If someone was to say that there is a new flats UK scheme which incorporates the idea of becoming energy efficient then I would have been sceptical. However, there are parts of the UK, particularly with the housing association who have taken the initiative to build new apartments that are energy efficient. The initiative was sure-fire way of making the cost of living in a housing association building low and reducing the amount of energy consumed by the occupants.



New flats UK schemes are normally built with all of the mod-cons, standard radiator heating systems, plenty of light and power showers! It is obvious to say that these flats are not so energy efficient. However, they can be made energy efficient by using energy efficient light-bulbs, keeping the radiators on a timer and keeping you showers quick! Yet nothing is more efficient than a purpose built energy conserving flats.

On a recent article from the Guardian, this reported that a new block of flats built by the housing association in Redhill, Surrey, was purposely built to conserve energy. At a closer look the flats are built with thick walls, that is well insulated, covered with bricks and clay tiles, thus keeping the from escaping. As the buildings have no standard heating systems, all of the heating systems are built under the floor; therefore underfloor heating systems are a common energy saving initiative.

Furthermore, some of the major features which contribute to the energy saving initiative are low water rate flushing, low flow tap system, smaller sized baths for reducing the use of water and shower units that only use 80 litres of water per person. The windows are triple glazed, further reducing the chance of losing heat. In addition to keeping in the heat are solar panels installed on the roof, biomass boilers which run by using wood pellets and heat recovery ventilation systems that absorb heat from TV screens and raised body heat.

Some of the new flats UK schemes offer attractive features, but none fit into the criteria of an energy efficient block of flats. The idea is to monitor how much energy the average person consumes on a daily basis; the information will be recorded and collated after a period of two years. With the current frenzy over becoming more eco friendly, this is a positive step towards making housing an energy friendly environment.

These flats are an experiment to see how people can function with limited supplies of essential housing tools. Normal housing can be altered to become more eco-friendly, by taking away standard radiant heating and installing underfloor heating, changing the water flow on taps, switching your light bulbs to energy saving ones and recycling materials. It's also possible to install a flushing system that does not use so much water and only needs a half flushing system.