It’s the existing commercial, industrial and residential building stock that contributes most of our damage to the environment, so what can you do to alleviate that damage? Greening your building is easier than you think and even the smallest of measures has a small impact – and the more of us who get involved, the more those little impacts add up. Rather than focus on expensive green technology that takes a while to deliver a return, here are some simple measures for a greener way of working and living.
Seeing the light
Low energy and LED bulbs – there’s little excuse for using old-fashioned light bulbs. Switch to low-energy lighting, ideally LED, to really cut down electricity usage. PIR lighting in lavatories and stairways can reduce the risk of lighting rooms long after people have left.
Sun pipes – we’re taking thermally efficient windows and rooflights as a given, and singling out the sun pipe for special attention. With a small polycarbonate dome sited in the roof, directing sunlight down through a mirror-finished aluminium tube and into the interior, you can flood dark interior spaces with light. Genius.
Water wastage
Greywater harvesting – not the cheapest way to flush the loo, but arguably the most environmentally friendly. Water from sinks, showers and washing machines is collected and fed to storage tanks – where it may or may not be treated – and then used to flush toilets or irrigate plants. Some greywater systems are also fed by rainwater collected from rooftops. Low-flush, low-flow – Up to 5 gallons of water are used to flush a standard toilet and showers use up to ten gallons of water a minute. No wonder the sewer system struggles. Fit low-flush WCs, aerators for taps and low-flow shower heads to reduce costs and impact.
Water butts – so simple and yet so often ignored. The bigger the roof, the more water that’s sent through the overloaded drains. So install water butts to feed the garden during drier spells. You can even get water butt pumps to supply hosepipes.
The natural world
Green roofs and green walls – as well as all the air-cleaning properties plants have, these simple installations insulate buildings to reduce heat loss, reduce stormwater runoff into the sewage system, generate oxygen and support all sorts of ecosystems.
Composting – good soil means good plant growth, which means stronger ecosystems and better air quality. Composting food waste at home and work takes minimal effort, costs nothing except the initial compost bin (which you can even make out of old wooden pallets) and supports natural growth and wildlife.
Bird houses, bee boxes, bat boxes and swift boxes – various bird and bat species are on the decrease, the bee population is threatened…and all these creatures play an important part in creating the natural balance required for plants and crops to thrive. With a little research, judicious planting and a small investment, any building and garden can be made bird, bee and bat-friendly.
Recycle recycle recycle
It’s the simplest thing you can do, and yet there’s still so much wastage. Recycling reduces landfill and the depletion of the earth’s natural resources. It’s also an important economy in its own right, so you’re supporting jobs and lives. At home or work, install recycling points for tin cans, aerosols, batteries, paper, cardboard, glass, plastics, metal and more. Just think about your standard wheelie bin. Emptied up to 52 times a year. Multiply that by the millions of households in the UK and imagine the sheer volume of waste and pollution if you don’t recycle…
