for approved contractors to carry out thework.Youwillneedtoprovideproofofyourageifover60,orproofthatyouareonstatebenefits,ifunderthisage. More information about the scheme can be obtained from theScottishExecutivewebsite(www.scotland.gov.uk)orbytelephoning08000720150.


This scheme helps certain households in Scotland to improve theheating systems in their home. To qualify for the scheme peoplemust:

beresidentinScotland;

own or rent their home, which must be their main or onlyresidence;

havebeenresidentinthepropertyforatleast12monthspriortotheapplication,andintendtoliveinthepropertyforatleast12monthsaftertheworkhasbeencompleted;

liveinapropertythatdoesnotcontainacentralheatingsystem,orinwhichtheexistingsystemisbrokenandbeyondrepair.

All successful applicants will be visited by an assessor who willrecommendmeasures to improve the heating system. This couldincludeanewcentralheatingsystem,insulation,draught-proofing,smokealarmsandenergy-savinglightbulbs.Moreinformationaboutthe scheme can be obtained from the Scottish Executive website(www.scotland.gov.uk)orbytelephoning08003161653.


TheWarmHomesschemeis fundedbytheDepartment forSocialDevelopment and managed by the Eaga Group. Through thisscheme grants of up to £750 are provided for homeowners andtenants inNorthern Irelandwhoare in receiptof certainbenefits.MoreinformationabouttheschemecanbeobtainedfromtheEagawebsite(www.eagagroup.com)orbytelephoning0800181667.

214 Appendix


Through the Low Carbon Buildings Programme individualhouseholders can apply forgrants tohelpwith the installationofrenewable sources of energy for their homes. Larger grants areavailable for communities that decide to install renewable energytechnology for community use.At the time ofwriting grants areofferedat the levelsgiven inTableA.1 for individualhouseholds.However,therehavebeensomerecentmediareportsaboutpeoplebeingunsuccessfulintheirapplication–youshouldapplyearlyandbeawarethatgrantsaresubjecttoavailabilityandstrictcriteria. More information about these grants can be obtained from theDTI’sLowCarbonBuildingsProgrammewebsite(www.lowcarbonbuildings.org.uk)orbytelephoning08009150990.


The Scottish Community and Householder Renewables InitiativeoffersgrantsandadvicetopeopleinScotlandwhowishtodeveloprenewablesourcesofenergy.ItisfundedbytheScottishExecutiveandmanagedjointlybytheESTandHighlandsandIslandsEnterprise.Itisalsopossibleforbuilders,developersandarchitectstoapplyforgrantsonbehalfoffutureownersofhousestheyarebuilding. The initiative supports a range of renewable technologies thatincludethefollowing:

microhydro-electric;

microwind;

solarwaterheating;

solarspaceheating;

automatedwoodfuelheatingsystems(boilersandroomheaters/stoves);

heatpumps(ground,airandwatersource);

connectionstotheLerwickDistrictheatingNetworkinShetland(appliestoheatexchangeronly).

Toqualifyforagrantyoumustownthepropertywheretherenew-able energy system is to be installed, obtain a quotation from an

Appendix 215

TableA.1 LowCarbonBuildingsProgrammegrants

Technology Grantavailable

Solarphotovoltaics Maximum£3,000perkWpinstalled,uptoamaximumof£15,000subjecttoanoverall50percentlimitoftheinstalledcost(exclusiveofVAT)

Windturbines Maximum£1,000perkWinstalled,uptoamaximumof£5,000subjecttoanoverall30percentlimitoftheinstalledcost(exclusiveofVAT)

Smallhydro Maximum£1,000perkWinstalled,uptoamaximumof£5,000subjecttoanoverall30percentlimitoftheinstalledcost(exclusiveofVAT)

Solarthermalhotwater

Maximum£400regardlessofsizesubjecttoanoverall30percentlimit(exclusiveofVAT)

Heatpumps Maximum£1,200regardlessofsizesubjecttoa(ground/water/airsource)overall30percentlimit(exclusiveofVAT)

Bio-energy:

1)Roomheater/stoveswithautomatedwoodpelletfeed

Maximum£600regardlessofsizesubjecttoanoverall20percentlimit(exclusiveofVAT)

2)Wood-fuelledboilersystems

Maximumof£1,500regardlessofsizesubjecttoanoverall30percentlimit(exclusiveofVAT)

RenewableCHP Grantlevelstobedefined

MicroCHP Grantlevelstobedefined

Fuelcells Grantlevelstobedefined

accredited installer,anduseanapproved installerofanapprovedsystem.MoreinformationabouttheinitiativecanbeobtainedfromtheESTwebsite(www.est.co.uk/schri)orbytelephoning08001388858.

216 Appendix

Enhancedcapitalallowances

Theenhancedcapitalallowance(ECA)schemewassetuptoencou-rageUKbusinessestoreducecarbonemissionswhichcontributetoclimatechange.Thisschemeprovidesup-front taxrelief,allowingbusinessestoclaim100percentfirst-yearcapitalallowancesagainsttheirtaxableprofits.ECAsbringforwardthistaxreliefsothatitcanbesetagainsttheprofitsofaperiodearlierthanwouldotherwisebethecase.Thismeansthatyoureceiveareductioninyourtaxbillandaboosttoyourcashflowintheyearinwhichtheinvestmentismade.Ifyouareapropertydeveloperwhopayscorporationtaxorincometax,youmaybeeligibleforthisscheme. Only energy-savingproducts thatmeet the scheme’spublishedenergy-saving criteria can attract an ECA. The technologies thatcurrently appearon theEnergyTechnologyList andare thereforeeligiblefortheECAinclude:

air-to-airenergyrecovery;

automaticmonitoringandtargeting;

boilers;

combinedheatandpower;

compactheatexchangers;

compressedairequipment;

heatpumpsforspaceheating;

HVACzonecontrols;

lighting;

motors;

pipeworkinsulation;

refrigerationequipment;

solarthermalsystems;

terminalscreens;

variablespeeddrives;

warmairandradiantheaters.

Appendix 217

Most of these categories contain details of specific technologiesthatmeet the funding criteria.Consult theECAwebsite formoreinformationaboutthetechnologiesyouareintendingtouse(www.eca.gov.uk). ECAs are claimed in the sameway as other capital allowanceson the corporation tax return for companies and the income taxreturn for individuals andpartnerships.HMRevenue&Customsadministersclaimsandwillcheckfornegligentorfraudulentclaims.More informationaboutmakingaclaimcanbeobtained fromtheHMRCwebsite(www.hmrc.gov.uk).

Theenergyefficiencycommitment

IntheUnitedKingdomthegovernmentrequiresenergycompaniestofundenergyimprovementsindomestichomes.Undertheenergyefficiency commitment (EEC) companies are obliged to providegrantsforhomeownerstoinstallcavitywallandloftinsulation. This scheme is aimed at homeowners but landlords can alsotake advantage of this scheme for some or all of their properties.Atthetimeofwritingthegrantprovidesa£200discountforcavitywall insulation and £150 for loft insulation. These grants changefrequently, so for the most up-to-date information consult yourlocalauthority.TheESTalsohasanetworkofadvicecentreslocatedacrossEngland,Scotland,WalesandNorthernIreland.Thesecentresare able to provide expert advice on the EEC, energy efficiencyand informationaboutgrantsand tax incentives forhomeowners,landlordsanddeveloperswhoarehopingtomakeenergy-efficientimprovements to their properties. You can obtain contact detailsof your local energy efficiency advice centre by visitingwww.est.org.uk/myhome/localadvice and entering your postcode in theboxprovided,orclickon therelevantmap location.Alternatively,youcanusetheformontheESTwebsitetosendanenergy-relatedquestiontoyourlocalcentre.

Stampdutyexemption

FromApril 2007 there will be no stamp duty payable on newlybuilt zero-carbon homes for at least three years. At present it isunclearhowthegovernmentwillmeasureenergyconsumption.Forexample,will this definition relate to the building, the occupantsor the construction techniques andmaterials? Some campaigners

218 Appendix

believethattherewillbesuchstringentcriteriaattachedtoachievingexemptionthatitwillbeimpossibleforbuildersanddeveloperstoobtain.Ifyouarehopingtobuildazero-carbonhomeyouwillneedtoseekspecialistadviceattheplanninganddesignstage.

DIYbuildersandconvertersrefundscheme

If you are intending to build your ownproperty, it is possible toclaimaVATrefundonyourmainconstructioncosts.However,youareexcludedunderthisschemeifyourdevelopmentisforbusinesspurposessuchasspeculativedevelopmentortolettotenants.Rulesandregulationsarecomplexandyoushouldseekfurtheradviceifyouwishtotakeadvantageofthisscheme.

Usefulorganizations

Charitablegroupsandnon-profitorganizations

NationalEnergyFoundation(NEF)

NEFisaneducationalcharityregisteredinEnglandthathelpspeopleintheUnitedKingdombyofferingadviceaboutsafeandefficientenergyuse. The charity is controlled by an independent board oftrusteeswhose concern is toprotect the environmentbyavoidingthewasteofenergy.Onitswebsiteyoucanfindinformationaboutcarbondioxideemissions,energyratings,savingenergy,renewableandsustainableenergy,andsubscribetothefreenewsletter.

NationalEnergyFoundationDavyAvenueKnowlhillMiltonKeynesMK58NGTel:01908665555Fax:01908665577E-mail:[email protected]:www.nef.org.uk

CentreforAlternativeTechnology(CAT)

CAT is a charity concerned with tackling issues that face ourplanetsuchasclimatechange,pollutionandthewasteofpreciousresources. CAT’s visitor centre is situated in southern Snowdoniaand is Europe’s leading environmental display centre, coveringa seven-acre site.At the centre you can see displays highlightingthepowerofwind,waterandsun,andvisitworkingexamplesofenvironmentallyresponsiblebuildings,energyconservation,organicgrowing and composting. CAT produces information leaflets on

220 Useful Organizations

issues such as green tariffs, homeheatingwith renewable energy,environmentalbuilding,investinginrenewableenergy,small-scalewindpower,waterharvestingandreusinggreywater.

CentreforAlternativeTechnologyMachynllethPowysSY209AZTel:01654705950Fax:01654702782Website:www.cat.org.uk

WorldWildlifeFund

The World Wildlife Fund is the world’s largest independentconservationcharity,andwasestablishedintheUnitedKingdomin1961.WWF-UKisinvolvedinthe‘OneMillionSustainableHomes’project, which involves working with the government, industryandconsumers tobringsustainablehomesfromthefringesof thehousingsectortothemainstream.Onitswebsiteyoucandownloadan information leaflet tofindoutmoreabout thisproject.Youcanalso access the ‘housebuilder sustainability toolkit’, which offersadviceonsustainabilityissuestohouse-builders.

WWF-UKPandaHouse,WeysideParkGodalmingSurreyGU71XRTel:01483426444Fax:01483426409E-mail:[email protected]:www.wwf.org.uk

WWFCymruBalticHouse,MountStuartSquareCardiffCF105FHTel:02920454970Fax:02920451306E-mail:[email protected]

WWFNorthernIreland13WestStreet

UsefulOrganizations 221

CarrickfergusCountyAntrimBT387ARTel:02893355166Fax:02893364448E-mail:[email protected]

WWFScotlandLittleDunkeldDunkeldPerthshirePH80ADTel:01350728200Fax:01350728201E-mail:[email protected]

RoyalHorticulturalSociety(RHS)

TheRHS isaUKcharitydedicated toadvancinghorticultureandpromotinggoodgardening.Youcanobtaininformationandadviceaboutallaspectsofhorticulture,andthewebsitecontainsausefulproblemsolverthathelpsyouunderstandandsolveproblemsthatyoumayfaceinyourgarden,suchaspests,plantdiseaseandfungi.

RoyalHorticulturalSociety80VincentSquareLondonSW1P2PETel:08452605000E-mail:[email protected]:www.rhs.org.uk

TheWildlifeTrust

TheWildlifeTrust is apartnershipof 47wildlife trusts across theUnitedKingdom.ItisaUKcharitydedicatedtoconservingwildlifehabitatsandspecies.Youcanfindoutmoreaboutitswork,obtainusefulpublicationsandfindinformationaboutyour local trustonthewebsite.

TheWildlifeTrustTheKiln,WatersideMatherRoad


NewarkNottinghamshireNG241WTTel:08700367711Fax:08700360101E-mail:[email protected]:www.wildlifetrusts.org

GardenOrganic

Garden Organic is the working name of the Henry DoubledayResearchAssociation(HDRA),whichisacharityfororganicgrowing,dedicatedtohelpinggardeners,farmersandmembersofthepublicwhoareinterestinginorganicmethods.Onitswebsiteyoucanfinduseful informationaboutallaspectsoforganicgrowing, includingcomposting, sourcing products, school projects and obtainingorganicfoodonabudget.

GardenOrganicRytonOrganicGardensCoventryWarwickshireCV83LGTel:02476303517Fax:02476639229E-mail:[email protected]:www.gardenorganic.org.uk

TheSoilAssociation

The Soil Association is an environmental charity that promotessustainable,organicfarming.ThroughSoilAssociationCertificationLtd, organic certification is offered to farmers, growers, foodprocessorsandpackers,retailers,caterers,textileproducers,healthandbeautymanufacturers and importers, in theUnitedKingdomandoverseas.Youcanlookforthiscertificationwhencheckingtoseethattheproductsyouarebuyingareorganic.TheSoilAssociationwebsitecontainsusefulinformationonlivinganorganiclifestyle.

TheSoilAssociationBristolHouse,40–56VictoriaStreetBristolBS16BY


Tel:01173145000Fax:01173145001E-mail:[email protected]:www.soilassociation.org

PesticideActionNetworkUK(PANUK)

PANUKisanindependent,non-profitorganizationthatpromoteshealthy food, agriculture and an environment that will providefood andmeet public health needs without dependence on toxicchemicals, and without harm to food producers and agriculturalworkers.Onitswebsiteyoucanfindinformationandpublicationsonawidevarietyofissuesconcerningtheavoidanceoftoxicchemicals,controllingpests in thegardenandhome,anddisposingsafelyofunwantedpesticides.

PesticideActionNetworkUKDevelopmentHouse,56–64LeonardStreetLondonEC2A4JHTel:02070650905Fax:02070640907E-mail:[email protected]:www.pan-uk.org

Advisorygroups

EnergySavingTrust(EST)

TheESTwasestablishedaspartofthegovernment’sactionplaninresponsetothe1992EarthSummitinRiodeJaneirowhichaddressedworldwide concerns on sustainable development issues. The ESTworksinpartnershipwithotherorganizationsandcommunitiestoencourageenergyefficiencyandtheuseofrenewableenergysourcessuch as wind and solar power. Its work includes the promotionof cleaner fuels for transport, and better insulation and heatingefficiencyforhomesandotherbuildings. The EST develops andmanages programmes on behalf of theUK government, which include awareness-raising among localcommunities, the general public and commercial organizations;the production and distribution of a wide range of information


documentsandpublications;andgrantsforinnovativetechnologiesandtechniques.

EnergySavingTrust(England)21DartmouthStreetLondonSW1H9BPTel:02072220101Fax:02076542460Website:www.est.org.uk

EnergySavingTrust(Scotland)112/2CommercialStreetLeithEdinburghEH66NFTel:01315557900Fax:01315557919

EnergySavingTrust(Wales)WalesAlbionHouse,OxfordStreetNantgarwCardiffCF157TRTel:01443845030Fax:01433845940

EnergySavingTrust(NorthernIreland)EnterpriseHouse,55/59AdelaideStreetBelfastBT28FETel:02890726006Fax:02890239907

Localenergyefficiencyadvicecentres

The EST has a network of advice centres located across England,Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. These centres are able toprovideexpertadviceonenergyefficiency,and informationaboutgrants and tax incentives for landlords hoping to make energy-efficient improvements to their properties.You canobtain contactdetails of your local centre byvisitingwww.est.org.uk/myhome/localadvice and entering your postcode in the box provided.Alternatively,youcanusetheformontheESTwebsitetosendanenergy-relatedquestiontoyourlocalcentre.


CommunityActionforEnergy

Thisorganizationisanetworkofpeoplewhoshareacommoninterestincommunityenergyprojectsandideas.ItisaprogrammefromtheEST that is designed to ‘promote and facilitate local community-basedenergyprojects’.Membershipisfreeandonceyoubecomeamemberyoucanreceive informationabout trainingsessions,newinitiatives,localfundingopportunitiesandrelevantlocalnews. Onitswebsiteyoucanaccessadatabaseoffundingopportunities.Thisenablesyoutosearchbykeyword,fundname,typeoffunding,eligible regions and funding organizations. This is a very usefuldatabaseforfindinginformationaboutgrantsandschemesthatmaybenefit you as a homeowner, landlord, developer or tenant.Moreinformationabout theCommunityActionforEnergynetworkcanbeobtainedfromwww.est.org.uk/cafeorbytelephoning08701261444.

Homeimprovementagencies

Homeimprovementsagencies(HIAs)aresmall,non-profit-makingbodiesthatarefundedbylocalauthoritiesthroughtheSupportingPeople Programme. They aremanaged locally by housing associ-ations,localauthoritiesorcharitableorganizations.Themainfunc-tions of HIAs are to support vulnerable people in their quest toremain independent in theirhomes;helppeopleaccess fundsandresourcestomakehomeimprovements;andprovideinformationonhome insurance, loans and equity release. If you are a vulnerablehomeowneroralandlordlettingyourpropertytotenantswhoareolder,disabledoronlowincomes,youcanseekadvicefromyourlocalHIA. More information aboutHIAs can be obtained fromyour localauthority or by contacting Foundations, which is the nationalcoordinatingbodyforhomeimprovementagenciesinEngland.OnitswebsiteyoucanfindcontactdetailsofyournearestHIA.

FoundationsBleaklowHouse,HowardTownMillGlossopDerbyshireSK138HTTel:01457891909Fax:01457869361


E-mail:[email protected]:www.cel.co.uk/foundations

ThePensionsAdvisoryService(TPAS)

TPASisanindependent,voluntaryorganizationthatisgrant-aidedbytheDepartmentforWorkandPensions.TPASoffersusefulanddown-to-earth information about pensions, helping to explaincomplexrulesandregulationsinawaythatcanbeunderstoodbythe layperson.Itwillalsohelpmembersof thepublicwhohaveaproblem, complaint or disputewith their occupational or privatepensionarrangements.

ThePensionsAdvisoryService11BelgraveRoadLondonSW1V1RBTel:08456012823Fax:02072338016E-mail:[email protected]:www.pensionsadvisoryservice.org.uk

Commercialorganizations

EagaGroup

The Eaga Group delivers energy-efficient programmes on behalfof central government, thedevolvednational governments,majorutilitycompaniesandprivatecustomers.Youcanapplyforenergyefficiency grants through this company. Online applications forgrants can be made via the website. This includes the followingschemes:

HomeEnergyEfficiencyScheme(Wales);

WarmFront(England);

WarmDeal(Scotland);

CentralHeatingProgramme(Scotland);

WarmHomesScheme(NorthernIreland).


ContacttheEagaGrouporvisititswebsiteformoreinformation:

EagaHouse,ArchboldTerraceNewcastleuponTyneNE21DBTel:01912473800Fax:01912473802E-mail:[email protected]:www.eagagroup.com

TheCarbonTrust

The Carbon Trust is an independent company funded by thegovernment.TheroleofthecompanyistohelptheUK‘movetoalowcarboneconomybyhelpingbusinessandthepublicsectorreducecarbonemissionnowandcapturethecommercialopportunitiesoflowcarbontechnologies’.Thecompanyproducesusefulinformationon climate change and energy efficiency for businesses, providesenergyefficiencyloansof£5,000–200,000,andadvisesonenhancedcapitalallowancesforbusiness(seeChapter9).

TheCarbonTrust8thfloor,3Clement’sInnLondonWC2A2AZTel:08000852005Fax:02071707020E-mail:[email protected]:www.carbontrust.co.uk

TheCarbonTrustinWalesAlbionHouse,OxfordStreetNantgarwCardiffCF157TRTel:01443845944E-mail:[email protected]

TheCarbonTrustinScotlandBrunelBuilding,JamesWattAvenueScottishEnterpriseTechnologyParkEastKilbrideG750QDTel:01355581810E-mail:[email protected]


TheCarbonTrustinNorthernIrelandUnit9,NorthernIrelandScienceParkTheInnovationCentreQueen’sRoad,Queen’sIslandBelfastBT39DTTel:02890737912E-mail:[email protected]

EthicalInvestorsGroup

The Ethical Investors Group has been established to provide aspecialistfinancialadviceservicetopeoplewhocareabouttheworldanditspreservation.Adviceisofferedtoindividuals,charities,not-for-profit groups and commercial organizations. Although this isa commercial organization, 50 per cent of the profit earned fromcommissionandfeesisdistributedtocharitiesandgroupsnominatedbyitsclients.Contactthegroupforinformationaboutitsfees. On its website you can use the Ethical Fund Directory, whichisacomprehensive listofallethical fundsavailable in theUnitedKingdom. Each entry in the directory includes a special ‘ethicalrating’code,ratingfundsonthreecriteria:humanist,animalwelfareand environmental performance. Information is also provided onethicalISAs,mortgages,lifeassuranceandpensions.

EthicalInvestorsGroupMontpellierHouse,47RodneyRoadCheltenhamGL501HXTel:01242539848Fax:01242539851E-mail:[email protected]:www.ethicalinvestors.co.uk

EthicalInvestmentResearchServices

The Ethical Investment Research Service provides independentresearch into thesocial,environmentalandethicalperformanceofcompaniesfromEurope,NorthAmericaandAsiaPacific.Itprovidesawiderangeof information to individualsandorganizations,butdoesnotofferindependentadviceorrecommendparticularfunds.OnitswebsiteyoucanobtaininformationaboutalltypesofSRI.


EthicalInvestmentResearchServices80–84BondwayLondonSW81SFTel:02078405700Fax:02077355323E-mail:[email protected]:www.eiris.org

BritishFenestrationRatingCouncil(BFRC)

TheBFRChasdevelopedandoperatesaUKnationalratingsystemforthethermalperformanceoffenestrationproducts.Onthewebsiteyoucansearchforthebest-performingwindowsintermsofenergyefficiency,andsearchforaninstaller,manufacturerandsupplierofenergy-savingwindows.

BritishFenestrationRatingCouncilLtd44–48BoroughHighStreetLondonSE11XBTel:02074039200Fax:08700424266E-mail:[email protected]:www.brfc.org

BuildingResearchEstablishmentLtd(BRE)

BREisacollectionofresearchscientists,engineers,architects,sur-veyors, psychologists, administrators, managers and others whobringtogethertheirknowledgeandexpertisetoadviseonsustainableconstructionandthebuiltenvironment.Theyprovideavarietyofconsultancy, testingandcommissionedresearchservices.TheBREbookshopprovidesafullrangeofsustainableconstructionbooks.

BuildingResearchEstablishmentLtdBucknallsLaneWatfordWD259XXTel:01923664000E-mail:[email protected]:www.bre.co.uk


Governmentdepartments

DepartmentforCommunitiesandLocalGovernment

Youcanobtaininformationaboutthenewhomeinformationpack,alongwithotherusefulhousinginformation,fromtheDepartmentforCommunitiesandLocalGovernment(DCLG).

DepartmentforCommunitiesandLocalGovernmentElandHouse,BressendenPlaceLondonSW1E5DUTel:02079444400Fax:02079449645E-mail:[email protected]:www.communities.gov.uk

SustainableEnergyPolicyDivision

Formore information about government policy issues relating toenergyefficiency,consulttheSustainableEnergyPolicyDivisionofDEFRA.

SustainableEnergyPolicyDivisionDEFRA6/H15,AshdownHouse,123VictoriaStreetLondonSW1E6DETel:02070828709Fax:02070828708

CompaniesHouse

The main functions of Companies House are to incorporate anddissolvelimitedcompanies,examineandstorecompanyinformationdelivered under the Companies Act and make this informationavailabletothepublic.


CompaniesHouseCrownWay,MaindyCardiffCF143UTTel:08703333363E-mail:[email protected]:www.companieshouse.gov.uk

PlanningInspectorate

The Planning Inspectorate processes planning and enforcementappealsandholdsinquiriesintolocaldevelopmentplansinEnglandandWales.

PlanningInspectorateTempleQuayHouse,2TheSquareBristolBS16PNTel:01173726372Fax:01173728443E-mail:[email protected]:www.planning-inspectorate.gov.uk

OfficeofFairTrading(OFT)

TheOFTprovidesusefuladviceforanyonewhoneedstodrawupacontractorsignacontractdrawnupbyanotherperson.

OfficeofFairTradingFleetbankHouse,2–6SalisburySquareLondonEC4Y8JXTel:08457224499E-mail:[email protected]:www.oft.gov.uk

Tradeorganizationsandmembershipgroups

NationalAssociationofEstateAgents(NAEA)

NAEA is the largest professional estate agency organization intheUnitedKingdom. It represents almost 10,000members and is


committedtoraisingprofessionalstandardsforthoseworkingwithinthe propertymarket.Allmembersmust operate to a professionalcodeofpracticeandrulesofconduct.Alistofmembersisavailableonthewebsite.

NationalAssociationofEstateAgentsArbonHouse,21JuryStreetWarwickCV344EHTel:01926496800Fax:01926400953E-mail:[email protected]:www.naea.co.uk

TheOmbudsmanforEstateAgents(OEA)

TheOEAhasbeenestablishedtoprovideafree,fairandindependentservice tobuyers and sellers of residentialproperty in theUnitedKingdom.Youcanfindcontactdetailsofmembersinyourareafromthewebsite,accesshousingsurveyinformationandfindoutaboutthecodeofpractice.

OmbudsmanforEstateAgentsBeckettHouse,4BridgeStreetSalisburyWiltsSP12LXTel:01722333306Fax:01722332296E-mail:[email protected]:www.oea.co.uk

NationalAssociationofLoftInsulationContractors(NALIC)

NALIC represents the loft insulation contracting industry and itssuppliers.YoucanobtaininformationaboutloftinsulationandalistofmembersinyourareafromNALIC.

NationalAssociationofLoftInsulationContractorsPOBox12HaslemereSurreyGU273AH


Tel:01428654011Fax:01428651401

BritishWindEnergyAssociation(BWEA)

BWEAisthetradeandprofessionalbodyforthewindandmarinerenewables industries. The primary aim of the association is topromotetheuseofwindpoweraroundtheUnitedKingdom,bothinshore and offshore. If you are interested in installing your ownwindturbineyoucanobtainaninformationpackandalistofsmallwindturbinesuppliersfromtheBWEA.

BritishWindEnergyAssociationRenewableEnergyHouse1AztecRow,BernersRoadLondonN10PWTel:02076891960Fax:02076891969E-mail:[email protected]:www.bwea.com

AssociationofHomeInformationPackProviders(AHIPP)

AHIPPwas founded in June2005 torepresentpeopleandorgani-zationsinvolvedintheproductionandpreparationofhomeinform-ationpacks.Onitswebsiteyoucanobtaininformationaboutwhattheorganizationdoes,alongwithlinkstoorganizationsprovidinghomeinformationpackservices.

AssociationofHomeInformationPackProviders3SavileRowLondonW1S3PBTel:08709507739Fax:01858454714E-mail:[email protected]:www.hipassociation.co.uk


StrawBaleBuildingAssociation(SBBA)

SBBAisaninformalassociationofpeoplewhohaveaninterest instraw bale building.Members include environmental enthusiasts,sustainable builders, architects and building officials. The SBBAofferscourses,workshops,booksandvideosforanyoneinterestedinstrawbaleconstruction.

StrawBaleBuildingAssociationHollinroydFarm,ButtsLaneTodmordenOL148RJTel:01442825421E-mail:[email protected]:www.srawbalebuildingassociation.org.uk

UKSocialInvestmentForum(UKSIF)

UKSIFwaslaunchedin1991andisamembershipnetworkforUKsocially responsible investment (SRI). Its primary purpose is topromoteandencouragethedevelopmentofSRIamongUKinvestors.Members include retail and institutional fundmanagers, financialadvisers,SRI researchproviders, consultants, tradeunions,banks,building societies, NGOs and interested individuals. A memberdirectoryisavailableonthewebsite,alongwithusefulinformationaboutSRI.

UKSocialInvestmentForumHolywellCentre,1PhippStreetLondonEC2A4PSTel:02077499950E-mail:[email protected]:www.uksif.org

EthicalTradingInitiative(ETI)

The ETI is an alliance of companies, NGOs and trade unionorganizations. It exists to ensure that the working conditions ofworkersproducingfortheUKmarketmeetorexceedinternationallabour standards. On thewebsite you can findmore informationaboutethicaltrade.


EthicalTradingInitiative2ndfloor,CromwellHouse14FulwoodPlaceLondonWC1V6HZTel:02074041463Fax:02078317852E-mail:[email protected]:www.ethicaltrade.org.uk

RoyalInstituteofBritishArchitects(RIBA)

RIBAisamemberorganizationwithover30,000membersworldwide.Youcanfindanarchitectusingoneofitsonlinedirectories.

RoyalInstituteofBritishArchitectsRIBAClientServices66PortlandPlaceLondonW1N4ADTel:02075805533Fax:02072551541E-mail:[email protected]:www.riba.org


RICSisthelargestorganizationforprofessionalsworkinginproperty,landandconstructionworldwide.RICSmembershavetoadheretoastrictcodeofconductandarerequiredtoupdatetheirskillsandknowledgecontinually.Allmembersmusthaveproper insurance,andcustomersareprotectedbyaRICSformalcomplaintsservice.



CouncilofLicensedConveyancers

TheCouncil of LicensedConveyancers is the regulatory body forlicensedconveyancers,whoarequalifiedspecialistpropertylawyers.Youcanobtainthecontactdetailsofaconveyancerinyourareabyusingtheonlinedirectory.

CouncilofLicensedConveyancers16GlebeRoadChelmsfordEssexCM11QGTel:01245349599Fax:01245341300Website:www.theclc.gov.uk

AssociationofIndependentInventoryClerks(AIIC)

AIICwassetupin1996torepresentinventoryclerksandprovideinformationtotenantsandlandlords.Membersmustagreetoabidebyacodeofpractice.Onthewebsiteyoucanfindinformationaboutthetenancydepositschemeanddetailsaboutwhatismeantbyfairwearandtear.

AssociationofIndependentInventoryClerksCentralOffice,WillowHouse16CommonfieldsWestEndSurreyGU249HZTel/Fax:01276855388E-mail:[email protected]:www.aiic.uk.com

AssociationforEnvironmentConsciousBuilding(AECB)

AECBisanetworkof individualsandcompanieswithacommonaimofpromotingsustainablebuilding.

AssociationforEnvironmentConsciousBuildingPOBox32LlandysullSA445ZA


Tel:08454569773E-mail:[email protected]:www.aecb.net

RenewableEnergyAssociation

TheRenewableEnergyAssociationisthetradebodyforrenewableenergyproducersintheUnitedKingdom.Althoughitisunabletoprovideanswerstospecificqueriesfrommembersofthepublic,itswebsitecontainsusefulanddetailedinformationaboutalltypesofrenewableenergy,andyoucansearchtheirdatabaseforamemberinyourarea.

RenewableEnergyAssociation17WaterlooPlaceLondonSW1Y4ARTel:02077471830Fax:02079252715E-mail:useenquiryformonwebsiteWebsite:www.r-e-a.net

Guaranteeagenciesandlicensinggroups

CavityInsulationGuaranteeAgency(CIGA)

CIGAisanindependentagencythatprovidesindependent25-yearguaranteesforcavitywall insulationfittedbyregisteredinstallers.Theguaranteecoversmaterialsandworkmanship,andisavailabletosubsequentownersoftheproperty.CIGAwillinvestigatecomplaintsand,wherenecessary,ensurethatremedialworkiscarriedoutfreeofcharge.

CavityInsulationGuaranteeAgencyCIGAHouse,3VimyCourtVimyRoadLeightonBuzzardBedfordshireLU71FGTel:01525853300Fax:01525385926E-mail:[email protected]:www.ciga.co.uk


TheFairtradeFoundation

The Fairtrade Foundation licenses the FAIRTRADE mark toproducts in theUnitedKingdomthatmeet internationalFairtradestandards.Thismarkisanindependentconsumerlabelthatappearson products as a guarantee that disadvantaged producers in thedevelopingworldaregettingabetterdeal.YoucanfindoutmoreaboutFairtradeproductsandsuppliersonitswebsite.

TheFairtradeFoundationRoom204,16Baldwin’sGardensLondonEC1N7RJTel:02074055942Fax:02074055943E-mail:[email protected]:www.fairtrade.org.uk

Usefulwebsites

Charitablegroupswww.nef.org.ukThis is the website of the National Energy Foundation. On thewebsite you can obtain useful information about sustainable andrenewableenergiesandtheEnergyEfficiencyAccreditationScheme,adviceforchildrenandschoolsandtakepartinarenewableenergyquizandsurvey.

www.wildaboutgardens.orgThisisanewprojectfromtheRHSandwildlifetruststhataimstobringtogethertheworldsofgardeningandnatureconservationforthebenefitofpeopleandwildlife.Onthewebsiteyoucanfindusefulinformationandadviceaboutestablishingawildlifegarden.

Advisorygroupswww.est.org.ukThisisthewebsiteoftheEnergySavingTrust.Onthewebsiteyoucanfindusefulinformationaboutinsulation,doubleglazing,homeefficiencychecks,buildingregulations,grantsandloans,adatabaseof approved contractors, renewable energy sources, low-carbonbuildingsandmuchmore.

www.centralheating.co.ukThisisthewebsiteoftheHeatingandHotWaterIndustryCouncil(HHIC). It is an independent organizationwhich aims toprovideunbiasedinformationonallheatingandhotwatermatters.Onitswebsiteyoucanfindinformationaboutsavingenergyandgrants,findaregisteredinstallerandorderaheatlosscalculator.Thisisan

240 Useful Websites

accurate and simple programme that helps you to calculate howmuchheatisbeinglostinyourhome.

Commercialorganizationswww.carbontrust.co.ukThis is the website of the Carbon Trust. On the website you canobtaininformationaboutclimatechange,savingenergy,managingcarbon,loans,taxrelief,newtechnologyresearchanddevelopment,businessdevelopmentandfreeenergysurveys.

www.ethicalinvestment.org.ukThisisthewebsiteoftheEthicalInvestorsAssociation(EIA),whichisanassociationoffinancialadvisersfromaroundtheUnitedKingdomwhopromoteethicalandsociallyresponsibleinvestment.Theaimof the organization is to increasepublic access tofinancial adviceonethicalandsociallyresponsibleinvestment,andraisestandardsamongfinancialadvisersofferingthistypeofadvice.OnthewebsiteyoucanobtainusefuladviceaboutethicalinvestmentandaccessadatabaseofethicalfinancialadvisersintheUnitedKingdom.

www.brebookshop.comThis inanonlinebookstore sellingbooks,videosandsoftwareonalltopicsrelatedtothebuiltenvironmentsector.Youcansearchthebookstore by title, author, ISBN, keyword andpublisher.You canobtainspecialistbooksfromthissitethatmightbedifficulttoobtainelsewhere.

www.greenbuildingstore.co.ukThisisthewebsiteoftheGreenBuildingStore,whichisownedandrun by Environmental Construction Products Ltd. This companyhasspecializedinenvironmentallysensitivebuildingproductssince1995,andiscommittedtoenergy-efficient,sustainableandhealthybuildings.Onthewebsiteyoucansearchthefullproductrangeforglazing, guttering, insulation, paints and wood finishes, sanitaryware, tapsandwatersavingproducts, timberpreservation,water-efficientWCs,andwindowsanddoors.

www.salvoweb.comSalvoisapartnershipthataimstosupportdealersthatholdstocksof architectural salvage, reclaimed building materials, demolition

UsefulWebsites 241

salvage and recycledmaterials.Where possible it encourages fairtradeandeco-friendlyactivities.Contactdetailsfordealers,suppliersandcraftspeoplecanbeobtainedfromthewebsite.

www.greenelectricity.orgThis is thewebsite of the Green ElectricityMarketplace. You canselectaregioninwhichyouliveortowhichyouwanttomoveandfindoutaboutthelocalsuppliersthatoffergreentariffs.Pricesandservicesarecompared,alongwithusefulinformationaboutchoosingasuitablesupplierandadviceaboutthedifferenttypesofrenewableenergysources.

www.greenmoves.comGreenMoves is an advertising website that helps to sell environ-mentally friendly homes in theUnitedKingdom and overseas. Itisalimitedliabilitycompanythatreinvestsitsprofitsbackintothedevelopmentofthewebsitetoofferabetterservicetoitscustomers.In the future ithopes tobeable touse someof itsprofits tooffersmallgrantstohelppromotethecauseofeco-friendlyhomes.

www.ernest-charles.comThisisthewebsiteofEarnestCharles,acompanythatspecializesinproductsforgardenwildlife,includingsafeandhumanedeterrentsforpests,soilimprovers,birdseed,feedersandbaths,booksandgifts.Thecompanyhelpstodevelopbirdfeedproductsandcontributestowildlifetrusts.Moreinformationanditsonlinestorecanbeaccessedfromthewebsite.

www.naturalgardening.co.ukOn this website you will find a range of fertilizers and compostbalancersthatwillhelpyoutoenrichyourgardensoilinanorganicway.

www.impactpublishing.co.ukImpact Publishing specializes in modern, practical guides togardening,lifestylechoicesandtheenvironment.Onitswebsiteyoucan find books about creatingwildlife gardens and ponds, greenparenting, growing fruit and vegetables, and producing perfectlawns.

www.greenpestco.comThe Green Pest Company is a family-run business that suppliesenvironmentallyfriendlyproductstocontrolpests.

242 Useful Websites

www.recycleworks.co.ukThis companymanufactures and sells recycling products such ascomposting equipment, water butts, waste organizations systemsandshredders.Italsohasa‘giveaway’servicethatenablesuserstoofferunwanteditemsingoodconditionfreeofcharge.

www.wigglywigglers.co.ukThiscompanyofferssustainableproductsrangingfromvarioustypeofwormcompostingequipmenttobirdboxesandfeeders.Onthewebsiteyoucanfindusefuladviceaboutwormcomposting.

www.livingclean.co.ukOn thiswebsiteyoucanobtainenvironmentally friendly cleaningproductswhicharebasedonnaturalproductsandfreefromharmfulchemicals.Thecompanyalsooffersacleaningserviceforlandlords,using its environmentally friendly products to clean carpets,upholstery,ovensandbathrooms.

Governmentdepartments,schemesandprogrammeswww.communities.gov.ukThis is the Department for Communities and Local Governmentwebsite.Here you can find comprehensive information about theHousingAct 2004, including information about the newHousingHealthandSafetyRatingSystem(HHSRS)assessment.

www.eca.gov.ukOnthiswebsiteyoucanobtaindetailsabout theenhancedcapitalallowance (ECA) scheme, and information about the technologiesthatareincludedwithinthisscheme.


www.lowcarbonbuildings.org.ukThis is thewebsite of the LowCarbonBuildings Programme.Onthis site you can find information about grants available for theinstallationofrenewableenergytechnologies.

UsefulWebsites 243

www.fsa.gov.ukTheFinancialServicesAuthority(FSA)istheindependentregulatorsetupbythegovernmenttolookafterthefinancialservicesindustryandprotectcustomers.Onitswebsiteyoucanobtaininformationonfinancial planning, insurance, pensions,mortgages, andwarningsaboutscams,peopleandcompaniestoavoid.

www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.ukYou canfind statistics for local areasonawide rangeof subjects,whichincludepopulation,crime,healthandhousing,onthissite.Byenteringthepostcodeofthepropertyinwhichyouareinterestedyoucanobtainsummarystatisticsoftheareabasedonthe2001Census.Ausefultableshowsyoutheaveragehousepricesofdifferenttypesofproperty inyourarea,your countyand inEnglandandWales.Youcanalsoviewthestatisticsbysubject: ‘housing’revealsmanydifferent tables, ranging from accommodation type to occupancyrating.

www.landregisteronline.gov.ukLandRegisterOnlineprovideseasyaccess todetailsofmore than20 million registered properties in England and Wales. You candownload copiesof titleplans and registers inPDF format for £3each,payableonlinebycreditcard.

www.ros.gov.ukThis is thewebsiteof theRegistersof ScotlandExecutiveAgency.It provides information about Scotland’s land and property. Onthewebsite,forasmallfee,youcanfindoutaboutpropertypricesanywhereinScotland.

Tradeorganizationsandprofessionalassociationswww.aecb.netTheAssociation forEnvironmentConsciousBuilding (AECB) is anetworkofindividualsandcompanieswithacommonaimofpro-moting sustainable building. On the website you can find infor-mation about improving the environmental performance of yourproperty; choosing eco-friendly products and avoiding damagingchemicals;usingtimber;andplanninganddevelopingeco-friendlyproperties.

244 Useful Websites

www.british-hydro.orgThe British Hydropower Association represents the interests ofpeoplewhoare involved in theproductionofhydropower in theUnitedKingdom,fromlargecompaniestoindividualsandcharities.On its website you can find comprehensive information aboutproducinghydropowerandthecostsinvolved.

www.nationalinsulationassociation.org.ukThe National Insulation Association (NIA) represents the manu-facturersandinstallersofalltypesofinsulationanddraught-proofing.OnthiswebsiteyoucanfinddetailsofaninstallerandmanufacturerinyourareabyaccessingtheRegisterofMembersandtheRegisterofManufacturers. The website contains useful information aboutinsulationanddraught-proofingtechniquesandmaterials.

www.ukrha.orgTheUKRainwaterHarvestingAssociation (UK-RHA) is a limitedcompany by guarantee that serves to act as a focal point fororganizations with business interests in the rainwater harvestingindustry. On its website you can access more information aboutrainwaterharvestingandobtaincontactdetailsofmembers.

www.thepfs.orgThe Personal Finance Society (PFS) is the merged professionalassociation of the Life Insurance Association and the Society ofFinancial Advisers. Visit this website to use the online directoryoffinancialadvisers intheUnitedKingdom.Thewebsitecontainsusefulinformationaboutvarioustypesofinvestmentandobtainingfinancialadvice.

Directorieswww.unbiased.co.ukThisistheIndependentFinancialAdviserPromotion(IFAP)website.Itisadirectoryof9,000individualsandorganizations,coveringover90percentofregisteredIFAsintheUnitedKingdom.OnthewebsiteyoucansearchforanIFAinyourareabygender,investmenttype,qualification and themethod inwhich youwould like to pay foradvice.

UsefulWebsites 245

CampaigngroupsandNGOswww.climnet.orgThe Climate Action Network (CAN) is a worldwide network ofover365NGOsworkingtopromoteactiononlimitingthehumaninfluenceonclimatechange.Onitswebsiteyoucanfindinformationabout climate change trends and signals, along with informationaboutCANoffices.

www.climate-concern.comClimate Concern UK is a campaign group focused on increasingpublic understanding of the dangers of climate change. On thewebsite you can obtain information about the effects of climatechange,anduseful information to combat scepticismover climatechange.

Furtherreading

Callard, S andMillia, D (2001)The Complete Book of Green Living,Carlton,London

Chiras,D(2002)TheSolarHouse:Passiveheatingandcooling,ChelseaGreen,PostMills,Vermont

Chiras,D(2004)TheNewEcologicalHome:Acompleteguide togreenbuildingoptions,ChelseaGreen,PostMills,Vermont

Clift,JandCuthbert,A(2006)Energy:Useless,savemore,GreenBooks,Totnes

Clift,JandCuthbert,A(2006)Water:Useless,savemore,GreenBooks,Totnes

Dawson,C(2006)TheCompleteGuidetoPropertyDevelopmentfortheSmallInvestor,KoganPage,London

Dean,A(2003)GreenbyDesign,GibbsMSmith,Layton,UtahHall,K (ed) (2005)The Green Building Bible,GreenBuildingPress,Llandysul

Hancock,J(2005)AnInvestor’sGuidetoEthicalandSociallyResponsibleInvestmentFunds:Auniqueanalysis ofUKbased investment funds,KoganPage,London

Harland,E(1999)Eco-Renovation:Ecologicalhomeimprovementguide,ResurgenceBooks,London

Harris,CandBorer,P(2005)TheWholeHouseBook:Ecologicalbuildingdesignandmaterials,2ndedn,CentreforAlternativeTechnology,Machynlleth

Hegarty,M(2000)TheLittleBookofLivingGreen,NightingalePress,Royston

Kennedy, J F, Smith,MGandWanek,C (2002)The Art of NaturalBuilding: Design, construction, resources, New Society, GabriolaIsland,BritishColombia

Hymers, P (2006)Converting to an Eco-Friendly Home: The completehandbook,NewHolland,London

Jones,E(2006)GoMakeaDifference,3rdedn,ThinkBooks,LondonLitchfield, C (ed) (2005)The Organic Directory 2006, Green Books,Totnes

FurtherReading 247

Norris,S(2005)Superkids!250incrediblewaysforkidstosavetheplanet,ThinkBooks,London

Plowright,T.(2007)Eco-centresandCourses,GreenBooks,TotnesRoberts,J(2003)GoodGreenHomes,GibbsMSmith,Layton,UtahRoaf,S(2001)EcoHouse:Adesignguide,ArchitecturalPress,OxfordRoulac,J(1998)BackyardComposting,GreenBooks,TotnesScott,N(2003)CompostingforAll,GreenBooks,TotnesScott,N(2004)Reduce,Reuse,Recycle!Aneasyhouseholdguide,GreenBooks,Totnes

Siegle,L(2001)GreenLivingintheUrbanJungle,GreenBooks,TotnesSmith, P (2003) Eco-Refurbishment: A practical guide to creating an

energyefficienthome,ArchitecturalPress,OxfordSnell, C and Callahan, T (2005) Building Green: A complete how-to

guidetoalternativebuildingmethods,LarkBooks,Asheville,NorthCarolina

Trask,C(2006)It’sEasyBeingGreen:Ahandbookforearthfriendlyliving,GibbsSmith,Layton,Utah

Warren, P (2003)How to Store your Garden Produce: The key to selfsufficiency,GreenBooks,Totnes

Index

alternativeenergyassessment 66,67,82

animalwelfare 94,104argon-gas-filledwindowssee

glazingarmstrade 94AssociationforEnvironment

ConsciousBuilding 156,161,184,189,236–37,243–44

AssociationofHomeInformationPackProviders 72,82,233

AssociationofIndependentInventoryClerks 131,140,236

BFRCseeBritishFenestrationRatingCouncil

bio-fuels 40,95,215blownmineralwoolsee

insulationmaterialsboreholeseegeothermalpowerboundarydisputes 146,147–48BritishFenestrationRating

Council 28,50–51,229BritishHydropower

Association 36,53,67,244

BritishPhotovoltaicAssociation 40,66

Britishsheep’swoolseeinsulationmaterials

BritishWindEnergyAssociation 35,52,66,183,233

brushdraught-proofingseedraught-proofingmaterials

buildingpreservationnotice166

buildingregulations 146,169–70

BuildingResearchEstablishment 188,229–230

carbonoffsetschemes 21–22CarbonTrust 12–13,227–28,

240CarbonNeutralCompany 94CATseeCentreforAlternative

TechnologyCavityInsulationGuarantee

Agency 21,50,237cavitywallinsulationsee

insulationCentralHeating

Programme 48,86,139,213,226

CentreforAlternativeTechnology 51–52,219–20

CFLSseelightingCIGAseeCavityInsulation

GuaranteeAgencyCleanAirAct 66

Index 249

ClimateActionNetwork 14,245

ClimateCare 94ClimateConcernUK 14,245ClimateGroup 30codeofbusinessethics 9,95,

98,99,110CommunityActionfor

Energy 11,225CommunityComposting

Network 193compactfluorescentlampssee

lightingcomposting 191,192–93,195,

200,205,241compostingtoilets 60,79,146condensingboiler 16,55,78,

81,95,132,133conservationareas 60corkseeinsulationmaterialsCouncilofLicensed

Conveyancers 73,236CouncilofMortgage

Lenders 102croprotation 193

DCLGseeDepartmentforCommunitiesandLocalGovernment

DEFRAseeDepartmentforEnvironment,FoodandRuralAffairs

DepartmentforCommunitiesandLocalGovernment 71–72,76,82,83,118,134,230,242

DepartmentforEnvironment,FoodandRuralAffairs 13,212

DepartmentforWorkandPensions 109

DIYbuildersandconvertersrefundscheme 184,218

double-glazingseeglazingdraughtexcludersseedraught-

proofingmaterialsdraught-proofingmaterialsbrush 25draughtexcluders 25foam 25sealant 25strip 25weatherbars 25

eco-developmentprojects 106eco-friendlymaterialsfixturesandfittings 69furnishings 69timber 153paintsandwallpaper 69,77,

81,156woodfinishes 156

ecologicalpayback 94–95EcologyBuildingSociety 95,

100–01e-conveyancingseeelectronic

conveyancingeco-tourism 106electricityoff-peakelectricity 28electricitymetres 29greenfund 35,42greentariff 4,35,42,55,77,

81nationalgrid 35,42,182

electricitymetresseeelectricityelectronicconveyancing 70,

82emptypropertygrants 118–19,

158,209–10endowments 95,103,109energyaudit 61,82EnergyEfficiencyAdvice

Centre 49,128,224energyefficiencyassessment

8

250 Index

EnergyEfficiencyCommitment 48–49,116,177

energyperformancecertificate 42,58–60,90,94,105,107,143

EnergySavingRecommendedlogo 121,136,182

EnergySavingTrust 6,8,10–11,16,20–21,25,28, 30,40,75,120–121,128,135,136–37,182,215,216,223–24,239

energy-savinglightbulbsseelighting

Energywatch 29EnglishHeritage 166enhancedcapital

allowance 119–120,128,157,162,216–17,242

EPCseeenergyperformancecertificate

equityrelease 13ESTseeEnergySavingTrustethicalcodeofpractice 94ethicalfinancialadvisers 95,

99–100ethicalfunds 95,109EthicalInvestmentResearch

Service 93,96,100,101,102,227–29

EthicalInvestorsAssociation 114,240

EthicalInvestorsGroup 93,113,228

ethicalmortgagesseemortgagesethicalpolicy 9EthicalTradingInitiative 194,

204–05,234–35EUenergylabelseeEuropean

EnergyLabelEUPerformanceofBuildings

Directive 82

EuropeanEnergyLabel 28,30,121

externalcladdingseeinsulationmaterials

externalrenderseeinsulationmaterials

externalwallinsulationseeinsulation

FacultyofPartyWallSurveyors 147,161

FairtradeFoundation 204,238FinancialServices

Authority 98,99,101,111,243

fire-retardedrecyclednewspaperseeinsulationmaterials

flexiblethermalliningseeinsulationmaterials

foamdraught-proofingseedraught-proofingmaterials

ForestStewardshipCouncil 153,162,182

Foundationsseehomeimprovementagencies

FriendsoftheEarth 42FSAseeFinancialServices

AuthorityFSCseeForestStewardship

Council

gasmetres 29geneticmodification 94geothermalpowerborehole 40,66geothermalheat 40,79,81geothermalheatpumps 40,

95,214,215groundloop 40trench 40,66

glazingargon-gas-filledwindows 28

Index 251

double-glazing 25–28,78,81,95

glazingfacingsouth 55low-eglazing 25,28PVCwindows 25triple-glazing 25,28,78,81,

95woodenwindowframes 25,

78globaltrade 94GreenBuildingStore 20,153,

162,182,240GreenElectricityMarket

Place 42,53,241greenfundseeelectricityGreenLandlords’Scheme

115–16GreenRegister 153,162greentariffseeelectricityGreenpeace 42grey-watercollection 60,198,

199groundloopseegeothermal

power

healthandsafety 171,175HeatingandHotWaterIndustry

Council 20,52–53,239–240

heatingcontrols 20,30,55,77,81,208

HHSRSseeHousingHealthandSafetyRatingSystem

HIPseehomeinformationpackhomeconditionreport 81–82homeenergyefficiency

grants 138,158,208HomeEnergyEfficiency

Scheme 20,47,86,138,211–12,226

homeimprovementagencies 13–14,138,209,225–26

homeinformationpack 8,61,70,80–81,88

housesinmultipleoccupationgrants 117,159,210-11

HousingHealthandSafetyRatingSystem 49,118,119,124,158,159,209,210

HRCseehomeconditionreporthumanrights 94,104hydropower 35–36,67,79,81,

143,214,215

individualsavingsaccounts 95,103,109

insulationcavitywallinsulation 21,30,

78,81,95,116,136,208,211

externalwallinsulation 21,78,81

internalwallinsulation 21,78,81

loftinsulation 20,30,55,77,95,116,136,208,211

insulationboardsseeinsulationmaterials

insulationmaterialsblownmineralwool 21Britishsheep’swool 20,153cork 25externalcladding 21externalrender 21fire-retardedrecycled

newspaper 20,153flexiblethermallining 21insulationboards 21plant-fibreboard 21polystyrenebeads 21rigidthermalboard 21rubber 25tubesealant 21ureaformaldehydefoam 21woolquilts 21

252 Index

insuranceaccident,sicknessand

unemploymentinsurance 93

buildingsandcontentsinsurance 69

buy-to-letinsurance 93criticalillnessinsurance 93ethicalinsurance 93greenbuildingsandcontents

insurance 70–71homeinsurance 13lifeinsurance 93,109–110mortgageprotection 93rentguaranteeinsurance 93siteinsurance 171,175

integrateddigitaltelevisions 30,136

internalwallinsulationseeinsulation

inventory 131ISAsseeindividualsavings

accounts

LandRegistrationAct2002 47LandRegistry 61,69,70,73,

147–48,161–62,243landfillgas 41landlords’energysavings

allowance 116,119LCBPseeLowCarbonBuildings

Programmelightingcompactfluorescent

lamps 28energy-savinglightbulbs

28,30,73,81,135,208,211

listedbuildings 60,68,145,166loftinsulationseeinsulationLowCarbonBuildings

Programme 8,35,40,48,53,86,160,185,214,242

low-eglazingseeglazing

MailingPreferenceService 43mortgagesbuy-to-letmortgage 96–97ethicalmortgages 94–96greenmortgages 94interest-onlymortgages 109mortgagesforgreennew

buildandrenovation96–97

NationalAssociationofEstateAgents 85,87,231–32

NationalAssociationofLoftInsulationContractors 20,50,232–33

NationalEnergyFoundation 6,11–12,20–21,137,219,239

NationalHouse-BuildingCouncil 170

NationalInsulationAssociation 21,52,244

naturalbuildingmaterialsstrawbales 55timberframes 55

NEFseeNationalEnergyFoundation

negativescreening 94,96,104,105,110

NHBCseeNationalHouse-BuildingCouncil

NIAseeNationalInsulationAssociation

nuclearpower 35,104

OfficeofGasandElectricityMarkets 29

off-peakelectricityseeelectricityOfgemseeOfficeofGasand

ElectricityMarketsOmbudsmanforEstate

Agents 85,87–88,232

Index 253

OneMillionSustainableHomesproject 187

organicgrowing 193–96outlineconsent 165,167

PartyWallAct 146–47pensionspensionpolicy 95personalpensions 106–09self-investedpersonal

pensions 103,108smallself-administered

schemes 108stakeholderpension

schemes 107PensionsAdvisory

Service 109,113–14,226PersonalFinanceSociety 100,

102,244pestcontrol 194–95,242PesticideActionNetwork

UK 194,204,223photovoltaiccellsseesolar

powerPlanningInspectorate 168,

186,231planningpermission 60,66,96,

143,145,146,164–66,183,188

plant-fibreboardseeinsulationmaterials

pollution 68polystyrenebeadsseeinsulation

materialspositivescreening 94,96,

103–04,105,110propertyfunds 107–07PVcellsseephotovoltaiccellsPVCwindowsseeglazing

rainwaterharvesting 60,79,198

RealNappyCampaign 45

recyclingaluminiumfoil 45cans 44carbatteries 46cardboard 43–44clothes,shoesandtextiles 45computers 46engineoil 46furnitureandappliances

46–47glass 44nappies 45paper 43plastic 44,191spectacles 45YellowPages 43

reforestationschemes 29,94RegistersofScotlandExecutive

Agency 61,69,73,243RenewableEnergy

Association 35,51,237RenewableEnergyAssurance

Scheme 35renovationgrants 49,118,158,

209ResidentialPropertyPrice

Report 69restrictivecovenants 68RHSseeRoyalHorticultural

Societyrigidthermalboardsee

insulationmaterialsRoyalHorticultural

Society 185,196,198,202,205,221,239

RoyalInstituteofBritishArchitects 175,186,235

RoyalInstituteofCharteredSurveyors 61,72,169,185–86,235

rubberseeinsulationmaterials

SAPrating 83,94

254 Index

SCHRIseeScottishCommunityandHouseholderRenewablesInitiative

ScottishCommunityandHouseholderRenewablesInitiative 35,40,48,86,160,184–85,214–15

sealantdraught-proofingseedraught-proofingmaterials

SIPPs(self-investedpersonalpensions)seepensions

smartmetres 29soilsoilfertility 29soilmanagement 195–96soiltype 84

SoilAssociation 195,200,203,222–23

solarcollectorsseesolarpowersolarpanelsseesolarpowersolarpowerphotovoltaiccells 36,40,95,

215solarcollectors 40solarpanels 40,66,79,81solarradiation 36solarthermal

technologies 26,40,95,214,215

solarwaterpump 199solarradiationseesolarpowersolarthermaltechnologiessee

solarpowerStampDutyLandTax 69,184,

217–18statementofethical

principals 9StrawBaleBuilding

Association 176,187,234strawbalesseenaturalbuilding

materialsstripdraught-proofingsee

draught-proofingmaterials

structuralwarranties 170SupportingPeople

Programme 13SustainableEnergyPolicy

Division 13,230

tenancyagreement 131,141tidalpower 41timberframesseenatural

buildingmaterialstriple-glazingseeglazingtubesealantseeinsulation

materials

UKRainwaterHarvestingAssociation 244

UKSocialInvestmentForum 112,234

UKTimberFrameAssociation 176,187

UKWindSpeedDatabase 66,183

ureaformaldehydefoamseeinsulationmaterials

ventilation 9,21,126volatileorganic

compounds 156

Walter SegalSelfBuildTrust 176

wasteincineration 42wavepower 41weatherbarsseedraught-

proofingmaterialsWildlifeTrust 202–03,221–22,

239windpower 36,79,81,95,143,

183,214,215woodenwindowframessee

glazingwood-firedcentralheating

system 66

Index 255

woolquiltsseeinsulationmaterials

WWF 187–88,220–21wormcomposting 193,206,

242

WarmDeal 20,47,86,139,212–13,226

WarmFront 20,47,86,138,139,212,226

WarmHomes 20,48,86,139,213,226

Indexofadvertsiers

Baufritz 177–79Baxi 17–19Dimplex 62–65earthBornPaints 149–52EcologicalBuildingSystems

56–59GlassandGlazingFederation

22–24GoodEnergyLtd 31–34Heuga xviii–xxiiiHufHaus 172–74

InitialLights 26–27KingspanInternational iv–vLeedsBuildingSociety 90–92NICEIC xiiPlan-M 180–81Polypipe ix–xiTy-Mawr 154–55Vaillant ii–iiiVillavent 37–39WorcesterBoschGroup vi–viii

The Complete Guide to Buying, Developing & Investing in Green Property

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