July 25, 2023
Sustainable living is not a new concept, in fact the idea has been around for decades, but for most of the world’s population they have chosen to ignore this as a way of life. As a result, households account for almost three quarters of global greenhouse emissions worldwide and with the environmental and societal pressures intensifying, it’s more important than ever to review household behaviour and adopt sustainable living habits.
In this month’s blog post, we outline simple ways that you can incorporate sustainable living into your life and help reduce your carbon footprint.
Embrace the 3Rs principle – Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle
Reducing waste is one of the easiest ways to create a sustainable living environment. This can be done by recycling, composting, or simply reducing the amount of plastic packaging you use.
Try using eco-friendly alternatives
Not only will this approach positively impact the environment, but you’ll also notice benefits to your wallet.
Here are 10 eco-friendly alternatives you could consider:
Plant your own produce
Have a go at planting your own produce. Simple and easy to grow, there is no better taste than fresh homegrown tomatoes and strawberries. This will help to reduce waste packaging as well as promote a more sustainable and healthier lifestyle. And who knows, you might just discover a new hobby.
It’s time to go paperless
We’re now so technologically advanced, paperless is the new way of living. It will reduce stress and filing and free up time to take action on the new information coming your way. Nearly everything can be switched to paperless, such as bank statements, household bills, receipts, catalogues, newspapers, magazines and you can even use apps to write yourself reminders or shopping lists.
Invest in renewable energy
Solar, wind and hydropower are examples of renewable energy that can be used to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels. Something as simple as installing solar panels on your home can make a big difference to the environment and your purse.
These are just some small changes that you can implement into your everyday life that can help you to reduce your environmental impact. But is this enough?
At Fraser Millar, we are moving towards a better future, putting sustainability at our core. We believe our Passivhaus homes are at the forefront of sustainable living. Let us explain why…
Why Passivhaus?
Fraser Millar homes at Lancaster Park in South Belfast are designed, constructed and LEB Passivhaus certified to achieve exceptional energy efficiency. The first large residential housing development to achieve an EPC A rating in the UK and Ireland, Lancaster Park homes are the gold standard of energy efficiency homes.
To achieve this, we incorporated the five key principles of Passivhaus design. This includes a combination of high-quality insulation, airtight construction, thermal bridge detailing, advanced window and door systems, and heat recovery ventilation. Consequently, the homes use up to 90% less energy for heating and cooling compared to conventional buildings.
The reduced energy demand means less reliance on fossil fuels, leading to a substantial reduction in carbon emissions. In fact, Fraser Millar Passivhaus homes have been proven to reduce up to three tonnes of carbon emissions per year and almost six tonnes if you have PV solar panels installed.
When you purchase a Fraser Millar property not only are you paving the way for a more sustainable built environment, but by adopting the Passivhaus lifestyle you are actively contributing to lowering greenhouse gases.
Don’t just take our word for it, listen to what the Passivhaus House Institute has to say, as each one of our homes are certified by this organisation.
If you would like to find out more about Passivhaus living visit our show house at Lancaster Park, in south Belfast.
