By Mariam Ighodaro and Claudia Abbot
As a city, London is making every effort to become more sustainable: from the expansion of the ultra-low emission zones to the roll-out of electric buses across the boroughs. A big part of the drive for sustainability starts in the home, but many Londoners are concerned at the cost of updating their houses to be eco-friendlier.
Conventional housing affects the environment negatively in numerous different ways. The large output of energy from heat, light, and the burning of fossil fuels to build each home contributes to massive amounts of CO2 emissions.
According to the Office for National Statistics, households account for 26% of total greenhouse gas emissions in the UK, with 14% being emitted from domestic heating alone.
Homes in Islington. By Mariam Ighodaro
But what can be done to make houses more eco-friendly? Additional insulation for drafty homes can reduce energy use by keeping the desired temperature in the home without constant heating or air-conditioning, while solar panels can generate enough energy to cut your energy bills by 70% even in London weather according to the Eco Experts. But insulating only the roof in your house can run up a bill of at least a few hundred pounds, while insulating the whole house will leave you with a bill of several thousands.
So it’s not surprising that when asked, Holloway residents say it’s exactly the cost that prevents them from making their houses more eco-friendly. For example, Pippa Leyton, 28, said, “Yeah, I think cost is a big part of it, especially per household, not a lot of people can afford to do it because it’s so expensive.”
Photo by Nadine Marfurt/Unsplash
However, The Renewable Energy Hub says it is a big misconception that eco-friendly homes are more expensive. In the long run, these sustainable homes are so energy-efficient that the savings made by homeowners’ monthly energy bills can be significant. A report by the analyst organisation Regulatory Assistance Project (RAP) claims that green energy measures have already saved British households £1000 a year, and further efforts like insulation can save even more.
So while it’s true that the savings can be significant, the upfront costs can still be daunting for some, and simply impossible for others. An average solar-powered household, according to the Eco Experts, will only break even after 14 years. Some government schemes, including the Connected for Warmth and the Boiler Upgrade Scheme provide grants to those who are looking to install heat pumps.
More locally, Islington Council offers advice to those who live in conservation areas and listed properties and may need to get planning permission before making their homes more energy-efficient.
But at the end, by taking the plunge and updating the homes, Holloway residents can not only lower their monthly bills but also contribute to a greener, cleaner London.
Leave a Reply