A greener home

Members have consulted us with green requests because:

• They want to improve their home's energy efficiency and reduce their CO2 emissions.
• They want to improve how they recycle their waste.
• They want to reduce their water use – and we can recommend systems and plumbers to do so.

What stops many of us being greener is not a lack of motivation but practical factors such as time and knowledge ─ all problems that we help our members to overcome. If members come to us with green concerns, we can suggest ways to be more energy efficient or recycle more effectively, and draw their attention to environmentally-friendly ideas they may not have heard of, such as internal composting or rainwater recycling.

Changes range from the quick and cheap ─ low-energy lighting, a thermal jacket for the hot water cylinder and radiator panels which reflect heat (under £100) ─ to medium-scale alterations such as draught-proofing and upgrading heating controls (£250-£750). We can also tackle larger modifications (over £5,000) such as fitting solar panels and biomass boilers that burn wood-chip pellets. We even helped one member install a heat pump under their garden to heat their swimming pool ─ an expensive outlay, but the member felt it was worth it environmentally, and over time could recoup the cost since this more efficient heating method will counter rising fuel costs.

Many green requests involve improving recycling and water use. We've installed compost units and wormeries inside and outside homes, recycled rubbish from home renovations and advised on the re-use of grey water (water from sinks and dishwashers) and rainwater in the garden or toilet system. Water use can be reduced easily by using aerating shower heads and saver flushes which are cheap to install, or by replacing cisterns with ultra-low-flush loos.

Call us to discuss more ways in which our experts can help you to ‘green' your home.

Insider tips:

• A more energy efficient home can save money in the long run, as well as it being better for the environment.
• The average London home emits six tonnes of carbon per year, due to heating, lighting, hot water, cooking and appliances.
• Many Londoners who have sash windows believe they're not allowed to have them double glazed due to special conservation area restrictions. This may not be the case ─ double glazing is often allowed, as long as the sash window style is left intact. Ask us to look into it.
• Grey water can be recycled to use again in the home ─ but usually not for drinking or bathing ─ or the garden.