With the help of the right professionals and the necessary knowledge, sustainable design can be built into any home or building from the onset, avoiding issues in the long term.

However, it is never too late to begin your sustainability journey as a home or building owner, and sustainable renovation can play a significant role, too.

There are a variety of benefits to renovating when this is done in an environmentally friendly way, whether you have identified a need to renovate due to specific circumstances, or you simply believe your building requires a sustainable upgrade.

Reaching our sustainability goals as a nation requires the combined efforts of as many individuals as possible, and due to the significant impact of construction and demolition on waste production and energy consumption, there’s a lot that can be done to make progress in the field.

Below, we’ll explore some of the best tactics to adopt and factors to take into account in order to renovate with sustainability in mind.

 

Making the most of existing materials and resources

  1. Reusing

Reusing materials is an important part of renovating sustainably, as well as helping you save your money. If you’ve found existing materials that can be repurposed in line with your renovation goals, this is a simple but effective starting point.

Instead of overfilling landfills with waste that could have easily been reused, in turn contributing to global warming, you should look for ways to repurpose existing pieces of furniture or equipment, cutting down on the need to replace them altogether.

If absolutely needed, dismantling a building or part of a building should be done carefully to avoid damaging materials and ensure these can be salvaged and reused.

  1. Using recycled or reclaimed materials

Reclaimed or recycled materials have gained popularity in recent years thanks to their environmental benefits, and are one of the most effective ways to reduce the significant impact of the construction industry on the environment.

Recycled materials have the potential to be more durable and less costly when compared to conventional supplies, and can be reused for a variety of purposes, being more beneficial in the long run.

Being aware of what the best supply options are for your building is key to renovating sustainably in a successful way, and navigating the world of sustainable materials may be difficult without the advice of professionals. Construction design services can be extremely effective in helping you develop and adopt the right ideas and solutions to using eco-friendly materials.

 

Improving energy efficiency

Incorporating energy efficiency into the design of a building can make a significant difference with regards to lowering carbon emissions, one of our key sustainability targets in the UK and beyond.

Eliminating energy waste should be one of the main goals when it comes to home or building renovations – from making small but effective adjustments to looking at implementing energy-efficient systems, there are a plethora of options to be explored. Whilst it may not seem obvious at first, a building consultancy can advise and guide on the very best ways to improve energy efficiency within buildings.

  1. Insulation

Insulating your building is one of the most effective ways to preserve energy, as it is estimated that around 35% of heat escapes through uninsulated walls and gaps around windows and doors.

A properly insulated home or building can help save on the costs associated with heating or cooling systems, so that your building can stay warm or cold without the need to use heating or HVAC systems too frequently. On a similar principle, double glazing or even triple glazing your windows can stop hot air escaping.

  1. Solar panel systems and other renewable heating systems

Solar panel systems can be used to generate both hot water and electricity, and are a reliable source of renewable energy that requires very low maintenance.

Heat pumps and biomass boilers are other renewable heating systems that can make a significant impact: aside from saving a considerable amount of CO2, they also help reduce costs and increase property value.

  1. LED lighting

Replacing traditional incandescent or halogen bulbs with LED lighting can result in energy savings of 60-90%, being one of the most rapidly developing sources of lighting, improving environmental performance as well as being more durable and generally performing better in a variety of scenarios.

Professional building surveyors can provide the technical knowledge and expertise needed to advise on the right systems or the changes needed to be implemented in order to improve energy efficiency, such as through feasibility studies.

 

How can Arc help you renovate sustainably?

While sustainability is now a common goal, renovating sustainably requires the assistance of experts in the field capable of advising on the best course of action depending on your individual needs.

If you are looking to renovate your building, our team of Chartered Building Surveyors can help increase its sustainability potential with a variety of services including:

To learn more, please get in touch with Arc Building Consultancy today by visiting; https://arcbuildingconsultancy.co.uk/contact-us