There are many reasons to consider sustainability in an era of rapid development. The most important reason is the environment. We all want a cleaner, greener, and cleaner future for our families. Thankfully, there’s been increased awareness lately with regards to sustainable design practices and environmental impact assessment.
There are lots of ways to make your property more environmentally friendly and reduce your carbon footprint. Keep reading to learn how you can implement environmental practices to create a more sustainable property development in the UK today.
What Is A Sustainable Property Development?
Simply put, a sustainable property development is one that has a minimal environmental impact and is easy to maintain. This can be achieved through the use of energy-efficient appliances, water-saving products, renewable resources, natural light, and more.
Sustainability is an essential element of every property development because it reduces future costs, the impact on the environment and society, and improves the quality of life. There are many ways you can go about designing your property to be more environmentally friendly.
One way is by implementing eco-friendly materials in your design, such as renewable energy sources. Another way is by implementing green roofs, which have several benefits, including reducing energy costs and improving air quality.
The Environment Act 2021
The Environment Act 2021 is designed to make the UK more environmentally friendly and reduce carbon emissions. The act includes a number of new regulations and requirements that will affect property developers in the UK.
One example is the new requirement for a biodiversity net gain plan, which presents a list of the likely impacts on the environment so developers can plan accordingly in order to increase the biodiversity of the land by at least 10% once the project is complete. An environmental impact assessment also needs to be undertaken before a development project begins.
Increasing Biodiversity
The UK is seeing a lot of development as more people move to urban areas. This is leading to the loss of biodiversity in some areas, which could lead to a much larger problem in the future. One way to combat this issue is by increasing biodiversity on your property. Building for animals can be done by planting trees and allowing ponds or streams that attract animals.
You can also plant flowers and shrubs or create wetlands on your property for birds to live in. By doing this, you’ll be creating a habitat for wildlife which could lead to an increase in biodiversity and better water quality too. In order to learn more about biodiversity net gain and how your development project needs to increase the biodiversity of the area, take a look at the expert advice at Arbtech.
Use Renewable Energy Sources
One great way to make your property more environmentally friendly is by using renewable energy sources. This is a great way to decrease your carbon footprint because you’re not using fossil fuels like coal or natural gas.
Renewable energy helps protect the environment because it doesn’t produce any harmful pollutants, unlike fossil fuels. So, if you want to reduce your carbon footprint and save your future resident’s money on their monthly utility bills, consider installing solar panels for generating electricity or other renewable energy sources.
Include Green Spaces In Building Designs
Green spaces are a great way to increase the sustainability of your property development. Green spaces can include parks, gardens, and green roofs. These spaces not only provide a place for people to relax, but they also improve air quality in the area. By incorporating greenery into your building design, you can improve the health of everyone living or working in that space. Try to incorporate as many green spaces as possible into your design plans for your property development in order to increase the sustainability of your project.
Use Sustainable Materials
Buildings made with sustainable materials have a drastically different environmental impact than those made with traditional materials. In order to maintain the sustainability of your property, you need to use sustainable materials. These all-natural solutions can be used in place of traditional building materials and are better for the environment because they require less energy to produce.
Invest In Effective Insulation
Insulation is a great way to make your property more environmentally friendly. It reduces the need for heating and cooling, so it saves money on residents’ utility bills. But insulation also has a positive environmental impact. By insulating your building, you’re keeping out drafts that can cause problems with mould growth and condensation. The buildings will also retain heat better during the winter months, which will help future residents save on energy costs when it’s cold outside.
Invest In Carbon Offsetting Projects
One way to reduce your property development business’s carbon footprint is by investing in carbon offsetting projects. When you adopt a green design, you can offset the greenhouse gases by funding a project that reduces the environmental impacts of your business.
Encouraging Future Residents To Cycle Or Walk
If you want to reduce the environmental impact of your property development, consider encouraging future residents to cycle or walk. If you’re constructing a property in a new area with limited or no public transport links, it’s important to allow people alternative modes of transport.
There are many ways to make cycling or walking easier at your property. You can provide secure bike storage and lockers for those who need them. If you’re building a residential development, you can also have paths throughout the development that can only be used by people walking or riding a bike.
Conclusion
If you’re looking to become a property developer in the UK and want your development to be sustainable, you should follow these key principles. The environment act of 2021 is a recent law that will require all new building projects to adhere to a number of environmental principles. Some of these principles include increasing biodiversity net gain, using renewable energy sources, and investing in effective insulation.
Investing in green spaces through building design is another key principle that will allow you to reduce the carbon emissions of your project. To encourage future residents to cycle or walk, you’ll need to invest in cycling infrastructure and build homes with integrated parking. With all of these tactics, you’re sure to have a green property development that can be enjoyed for many years to come.
