Since the ‘zero carbon’ announcement back in 2006, construction companies and architects have been racing against the clock to create designs and developments for new build homes that will achieve this goal.
Now, in 2019, what was once a vision has become a reality and most new build homes are 100% carbon free with more people living a sustainable lifestyle. Indeed, several creative solutions have been adapted to make this possible, including the reuse of the very aggregates that we source from each full skip of disposable waste.
Electricity
Solar panels. Not a new idea, in fact, solar panels have been an option for homeowners since 2005. However, following on from the ‘zero carbon’ announcement, it’s no surprise that home developers plan to only use solar energy as their main source of electricity within all new build homes.
Previously being a voluntary choice that homeowners had to opt into, most construction companies have adopted this renewable source as their only means for electricity and are advocates for all current homeowners to invest in solar energy.
Foundations and walls
Bringing us back to the sustainable suggestion made at the beginning of this post, aggregates – like the ones we produce in our yard – are being used by builders to formulate the building material needed to lay the foundations and construct these new homes.
Being professional aggregates suppliers is what separates us from other waste disposal companies in Norwich. We don’t just take away the waste you’ve thrown in to your hired skip, we sort through it to remove the general waste from any recyclable products or items that could be reused. From there, we condense the products down further based on where they could be used and what for.
Heating
Like solar panels, underground heat pumps have been an option for many households to produce renewable heating for several years. However, as of late, these systems are more affordable, and many new builds are being built with these fitted to begin with.
Laundry
One of the newest suggestions to reduce carbon usage in homes is the collection of rainwater to be used as cleaning water for dirty laundry. On average, a family of four could save 20,000 litres of precious drinking water if they were to start using rainwater in their washing machines. On top of this, limescale is pretty much non-existent in rainwater and requires a minimal amount of washing detergent to be added. The production of washing detergent is a significant contributor to the high carbon dioxide level in England, reducing the usage of this will effectively reduce the carbon level – working towards our ‘zero carbon’ goal.
As an environmentally conscious waste disposal company in Norwich, we’re passionate about supporting new ways to live sustainably. If you’re a construction company interested in using the aggregates we source and supply, contact us today on 01603 721533 to find out more information.
