Millennials are starting to trickle into the housing market and studies show that they don’t just prefer sustainable offerings like eco homes, they are even willing to pay extra for them.
A 2015 global online study by Nielsen shed some light on the purchasing behaviour of millennials and how almost 75% of them are willing to pay premium for green products and services.
With the MEES fines looming over the horizon, these findings give landlords another reason to convert their rental properties into fully-fledged, energy efficient homes.
Here are four ways you can upgrade your rental properties in preparation for the next generation:
1. Maximize daylight through clever architecture and engineering
What sets eco-friendly houses apart is their minimal carbon footprint and low environmental impact. One way to achieve these aspects is to take full advantage of sunlight.
From daylighting strategies to solar water-heating, and passive heating options, you’ll find that through clever architecture and engineering, the sun can be a more than adequate substitute for modern, fossil fuel-based technology.
2. Reduce heat loss with better insulation
Investing on superior insulation, results in substantial energy savings. This cost reduction happens because you get to keep the heat in during the winter, and prevent it from seeping in, come summer time.
Installing double-pane windows or thermal-backed curtains can help improve your property’s ability to retain heat but this won’t be enough if you have solid walls. This is due to the fact that heat escapes rather easily through solid walls and their high surface area only exacerbates the problem.
To remedy this, external wall insulation can be installed. The great thing about this solution is that it doesn’t just insulate your property, it can also improve its aesthetic qualities.
3. Implement quality of life improvements with disruptive technology
LED bulbs have drastically changed the way we light our homes thanks to their excellent energy efficiency and lengthy lifespan. While LED technology isn’t anything new, there have been several advancements that have been made since its inception.
There are now bulbs that can cycle through the visible spectrum of light. This means that these LED bulbs can allow you to choose between focus enhancing blue-based light or calming yellow-based light depending on the situation.
You can take this a step further by automating the lights in your property with smart home technology. After all, without the help of automation, you may end up spending too much time manually tweaking the lights in your house, while trying to get your desired mood
Installing smart home technology also allows you to program your thermostat so that it runs at maximum energy efficiency at all times, further reducing your energy costs.
4. Utilize renewable energy options
What’s better than reduced energy costs? Free renewable energy, that’s what. Solar panels may have high upfront costs, but they’re investments that are sure to pay off in the near future.
The Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, Greg Clark, invested £246M in battery technology in July 2017, with the vision that in the near future, households will eventually produce their own electricity and even sell their excess back to the National Grid.
Improvements such as renewable energy technology have to be implemented in advance in order for you to be able to reap the rewards once these societal and economic changes take root. Reach out to us now, and get your free quote.
