Renewable Energy and residential property

[FUBAR]

Im in the final stages of a deal to build 14 flats (and 1 commercial unit) in an 8 storey block in East London. Build wont start for approx 12 months.

So, Im now thinking about going 'green' where I can/its worth doing with this project, but being a true petrolhead I dont pay much attention to these issues. Will it be worth doing, considering the flats will be for rent to decent tenants (the site is quite close to the 2012 Olypic Stadium, rents rising, professional tenants, etc)?

So, Im looking at things like solar (and I guess wind?) heating and/or electricity. Underfloor heating (I assume its more efficient than conventional radiators?)? Solar reflective/abosorbant glass (taking a wild guess at this one) Anything else worth/not worth considering?

I dont normally (in fact, ever!) get so 'green' but with this project I thought I should explore the alternatives, but only if they arent prohibatively expensive. Especially keen on things I can get Government grants for (every other bugger manages to get a grant so I feel its time I benefited from them too )

Arent all new buildings supposed to be 'carbon nuetral' at some point in the future?

I remember in the news not so long ago a housing development that was lauded in the press for being the first carbon nuetral development (as opposed to individual buildings) in the UK? Can anyone point me to a link to see what they did to make it so?

[andoverben]

I would suggest one thing to look at would be rain water harvesting essentially the rain water goes into tanks under the garden and can then be used for non potable uses like flushing the toilet etc.

The next stage on is Grey water Recycling where water from the Shower/Sink (but not the Loo) is filtered to remove Hair and Soap etc. and can also be used for none potable uses.

Bit of a shameless plug in that this is my dads company http://www.rainharvest.co.uk/index.htm who install just the sort of thing I am talking about into Housing Developments, Shopping Centres and Nursing Homes

[srebbe64]

Hiya Foobs,

I guess it comes down to two things 'calculator' and 'intent'.

Would an average renting tenant really be overly interested in their carbon footprint? My instincts say 'no'.

Regarding intent, are you thinking of selling any time soon? If 'yes', then it could be a really canny move! However, I bow to your own knowledge on the matter. As such, forget my advice and do what your instincts are!

[andoverben]

srebbe64 said:

Would an average renting tenant really be overly interested in their carbon footprint? My instincts say 'no'.

I would be inclined to agree with the average tennant isn't the slightest bit interested about the carbon footprint, they generaly are more interested in what money it is going to save them off their utilities.

What you will find though is that you are likely to get a large amount of positive publicity, there was a small development of Eco Friendly houses built near me with Clever Glass that catches the Sun and solar panels etc. and although as houses go internally they were not much different from any other 3 bed semi they were all over the local newspaper when they were being built and there was a pretty big deal when they were finished. I believe there was quite a scrap with people trying to be the first into these 'famous' eco houses.

[FUBAR]

srebbe64 said:

Hiya Foobs,

I guess it comes down to two things 'calculator' and 'intent'.

Would an average renting tenant really be overly interested in their carbon footprint? My instincts say 'no'.

Regarding intent, are you thinking of selling any time soon? If 'yes', then it could be a really canny move! However, I bow to your own knowledge on the matter. As such, forget my advice and do what your instincts are!

I hear what you're saying Steve and Im sure you know me well enough that I wouldnt give too much away normally, but, this block, whilst currently not in the best area, is slap bang in the middle of what has become known as Stratford's 'Golden Mile' and spitting distance from the new Olympic Stadium. My thoughts were, the type of tenant Im going to attract in the run up to 2012, and the rents I'll be asking, I may aswell try and justify them by being as carbon nuetral/'modern' as the profit margin will allow . For exmaple, underfloor heating (I realise this isnt exactly ground-breaking stuff) I pressume to be much more efficient than rad/convector heating, re using rain/waste water (as per the poster above) etc. With the political parties these days going from red/blue to a muddy brown in an attempt to go green, may aswell try and appease the feckers where I can

Dont forget the Government grant angle. If I can get some of this green technology in at not a huge price disadvantage, then its a great marketing tool (and will also, hopefully, command higher rents )

Not selling, only renting out, but I have to keep an eye on the fact that I may wish to sell at some time in the future, so why not include the 'good selling points' now?

[Hobo]

If you're going to go the whole hog then you'll be looking at ground source heat pumps, biomass boilers, rainwater harvesting, etc, etc.

On a development of 14 apartments I suspect the figures just don't stack up (you don't get much change out of £100k, if any, for the ground source equipment alone).

Is rent/sale prices going to go up sufficiently to cover/recoup these costs ? No I suspect.

Stick some 'switch to 30' stickers on the washing machine & keep the money in you're pocket.

[FUBAR]

Hobo said:

Stick some 'switch to 30' stickers on the washing machine & keep the money in you're pocket.

That is looking the favourite route atm