Green Property Audit

Green property audit or put more simply, environmental auditing, is a relatively new service available to individuals in their own home, to assess and advise upon living in a more environmentally friendly way. Environmental auditing is a term that has been in use for a while – Governments and International bodies regularly audit themselves or bring in auditors to assess National and International impact upon the environment, and the environmental impact of businesses, assessed through environmental auditing services, has been in operation for a while, and a sharp eye is increasingly cast upon the impact that businesses make upon the planet.
But for the individual, living on a smaller scale, what can be done, or what are the sort of suggestions a green audit of our home – and indeed our lifestyle, might recommend?
Our Individual Impact – Upon the Climate & the Environment
The planet is experiencing a massive change in its environmental pattern – here in the UK alone we are experiencing the shift between floods and drought; the rising heat brings new agricultural challenges, damage to crops and wildlife, and infestations of pests. Coastal communities are feeling increasingly threatened, and in the North and West of the country will experience heavier rainfall and regular flooding. We now need to think collectively about finding solutions to this problem. As other articles on our site have detailed, our use of energy, resources, and particularly oil, has to change. Ultimately, it comes down to each individual, working through their work, community, and in the home, to change perspective upon energy consumption.What Are the Household Changes We Can Make?
The Energy Saving Trust (EST), a National organization with offices in every region, is setting a goal for every householder to reduce their household energy consumption by 20%.This can be achieved by a range of means – the simplest steps are to unplug electrical appliances at night, thereby eliminating the small but steady flow of electricity used by the appliance in standby mode, right through to installing specific devices on or in your home that can generate energy for you, like wind turbines and solar panels.
The EST can help the householder access grants that are available to help purchase the products and any potential installation costs. The UK Government has now committed itself to certain environmental targets, and to achieve these, has funded various grant-making schemes, such as the Low Carbon Building initiative, described in more detail on another page of this website.
Re: Grants and Loans for Green Development
Hi my husband and me are building a home to passive standards, we’re have a green roof, rain water harvesting and…
Re: Build Your Own Earthship: the Ultimate Sustainable Home!
Hi everyone interested in building a an earth ship in the U.K. I'm from london but have lived…
Re: Build Your Own Earthship: the Ultimate Sustainable Home!
Plenty of questions here, no answers though.
Re: Build Your Own Earthship: the Ultimate Sustainable Home!
My partner and I live in Glasgow currently. We are keen to learn more about whether it is…
Re: Grants and Loans for Green Development
Hello, Building 2 new homes of natural stone, with wall insulation, loft insulation, under floor heating and air…
Re: New Developments: Environmentally Friendly Concrete
Novacem went into liquidation in Nov 2012, the new cement was never developed. Thier website does…
Re: Build Your Own Earthship: the Ultimate Sustainable Home!
Hi Nick Please contact me on FB, also in Bedfordshire, Even if I dont chip in with land…
Re: Using Locally Sustainable Materials
Bet you never thought this would help a student near to 8 years after it was published. Thanks.
Re: Build Your Own Earthship: the Ultimate Sustainable Home!
Hi all we are interested in building an earthship in central Bedfordshire, we have the…
Re: Brownfield Sites
the definition of brown filed land is simple it is : any previously developed land that is not currently in use that may be potentially…