Green Construction, Green Homes

Many people are concerned with global warming these days and there have been many articles based on 'Green Homes', which were constructed with success thus enabling the reduced carbon offsets during preliminary design, construction and completion.

We are environmentally aware and understand damage caused by human activities. We use concrete, bricks and steel frames not wood during the construction of a house. We always use insulation in cavity walls, solar panels and can easily install dimming lights or energy saving bulbs. In addition, we always use double-glazing windows as it is efficient in keeping the house cool in summers and warm in winters.

During the initial house design, we try and maximise sunlight entering the house and use open-plan ideas and skyroofs to allow daylight to penetrate the rooms and filling it with natural light thus minimising the requirement to use lights. The solar panels are installed at a south facing position maximising contact with the sunrays available throughout most of the day. We have 340 days of sunshine a year.

We specialise in renovating old stone houses and when converting them into renovated houses, we are turning a brownfield site into an established home with a garden for the family to enjoy, thus minimising damage to the environment as it would have when building on a greenfield site or fresh land purchased.

Gardens can be edible landscaped meaning that fruit trees are planted and after time when fruit have grown, they can be eaten. Deciduous trees can be planted to cool the houses during summer time by giving shade from the sun. It is possible to have a garden roof which contributes to the local biodiversity. There is also xeriscaping which is derived from the greek word 'dry scene' and install plants into gardens that thrive and are tolerant to dry weathers and limited water resources and are also attractive, easy to handle and maintain; plus do not require fertilisers and are cheap.

When a house is completed and it is time to fill the house with furniture, look for standard televisions, fridges, dishwashers and microwaves that are more energy saving efficient than others. Use tiles instead of wood panelling for the floors. Carpets are excellent in trapping heat during winter and there are recycled carpets available. It is very hot during summers and it is recommended to look for air conditioning units which use R-410A refrigerants not HCFC-22, and are SEER (Seasonal Energy Efficient Ratio of 18). HCFC are hydrochloroflurocarbon and it is the chlorine particles which deplete the ozone layers.

Recycling systems are available in Nicosia and Limassol but not yet in Paphos, however it will soon arrive. Recycling bins can be bought.

Reduce temperatures from 25º to 20/21º and turn off lights when not using the room which reduces the heating and electricity bills noticeably. Turning off computers and television not leaving them on standy-by, also helps. We have an annual and continueous water shortage problem in Cyprus thus taking shorter showers and using a couple of buckets to wash cars at home helps enormously instead of using the local car wash or hosepipes. A law passed recently stating that hosepipes used to wash cars or clean pavements as such are banned.