http://www.whatgreenhome.com/ whatgreenhome.com reviews eco-friendly homes for sale in the UK and abroad, and provides news, opinion and features on sustainable property development worldwide so that you can make an informed decision about the home you want to buy. en-gb Copyright: (C) 2007-2010 Whatgreenhome Ltd editor@whatgreenhome.com webmaster@whatgreenhome.com Fri, 06 Aug 2010 12:00:00 +0100 EnglishPoint is a stunning modern, waterfront environmentally friendly development designed by Broadway Malyan, a major European architectural firm. It offers apartment living in the comfort, luxury and security of a hotel. Onsite facilities include a hotel, international restaurant, spa & gym, 88-berth serviced marina, water sport centre, boardwalk with shops and an underground car park. EnglishPoint is located on a unique four-acre beach and seafront site, across the creek from the spectacular skyline of old Mombasa and the historic 16^th century Portuguese Fort Jesus.]]> http://www.whatgreenhome.com/africa_page1.html#englishpoint editor@whatgreenhome.com Fri, 06 Aug 2010 12:00:00 +0100 eco-development reviews The VELUX Model Home 2020 project is an innovative scheme, which aims to provide an example of sustainable homes that are practical, comfortable and appealing to the homeowner while remaining affordable and easily replicable for the mass house builder. The project involves the construction of two new semi-detached homes in Rothwell, Kettering, that have been designed to deliver a 70% reduction in carbon emissions with the remaining 30% of carbon offset by allowable solutions.]]> http://www.whatgreenhome.com/news/anatomy_of_a_zero-carbon_home_2.html editor@whatgreenhome.com Wed, 23 May 2010 14:30:00 +0100 news For housebuilders - like any consumer-facing industry - the key to profitability has always been building homes that consumers wanted to buy: the right product in the right place for the right price. In recent years however, the goal posts have moved significantly and development now has to respond to a new imperative: climate change. The Government is committed to reducing the UK’s carbon emissions by 80% by the year 2050. Meeting that target will require a fundamental re-evaluation of the way new homes are designed and built.]]> http://www.whatgreenhome.com/news/anatomy_of_a_zero-carbon_home.html editor@whatgreenhome.com Thu, 07 May 2010 15:45:00 +0100 news The Government’s announcement on feed-in-tariff (FITs) levels from 1 April is to be welcomed. The highest tariff of 41.3p per kWh for electricity generated from PV of under 4KW on a retrofitted home - with an additional minimum of 3p per kWh for electricity exported to the national grid - is better than anticipated. But it is long overdue.]]> http://www.whatgreenhome.com/comment/fits_for_purpose.html editor@whatgreenhome.com Thu, 11 Feb 2010 17:15:00 +0000 opinion Located in Rio Grande do Norte, Tropical D’Santo Cristo is a beautiful beachfront resort situated a short distance from Sao Miguel do Gostoso village and 98 kilometres from Natal. The resort’s design has been influenced by tropical gardens combined with a Mediterranean architectural ecologically in balance. To realise its philosophy the development will focus on utilising sustainable materials and production methods. The project is undergoing SIPP compliance.]]> http://www.whatgreenhome.com/americas_page3.html#tropical editor@whatgreenhome.com Wed, 20 Jan 2010 17:45:00 +0000 eco-development reviews As we go to press the Copenhagen Climate Change conference has begun. There are a myriad of questions to be answered - not least is the world hanging on Obama’s famed powers of diplomacy? A knife-edge vote earlier this year narrowly passed a bill through congress to reduce CO2 via a Cap and Trade system, however the Senate has yet to vote on the Bill. The US and China are the world’s highest polluting countries and as such its hard to see whether a deal can be reached without these countries on board.]]> http://www.whatgreenhome.com/comment/why_invest_in_green.html editor@whatgreenhome.com Thu, 10 Dec 2009 16:45:00 +0000 opinion Minthis Hills is an extraordinary resort located near Paphos in the south-west of Cyprus, committed to preserving the rich history and natural beauty of the area. The masterplan creates a harmonious balance between contemporary design and the environment by carefully integrating the development into the landscape to preserve and enhance the natural features, minimise site intervention and maximise views. The private residences have a passive solar design responding to both climate and site, and have been carefully nestled along the natural contours of the land to protect the hilltops and ridges. Onsite amenities include restaurants, spa and leisure facilities nature trails, vineyards and olive groves, which will be harvested and where homeowners can have their own label bottles.]]> http://www.whatgreenhome.com/western_europe_page3.html#minthishills editor@whatgreenhome.com Sat, 17 Oct 2009 11:15:00 +0100 eco-development reviews Set on the edge of Harlow, Essex, in 280 acres, Newhall is a bold, new low carbon community of architecturally stimulating contemporary apartments and houses - a restaurant and shops are scheduled to open in early November - designed by several of the countries’ award-winning architects and leading housebuilders.]]> http://www.whatgreenhome.com/news/may_the_force_be_with_you.html editor@whatgreenhome.com Thu, 03 Sep 2009 16:45:00 +0100 news Campbell Square is an exclusive development of apartments and townhouses a short walk from Milton Keynes’ extensive indoor shopping centre, the Xscape leisure dome and theatre district. Milton Keynes has excellent public transport with London Euston is 45 minutes away by rail and Mabchester less than 90 minutes. All homes at Campbell Square achieve the maximum EcoHomes Excellent rating.]]> http://www.whatgreenhome.com/united_kingdom_page6.html#campbellsquare editor@whatgreenhome.com Tue, 11 Aug 2009 16:30:00 +0100 eco-development reviews Renewable energy will be provided via a biomass boiler powered communal heating system. Low energy lighting will be used and water usage will be minimised. Innovative design will exceed the energy efficiency required by current building regulations by at least 25%. Initiatives will encourage waste recycling and minimise the use of cars through the provision of cycle storage and a Car Club. Planting will maximise the use of native species to improve the local ecology.]]> http://www.whatgreenhome.com/united_kingdom_page10.html#harmony editor@whatgreenhome.com Wed, 5 Aug 2009 14:15:00 +0100 eco-development reviews There are many contributing factors to climate change and one large contributor is the energy used in our homes to produce heating and water, which currently accounts for 13 per cent of the UK’s greenhouse gas emissions. With the constant clamour by politicians for more homes to be built in the UK (and the planned new developments over the coming years), without action, emissions from this source will only increase.]]> http://www.whatgreenhome.com/comment/at_home_in_the_21st_century.html editor@whatgreenhome.com Wed, 5 Aug 2009 13:00:00 +0100 opinion