what is 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. Eco-friendly homes, for example, that are achieving or striving for carbon neutrality through the provision of renewable energy sources, have a zero-water waste management programme, and operate a sustainable transport policy.

what's the aim of whatgreenhome.com?

Simply that every new private housing development worldwide appears on whatgreehome.com – eventually – because if that aim is realised they will each be achieving the minimum standards of sustainability in the following five categories:

  • zero-carbon
  • zero-waste
  • sustainable water
  • local and sustainable building materials
  • sustainable transport

who's behind whatgreenhome.com?

Gordon and John Miller are the founders of whatgreenhome.com. Gordon is London-based and works as journalist specialising in writing about property. He writes regularly for national newspapers, including The Financial Times, The Sunday Times, The Times, The Scotsman, and The Daily Mail. (See http://www.journalisted.com/gordon-miller) Gordon is also a licensed BREEAM international environmental assessor for buildings. BREEAM is the most reputable and robust environmental assessment methodology worldwide. John is Manchester-based and owns Glideslope Software Ltd, a company which provides website and network support services to predominantly not-for-profit organisations operating in the north of England.

Whatgreenhome.com is operated by Whatgreenhome Limited, a company registered in England and Wales with company registration number 6388941. The registered office of Whatgreenhome Limited is 46-48 Long Street, Middleton, Manchester, M24 6UQ.

how does whatgreenhome.com make money?

Conventional advertising in the form of banner adverts, and through commissions, Why we like...
Kevin McCloud:

He's putting his money where his mouth is by financing a UK eco-
development. in some cases, earned from the developers whose properties are listed on the site should you buy a property from them having first visited whatgreenhome.com and clicked on a link to the developer. However, it is categorically not a requirement for developers to advertise and/or enter into a commission agreement for the properties to be listed on whatgreenhome.com. Rest assured any developments/properties listed on the site are included on merit and because they meet or are working towards achieving the standards set down in our selection criteria, and not because they have paid to be on the site. Developments listed as ‘featured eco-homes’ have paid to appear in that position; they have not, however, as previously stated, paid to be listed on the website. Whatgreenhome.com or anyone involved with it administratively is not an agent and does not represent any company or developer whose properties appear on the website.

does whatgreenhome.com recommend the developments on the site?

Whatgreenhome.com has initiated a kitemark that denotes developments that we feel are worthy of recognition because of their commitment to sustainability. There are three levels of kitemarks: Excellent; Highly Commended; and Commended.

The Kitemarks are only awarded to developments that are profiled on whatgreenhome.com. An Excellent kitemark is only granted to developments that have achieved five green ticks on whatgreenhome.com; Highly Commended is awarded to developments that have achieved four green ticks; and a Commended kitemark is issued to developments that have Why we don't like...
Kevin McCloud:

Time to tuck your shirt in, old boy! achieved two or three green ticks. Should any development receive a red cross in any one category it disqualifies them from being awarded a kitemark.

Furthermore, kitemarks are awarded for use annually, and may be rescinded at any point during the course of the year for reasons that might include, for example, the suspension of a piece of technology, or the non-delivery against a claim as to future performance. Similarly, a development may be up or down graded, receiving more or less green ticks, due to an event such as outlined above. In such a likelihood an up or down graded kitemark would be issued for use by the developer.

The award of a kitemark and/or a developer or development’s inclusion on the site does not in any way imply that whatgreenhome.com vouches for the financial or legal status of a development or developer. However, whatgreenhome.com would not knowingly include a developer or development on the site that it does not feel reaches for the highest standards of probity. Whatgreenhome.com, or anyone working with or for it, has not necessarily visited each of the developments or properties listed, although many have been. Finally, the kitemark is not a substitute for you doing your own research, due diligence, and financial and legal undertakings, as you would ordinarily when purchasing a property.

how can I get involved?

We'd love to hear from you for one of several reasons:

  • if you want to recommend a development you feel should be featured,
  • you have a story or news item you think would be of interest to others,
  • you would like to contribute an article,
  • you want to give feedback on any aspect of the site,
  • you want to tell us what a great (or poor) job we are doing.

what other sites do we like?

Any that gives a damn. Listed in no particular order, have a look at:


And tell us which ones you like so that we can build up a decent links section.

A nationwide Green Homes Service was launched on 2 April 2008 via the Energy Saving Trust. It offers consumers advice on energy efficiency, renewable energy, travel, water efficiency and waste reduction. A Green Homes Concierge Service, supported by the London Development Agency and specifically aimed at London-based consumers, was launched in December 2007.
 

lastly...

If you like, respect, admire or find something of interest in what we are doing, please tell others about whatgreenhome.com and its aims. If you don't – and have something constructive to say – please tell us. Thanks.