Low-Carbon House Construction: Materials, Foundations and Design Choices
A new house has an environmental footprint before anyone switches on the heating. Materials have to be manufactured and transported, the site needs preparing, and the building itself requires energy throughout its life. For homeowners planning a new build, these impacts raise an important question: where can you make a meaningful difference without making the project unnecessarily complicated? Low-carbon house construction begins with decisions made early. The size and shape of the building, its structural system, the foundations and the materials used all influence the overall result. There is no single product that makes a house low-carbon. The best approach is to consider how the parts work together and make sensible choices for the particular site. What Does Low-Carbon Construction Mean? The term generally refers to reducing greenhouse gas emissions associated with constructing and using a building. Two areas deserve attention. Embodied carbon covers emissions associated with produ...