2014 saw the introduction of changes to Part L of the Building Regulations with an aim to have all new domestic dwellings become zero carbon by 2016. These changes will affect most new properties submitting plans, or beginning work from the 6^th April 2014 onwards, meaning that those completing building projects have to ensure that they are creating dwellings that are energy efficient.

Whilst the completed housing need to be able to be lived in with maximum energy efficiency, carbon footprint also needs to be taken into account during the building process, in particular where CO2 emissions are ‘hidden’.

Cheap Materials

Using construction material that doesn’t have a long lifespan may reduce the cost of your building project initially, but is likely to cause issues and be costly down the line. A cheap material is unlikely to aid the reduction of household emissions, and is more likely to have problems and require repair work. Choosing materials and products that are durable will provide a long term solution to the reduction of a building’s carbon footprint as they will rarely need maintenance.

Concrete Production

Concrete is a major contributor to worldwide CO2 emissions, with the industry being responsible for 5% of all C02 emissions. Whilst you may find it impossible to rule out the use of concrete in your building project, you can source it from a company that produces sustainable concrete, where the business aims to lower CO2 emissions both in production and transportation, whilst still delivering a quality material.

Transportation

Not only should you be considerate of the material you’re using for your building work, but also the CO2 emissions and energy usage during transportation. Whilst sourcing local materials does lower transportation emissions, it does not always necessarily guarantee that the materials will be of the quality you need.

When deciding on materials, find out how they are delivered and whether anything is being done to reduce transportation emissions, or whether there are any eco-friendly practices in place. For instance, our lightweight roofing materials are seven times lighter that traditional materials making them more efficient to transport, which results in a lowering of CO2 emissions.

To find out more about how our roofing can help you lower your carbon footprint and create a carbon neutral dwelling call 01249 658 514.