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The
majority of existing UK housing creates significant social and environmental
impact.
For
example, in typical new build homes in the UK, total energy use
is three-and-a-half-times more than in Denmark and Germany.
This
clearly has consequences for people who have difficulty affording
to heat their homes properly.
Sustainable
homes
WWF's
'One Million Sustainable Homes' campaign aims to tackle the harmful
effect that our houses have on the environment.
The
goal is to provide people with the choice of living in a home that
is healthier, safer and cheaper for them and the environment.
WWF
is calling on the British government and the regional assemblies
to commit themselves to developing a million sustainable homes by
2012.
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| Childwall
neighbourhood, Liverpool |
Sustainability
is a key issue for the house building industry and is fast becoming
a key consideration for many buyers when deciding which house to
purchase. Key considerations are:
- Energy
efficiency and renewable energy
-
Ecological value of the land
-
Minimisation of waste
- Water
efficiency and recycling
- Airbourne
pollution levels/toxic chemicals
In
environmental terms, the residential sector in the UK contributes
around 27% of the total CO2 emissions associated with energy use,
and domestic energy use is projected to rise by six per cent by
2010.
It
is therefore essential to reduce emissions from existing houses
and from new homes.
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| Examining
a sustainable home in Liverpool |
Furthermore,
up to 70 per cent of all timber consumed in the UK goes into the
construction industry.
Much
of this wood comes from forests around the world that are not managed
in a sustainable way.
Other
issues related to the construction and refurbishment of houses include
- the
use of toxic chemicals in building materials, posing significant
risks to the occupants and the wider environment
- quarrying
for raw construction materials
- the
inefficient use of water when efficiency has been disregarded
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| Solar
energy panels |
A series
of 'Sustainable Homes Awards' were launched in October 2003 by The
House Builders Federation and WWF with the aim of encouraging sustainable
housing.
Nine
developments made it through to the second stage of judging and
a unanimous decision was made that both developments should win
the award.
The
first ever winners were announced at the Sustainable New Homes Awards
ceremony in London. Both Greenwich Millennium Village, London and
Childwall Neighbourhood, Liverpool scooped the award presented by
celebrity writer and presenter of Grand Designs, Kevin McCloud.
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| Childwall
Neighbourhood winners |
Paul
King, Director of the One Million Sustainable Homes campaign said:
"It's great to see more examples of homes which are a pleasure
to live in and gentle on the environment entering the mainstream
of housing in the UK."
Developments
that didn't win the award but met the criteria have been awarded
a "sustainability standard" and will be able to fly a
flag on the site and to use the standard logo in all marketing material
relating to the site.
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