Constructing your house from the ground up is challenging. It requires detailed research and meticulous budgeting. It requires extra effort when you plan to save energy and the environment.  It is about choosing the best insulation, solar panels, double glazing and other aspects. Such aspects reduce your liabilities towards monthly utility expenses. Yes, you can reduce about 60% of your expenses on electricity and other energy sources.  

Let’s first begin with the basics.

What does an eco-friendly house imply?

An eco-friendly property refers to a property that one builds with sustainability in mind. It could mean building a home with eco-friendly materials like- rocks, re-purposed recycled material, sand, wood, twigs, cross-laminated timber, etc. Such eco-friendly houses are comparatively cheaper to build than traditional houses. The key attribute of such houses is to get close to nature. It leaves room for natural sunlight and wind, which solar energy utilises.

Cost of building an eco-friendly and sustainable house

The costs of eco-friendly home construction may vary according to the house size, property age and the materials used. However, creating an eco-friendly home usually costs €30000-€70000. It excludes any grants or benefits you leverage to finance the costs. Yes, you can utilise some grants from the government to reduce the costs. However, meet the eligibility criteria to get it. Only a few individuals living on low income may qualify.

Alternatively, you can finance the home improvement costs with green loans in the Ireland marketplace.

 For example, if you must undergo critical changes like- solar panel installation, improving insulation,  or installing underfloor heating. It may cost around €60000. If you have €15000 in savings, you can finance the remaining €45000 with these loans. It will help you get the best material and improve your property value.

What factors affect the costs of sustainable home creation?

Several factors apart from the budget may impact the costs of an eco-friendly home. Individuals seeking quick energy-efficient updates may benefit from this. It will help you curtail costs, re-organise finances and spend only on important aspects of the renovation.  Here are some aspects to be mindful of while designing a sustainable home:

1) Intensity of repair work

The scope of work is the amount of repair and renovation work done in the home. For example- solar panel installation, heating system upgrade, bind installation or window replacements. The more work you have, the higher it will cost. Thus, carefully analyse the home aspects. Check if approaching an upgrade would help your lifestyle. If it is for temporary relief, avoid it. It is because you would have to repair or replace it sooner or later.

For example- installing solar panels costs €8000-€16000. Similarly, an air source heat pump may cost €12000-€18000 respectively.

2) Size and property age

Size and property years also play a crucial role in deciding the renovation costs. If your property size is 3000 sq ft, the costs would be high. Alternatively, if you own a 900sq ft property, you can transform it at lower costs. One must consider the renovation standards and area restrictions set by the government. It will help you avoid wrong or illegal construction or pay extra.

Furthermore, the property age also defines the costs. The older the property, the more costly the upgrades. This is due to the risk involved in making the upgrades. It requires extra planning than designing or insulating a new residential property.

For example, external wall insulation for old property costs €1200-€4000. Basically, homeowners may expect to spend anywhere from €20-€30 per sq. metre. According to this, a general house of 3000 sq ft is known as a large property in Ireland and related areas. The external wall insulation may cost (3000×20)= €60000. Similarly, you can calculate the home upgrade costs according to the property size.

3) Energy efficiency goals

How much energy do you plan to save? It determines the amount you must budget for the home improvement. You can define your energy-saving targets in the following ways:

·         Reducing energy consumption in the whole house or a particular unit

·         Reducing carbon dioxide equivalents (CO2e)

·         Boosting the percentage of the energy budget invested in the energy saving modules

·         Getting or boosting the return on investment from energy-efficient devices

·         Deducting the bills of the units consumed

·         Increasing individual awareness to energy saving goals

These are some goals that you might have regarding energy consumption. Here is how to approach your goals realistically:

Ø  Conduct a comprehensive energy audit of your home

Ø  Insulate walls, roofs, floors, and windows for thermal efficiency.

Ø  Update HVAC systems to improve air conditioning and ventilation

Ø  Install eco-friendly lights with motion sensors and automatic controls

Ø  Address air leaks or gaps in the building. Use weather-stripping around the doors.

Ø  Utilise renewable sources of energy to contribute to long-term savings

Achieving energy-efficient goals in an older house is more costly than in a new house.

For example, houses built before 2000 may cost €25000-€70000. Likewise, newer homes or properties may cost €15000-€17000.  Thus, the utility of energy home upgrades should be analysed according to the property age. It will help you budget and approach renovations accordingly.

 4) Material and labour costs

Do not skip material and labour costs while renovating your home.  The total costs would depend on the scope of work and workers' required timeline, materials and expertise. Most individuals compromise on materials to fulfil other renovation desires. However, it may impact the structural strength of the property. Never bargain on the manufactured material for the property upgrade.

Instead, explore your options by researching and analysing the reviews/ previous experience. Investing in the best material may prove heavy on your pockets. However, it guarantees durability and strength for years.

Alternatively, labour costs depend on the project's complexity and the expertise required. The average cost of hiring a full-time labour is €15/hour. However, the costs may increase to €20/hour if you hire via a professional company. So, if a labour works for 6 hours a day (6×15)= €90/day. Accordingly, if the project lasts a month, it may cost 90×30=€2700. However, the costs may increase in circumstances like- needing additional material, extra expertise to tackle a repair, cumbersome tasks that need more labour, etc. This implies that you may expect to pay €2700- €5000 in labour costs.

It is where the issue arises. You may not be prepared for additional expenses. What if you need more labour or material to complete a task? Tasks of floor insulation and solar panel installation require deep expertise. You do not need to compromise and impact house aesthetics. Utilise a suitable green home improvement loan to finance the costs.  It is ideal for only eco-friendly home renovations.

It may help you ensure timely payments to vendors and get the best outcome. Cheaper materials or labours may not yield the results you need. Instead, it may imply more expenses later. Thus, cut the hassle by hiring industry professionals and material costs for flawless results. Such results promise longevity.

5) Additional home upgrades

You may consider other options to improve the energy effectiveness of your home. For example- installing a heat pump. It brings down the carbon footprint drastically. Additionally, upgrade windows and doors to suit insulation efforts. These upgrades come with some extra costs. However, it is ideal for the long term.

Bottom line 

In conclusion, the cost of eco-friendly updates may vary according to the property size, scope of work, expertise required and budget. The above blog discusses these aspects in detail. It will help you plan the eco-friendly updates by short-listing the important ones. Eventually, it reduces the costs and improves the home’s value.  Also, contact technical experts who may help you with the aspects that reduce energy bills.