Background to sustainable homes
One Million Sustainable Homes
At the World Summit on Sustainable Development, held in Johannesburg in August 2002, WWF launched its groundbreaking One Million Sustainable Homes campaign to bring sustainable homes from the fringes of the housing sector to the mainstream.
Why are sustainable homes so important to WWF?
Every two years WWF produces the Living Planet Report, which measures the "health" of the planet. With each update, the report has indicated a continuing dramatic decline in the number of species on the planet and a dramatic rise in the rate of the consumption of natural resources and levels of pollution. The Living Planet Report also measures the "ecological footprint" of individual countries and, shockingly, it tells us that if everyone around the world consumed natural resources and generated carbon dioxide (CO2) at the rate that we currently do in the UK, we would need three planets to support us - in other words we’re currently leading a "three planet lifestyle"!
This is a truly sobering thought, but what does it have to do with our homes? Well, more than half the resources consumed globally are used in construction, and 45 per cent of energy generated across the world is used to heat, light and ventilate our buildings, with a further five per cent arising from constructing them. Most homes in the UK have a particularly significant impact on the environment, with direct effects on some of WWF’s main priorities, including climate change, forests, freshwater and reducing the use of toxic chemicals.
Environmental
In environmental terms, housing in the UK contributes around 27 per cent 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 new and existing homes if we are to mitigate some of the worst effects of climate change. Further information on climate change
Furthermore, the construction industry in the UK currently accounts for around 85 per cent of timber use in the UK, with 55 per cent being used for housing. Meanwhile, natural forests are being lost at a rate of 30 hectares every minute, so it is vital that the house building industry demands timber from well managed, independently certified sources if we are to halt and reverse the threats to forests around the world. Further information on forests
Other impacts related to the construction of new homes include quarrying to provide aggregates, the wasteful use of water, and the widespread use of toxic chemicals in materials, which can pose significant health risks to the occupants as well as affecting wildlife Further information on toxic chemicals.
In addition, the way homes and communities are developed determines our lifestyle decisions and our overall "ecological footprint" - the impact we make on the natural world and its resources. For example, by providing easy access to local amenities, public transport, local food links and recycling facilities, residents are easily able to choose the more sustainable option, reduce their "ecological footprint".
Social
In social terms, poor housing has major adverse impacts on the physical and mental health of residents. It is estimated that 2.7 million households in England alone currently live in poor housing conditions, with the most vulnerable living in the worst housing. Around 2.5 million homes are cold enough to cause ill health during the winter in England. According to the Joseph Rowntree Foundation:
"Britain has around 40,000 more deaths during December and March - which is a larger 'winter excess' than most other European countries, including Scandinavia. This is in spite of the fact that Britain has comparatively mild winters - part of the explanation may lie with Britain's ageing housing stock, which - may provide less protection against the cold."
In contrast, sustainable homes and communities offer significant health benefits such as warm, well-ventilated and healthier indoor environments, with fewer toxic substances and less air pollution from traffic. Well designed communities, incorporating safe pedestrian and cycling facilities and access to local shops and amenities, may also encourage residents to leave their cars at home and get more exercise!
Economic
In economic terms, on the ground experience has shown that developing more sustainable homes does not have to be more expensive than building to current minimum requirements.
WWF’s report, One Planet Living in the Thames Gateway, demonstrates that in terms of capital costs and personal expenditure related to the purchase and running of a home, the cost of developing to EcoHomes "Very Good" or zero energy and zero waste (Z²) standard, would be comparable to, or even cheaper than, the cost of developing to current building regulations.
This is because any additional build cost (estimated at around two per cent for EcoHomes "Very Good" and 10 per cent for Z²), could be offset partly by planning gain (a mechanism whereby developers can increase development in exchange for meeting environmental targets), and partly by residents paying slightly more for their homes.
Savings on residents' energy and water bills would offset any increase in mortgage repayments. In fact, the report's findings suggest that if all household expenditure were considered, living in sustainable homes would be cheaper for residents as well as offering significant environmental benefits.
