VIEW POINT
GREEN LIVINGAn independent environmental audit, undertaken at the start of a refurbishment project, will identify a number of ways in which a homeowner can make a positive contribution towards protecting the environment. As well as showing how valuable resources, such as energy and water, could be saved, an environmental audit will also identify how household expenditure and maintenance costs might be reduced. Incorporating energy conservation schemes at the same time as carrying out an interior or outdoor design project is likely to maximise the scope for improvements. For example, there are a number of ways to manage the maintenance of an outdoor swimming pool, but undertaking a retrofit is not always possible or practical. Our detailed environmental audits will take account of the latest technology and methods for greener living. It will encompass a wide range of issues, including an assessment of how energy savings can be made and how water usage can be reduced by rainwater harvesting and grey water recycling. The scope for using ground source heat pumps and the viability of selling electricity back to the utility companies will also be considered. In some cases water can be cleaned and reused, but factors affecting the overall environmental viability – such as the additional energy and chemical usage – will need to be taken into account. We can also advise on switching utility suppliers, and our qualified gas and electrical engineers are fully trained in the installation of solar thermal gas-based hot water systems and the use of photovoltaics. We have seen a dramatic increase in the choice of energy-saving light bulbs and fittings, meaning that designs can now be selected which suit the chosen interior design scheme. In addition, decorative fire effects from wood burning stoves that use environmentally sustainable wood pellets are now a popular alternative to older style gas fires. In the same way as the choice of energy-saving light fittings has improved, we can now source attractive water butts for the garden, which suit the outdoor space design. In association with A Greener Place Ltd, a leading firm of environmental consultants, Red Square is now providing full environmental audits and installation services alongside its interior design projects. The ‘best advice’ you will receive is totally independent and based entirely on our collective knowledge and experience. While we are quick to embrace new energy-saving initiatives, we are not tied to a particular manufacturer or use of technology. We do, however, aim to buy only from trusted suppliers who can offer the appropriate level of ongoing support and maintenance. For more information contact: A Greener Place Ltd. Tel: 0845 6009008
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