Housing

Why is housing important?

The building and construction sector is responsible for 36% of final energy use (to build, repair and use) and 39% of greenhouse gas emissions, almost a third of them from manufacturing building materials. Buildings also trap heat, making their surroundings even hotter.

The building sector also has a substantial impact on the environment. Buildings occupy land and can disrupt habitats as such. The construction sector uses large amounts of materials, resources and energy for construction and repairs. It also generates a lot of waste and pollution, and consumes water resources.

Note

This module concentrates on the aspects of home construction and renovation. Recommendations regarding energy efficiency and energy sources are mostly dealt with in the Energy module, unless they have a more direct connection to infrastructure.

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Impacts of buildings

Biggest Impact

1. Retrofit your home

Why is it important to retrofit your home?

Depending on when your home was built or the type of materials that were used, retrofitting your home can reduce heat loss, energy usage, improve your heating, and improve your living environment, health and wellbeing.

Each home or building is different and so are the retrofitting solutions. Solutions vary depending on the type of building and the climate. So, if possible, talk to an energy or sustainable-construction expert near you (some countries have energy coaches or auditors). Some local and national governments also give out subsidies and other financial support. And please remember to use ecologically friendly materials and dispose properly of any waste during the process.

If you rent, ask around to find out if and how you can request your landlord to renovate or retrofit your home.

The most relevant aspects for a retrofit are:

Insulate your home

Insulating your home will not only reduce your impact on the climate, it will also help you save costs in the long term. Insulation is one of the most cost-efficient ways to make your home energy efficient, keeping a healthy indoor temperature.

The main ways to avoid or reduce the loss of energy and heat of buildings are:

Doors and windows

If your windows and doors are in a good condition, a weather strip or rubber sealing can go a long way. If your windows are more than 10 years old, you should consider changing them to energy-efficient windows. There are double or triple-pane types, combined with optimal insulation of the window frames.
Roof and attic

Insulating your roof or attic can go a long way, stopping energy loss (in the form of heat or cooling) and preventing heat or cold from coming in. A well-insulated roof also helps you save up to 30% of your heating costs.
Floors or ceilings

Adding insulation to the floors or the ceilings to upper stories helps avoiding heat loss. This is the case especially if your basement ceiling is not insulated.
Outer walls

Energy is lost through insufficiently insulated outer walls. Well insulated outer walls keep your house warm in winter and cool in summer. If possible, choose ecologically friendly insulation materials. In some houses, it is not possible to insulate the outer walls – in those cases there are options to insulate the inner walls.
Ducts and pipes

Heat is lost or gained through duct walls and pipes. Insulating your pipes and other ducts will help conserve energy.

Upgrade to heat pump

Electric powered high-efficiency heat pumps transfer heat from a cold space to a hot one. So in winter, the pump transfers energy from outside to the inside of the building and in summer it pumps hot air from the inside to the outside. Heat pumps can replace conventional heating, air conditioning and ventilation systems – and reduce fossil fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions like that. If you live in a place with cold winters, you might have to insulate your home first though.

Install smart homecontrols

Besides controlling the room temperature adequately, installing a smart home control will help you regulate the lights and turn them off in case you forget or when you leave the room. There are also smart controls for heating radiators. Leak sensors can also be added to detect any leaks, so you’re able to react more quickly and save water from being wasted.

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Eco friendly insulation

Benefits of a smart home

2. Rent or build sustainably

Why is it important?

Urban land is projected to rise in the future, due to population growth and urbanisation. The construction sector is expected to double by 2060, threatening biodiversity, reducing arable land and increasing emissions which will have a large impact on our planet.

Constructions built today should take their impact on the planet and the climate into consideration. Many of the solutions need adequate public policy. Still, there are several things we can do on our own.

If you build

Try to build your home in a good location to reduce the distances you need to travel for work, school, shopping etc.
The smaller, the better.
Choose an eco and climate-friendly design.
Use sustainable building materials.
Limit the environmental impact of the construction.
Incorporate water efficiency and good sewage solutions.
Set the orientation of your home to use the sun and wind to your convenience – or avoid direct impact.
Avoid cabinetry and plumbing fixtures containing chemicals.
Protect the surroundings making sure constructions aren’t intrusive to nature and biodiversity around your home.
Install solar panels if possible.
Think green!

If you rent

Choose a convenient location. Try to be close to your workplace or your most frequent locations if realistic.
Look for newer, more energy-efficient buildings.
Ask about the year of construction or retrofitting. Depending on where you live, there might be an energy audit for the specific building.
Ask how the building or house is heated and who is the electricity provider. If you can, choose a flat or home that has a climate-friendly heating system and clean electricity.
If your laws allow it, change your energy provider to a renewable one.
Check out the appliances in the flat/house: Energy-efficient ones make a huge difference – for the environment and your wallet!
Consider installing window tints, a low-cost solution when you can’t retrofit the insulation of your windows.
Put potted trees in strategic locations to block the sun during the hottest times of the day.
Think green!

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Building an environmentally friendly house

3. Use solar energy

Why does using solar energy have a big impact?

As a renewable source of power, solar energy has an important role in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and mitigating climate change. The use of solar energy can also improve air quality while reducing water usage from energy production. It is also becoming one of the cheapest sources of energy.

Several options to use solar energy are possible:

Install solar panels

Using solar panels reduces reliance on fossil fuels having a direct impact on the emissions of harmful gases to the atmosphere, and the sun’s energy is limitless, unlike fossil fuels. Photovoltaic panels produce electricity. Other panels can heat water.

Find out about providers of solar systems and, if applicable, available financing assistance and subsidy programmes in your region. In many countries, there is advice by energy experts available from local authorities, consumer centres or private providers. The initial consultation is often free of charge and gives you an overview of the offers and possibilities in your specific housing situation

Use solar-powered products

There are many simple solar solutions without having to install an entire solar electricity system at home. There are small solar panels you can install on your balcony, terrace or window.

In addition, there are many other small devices such as outdoor solar lights or power banks that can be charged with solar energy.

External Articles & NEWS

Solar energy and the environment

Documents & Charts

Energy and Buildings – Fraunhofer Institute

Easy to do

You don’t always need a giant leap to achieve change. The important thing is to start, see successes and keep going. Remember, these tips lower your bills as well. Here are some brief tips to get started at home.

Control your room temperature

Maintain your room at an adequate temperature.

Layer up and turn down the heating: Put on an extra layer or a comfy sweater, wrap yourself in a nice blanket. Keep your room temperature at 19 degrees Celsius / 66 Fahrenheit in winter.
In hot summers, keep your temperature at 25 degrees Celsius / 78 degrees Fahrenheit.

Install smart thermostats and program them based on your daily routine.

Smart thermostats are wi-fi enabled devices that control heating and cooling in your home (by learning your temperature preferences and scheduling when to automatically adjust to energy-saving temperatures when you are asleep or away).
They can help you regulate your home’s temperature and reduce energy consumption.
They can save 10 to 15 percent of energy needs, and are very convenient, especially those that can be controlled from anywhere.

Use curtains or blinds to block out direct sunlight in the summer and retain heat in the winter.

Upgrade to LED light bulbs

This can reduce your electricity consumption by up to 80% and they also have a longer lifespan than traditional light bulbs.

Ventilation and air quality

Instead of tilting the windows, switch radiators off and ventilate for 5 – 15 minutes. After the air exchange is complete, close the windows and turn the heating on again.
Indoor plants can help you purify the air in your house by removing pollutants and adding oxygen.
Use ceiling fans to improve air circulation and reduce the need for air conditioning. In summer, use the fan counter-clockwise and reverse in winter to create an upward draft that redistributes the warm air.
Over time, the air ducts of your house may become dirty, reducing air flow. Regularly cleaning your air ducts will improve the ventilation of your home.
Choose carefully to avoid using harmful chemicals such as pesticides, cleaning products, and air fresheners that can negatively impact indoor air quality and harm the environment.

Fun Tips

For all the good reasons: Fun is the greatest motivator! And should never be neglected. Here are three ideas. Surely, you can think of many more in your Change Club.

Play detective: go around your house and find all the areas where energy/heat is being used and brainstorm ways to reduce it and fix it.
Build a Do-it-yourself (DIY) solar cooker and have regular solar cooking parties. >> learn how <<
Warm up at home with human energy: Dance in your living room with friends and family – or have a cuddle session with your loved one(s).

SDGs

Taking action in your home is addressing climate change. In addition, it can contribute significantly to achieving other Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including these ones:

Click on each goal to learn more.