‘Sustainability Is Expensive’
‘Sustainability is expensive’ is one of the most common concerns clients have when it comes to implementing sustainable measures in their homes and why they are hesitant about going the extra mile during the design and construction process.
As a client you have a certain budget and the design and construction of your new house has to stay within that limit. The issue with designing and constructing within that amount is that it only considers the initial investment and doesn’t factor in any cost increases and/or reductions in the long run. It’s usually based on a snapshot of your current household and financial situation and often doesn’t allow for any future changes or adaptations.
Every project is different, so it’s extremely difficult to put a price tag or percentage of cost on creating a sustainable, high-performing house. Nonetheless, together with your changing behaviour, sustainable improvements are one of the few instruments that reduce the cost of living, highlighting the importance of long-term thinking when considering the affordability of a new house.
There are certain principles to consider that affect the cost of a building; in the short-term, higher cost for insulation, glazing and sustainable energy systems will increase initial cost.
At the same time, initial cost could be cut by measures such as a smaller and more efficient floor plan (meaning less materials and construction), smaller heating and cooling systems (due to thermal efficiency), water efficiency, smart light design, lower cost of energy and water use, ‘green’ loans and mortgages and any ‘green’ subsidies adequate for your specific situation.
In the long-term your ongoing cost will drastically decrease compared to a non-’sustainable’ house. For example, much lower energy and water bills; reduced carbon cost premium (would governmental measures be taken?), improved health and therefore reduced health costs through better air quality, improved thermal comfort and a better lifestyle (which limits the cost for unnecessary escapes from the house or constant local adjustments), less costs on future-proofing according to a changing lifestyle or household, and lower maintenance and repair costs through the use of more durable and sustainable materials.
Additionally, the lifespan of your house will increase, and, because of the increase in demand for sustainable homes in the future, so will its value. It’s worth considering the return on your investment.
Of course, all these principles don’t change anything about the current limit of your budget. But they do give you a different perspective from which to consider the total initial and ongoing cost of a sustainable house. Even whilst implementing sufficient sustainable measures you can still easily create a house that meets your needs by (re)considering your choices and priorities. In the next blog post we discuss limiting the size of your house, one of the most effective considerations to lowering your total cost, now and in the future.