Green Property: Buying, Developing and Investing in Eco-Friendly Property, and Becoming More Energy Efficient (Complete Guide)

Green Property is for those who want to change their property and lifestyle to one more ecologically sound and in tune with their environment, yet who may lack the scientific knowledge to do so. In addition, it provides useful commentary on energy efficiency - which could be a vital part of assembling your home information pack. Uniquely wide in scope, it offers advice for anyone involved with property, containing information for home owners, buyers and sellers, borrowers, investors, landlords, tenants and developers, self-builders and gardeners. It is aimed at helping anyone make the right decisions for truly green living. The book also contains a host of useful contact information including: addresses and websites; details of national and local schemes; information about grants; discounts and free offers; and, advice on buying and sourcing materials. Half title page......Page 1 Title page......Page 5 Imprint......Page 6 Contents......Page 19 Introduction......Page 33 Defining a green property......Page 35 Discovering your environmental philosophy......Page 37 Matching your philosophy with personal circumstances......Page 39 Matching your philosophy with financial considerations......Page 40 Matching your philosophy with property aspirations......Page 41 Summary......Page 42 Useful organizations......Page 43 Useful websites......Page 49 Further reading......Page 50 Becoming more energy efficient......Page 51 Buying energy-efficient products......Page 58 Converting to renewable energy sources......Page 59 Reusing and recycling......Page 67 Knowing about grants and discount schemes......Page 72 Summary......Page 74 Useful organizations......Page 75 Useful websites......Page 78 Further reading......Page 79 Developing a green checklist......Page 80 Finding suitable properties......Page 82 Recognizing and evaluating green potential......Page 83 Recognizing potential for renewable energy sources......Page 84 Avoiding unsuitable properties......Page 86 Knowing about the costs......Page 87 Summary......Page 89 Useful organizations......Page 90 Useful websites......Page 91 Further reading......Page 92 Knowing what buyers are looking for......Page 93 Making affordable green changes......Page 94 Producing a home information pack......Page 98 Presenting your green property for sale......Page 101 Marketing your green property......Page 103 Useful organizations......Page 105 Useful websites......Page 106 Further reading......Page 107 Defining your borrowing philosophy......Page 108 Knowing about ethical mortgages......Page 110 Mortgages for green new build and renovation......Page 112 Researching and choosing green lenders......Page 113 Using ethical financial advisers......Page 115 Summary......Page 116 Useful organizations......Page 117 Further reading......Page 118 Defining your investment philosophy......Page 119 Types of ethical property investment......Page 121 Researching and questioning organizations......Page 126 Using professionals......Page 127 Useful organizations......Page 128 Further reading......Page 130 Understanding the Green Landlords’ Scheme......Page 131 Knowing about grants and loans for landlords......Page 132 Knowing about tax incentives for landlords......Page 135 Producing an energy performance certificate......Page 136 Sourcing energy-efficient white goods......Page 137 Marketing your environmentally friendly property......Page 138 Overcoming problems through green action......Page 139 Summary......Page 140 Useful websites......Page 144 Further reading......Page 145 Choosing green rental accommodation......Page 146 Making improvements with your landlord......Page 148 Reaching a consensus with other tenants......Page 150 Becoming more energy efficient......Page 151 Buying energy-saving brown goods......Page 152 Saving money......Page 153 Obtaining grants for tenants on benefits......Page 154 Useful organizations......Page 156 Further reading......Page 157 Buying a property or land for development......Page 159 Knowing what to avoid......Page 162 Knowing about rules and regulations......Page 163 Sourcing green materials......Page 165 Knowing about grants and tax incentives......Page 168 Summary......Page 171 Useful organizations......Page 172 Useful websites......Page 173 Further reading......Page 174 Buying land......Page 175 Obtaining permission......Page 181 Understanding rules, regulations and procedures......Page 185 Planning and designing......Page 188 Generating your own energy......Page 193 Obtaining grants and tax incentives......Page 195 Summary......Page 199 Useful organizations......Page 200 Useful websites......Page 206 Further reading......Page 207 Reusing and recycling......Page 208 Composting......Page 209 Organic growing......Page 210 Conserving water and energy......Page 214 Sourcing environmentally friendly products and materials......Page 216 Knowing about grants and discount schemes......Page 217 Summary......Page 218 Useful organizations......Page 219 Useful websites......Page 222 Further reading......Page 223 Appendix Grants, loans and tax incentives......Page 224 Useful organizations......Page 237 Useful websites......Page 258 Further reading......Page 265 Index......Page 267 Index of advertsiers......Page 275 Half title page 1 Title page 5 Imprint 6 Contents 19 Introduction 33 Chapter 1 Making decisions 35 Defining a green property 35 Discovering your environmental philosophy 37 Matching your philosophy with personal circumstances 39 Matching your philosophy with financial considerations 40 Matching your philosophy with property aspirations 41 Developing a green code 42 Summary 42 Useful organizations 43 Useful websites 49 Further reading 50 Chapter 2 Homeowners 51 Becoming more energy efficient 51 Buying energy-efficient products 58 Converting to renewable energy sources 59 Reusing and recycling 67 Knowing about grants and discount schemes 72 Summary 74 Useful organizations 75 Useful websites 78 Further reading 79 Chapter 3 Home-buyers 80 Developing a green checklist 80 Finding suitable properties 82 Recognizing and evaluating green potential 83 Recognizing potential for renewable energy sources 84 Avoiding unsuitable properties 86 Knowing about the costs 87 Arranging green building and contents insurance 89 Summary 89 Useful organizations 90 Useful websites 91 Further reading 92 Chapter 4 Home-sellers 93 Knowing what buyers are looking for 93 Making affordable green changes 94 Adding value through environmentally friendly changes 98 Producing a home information pack 98 Presenting your green property for sale 101 Marketing your green property 103 Knowing about grants 105 Summary 105 Useful organizations 105 Useful websites 106 Further reading 107 Chapter 5 Borrowers 108 Defining your borrowing philosophy 108 Knowing about ethical mortgages 110 Mortgages for green new build and renovation 112 Researching and choosing green lenders 113 Using ethical financial advisers 115 Summary 116 Useful organizations 117 Useful websites 118 Further reading 118 Chapter 6 Investors 119 Defining your investment philosophy 119 Types of ethical property investment 121 Researching and questioning organizations 126 Using professionals 127 Summary 128 Useful organizations 128 Useful websites 130 Further reading 130 Chapter 7 Landlords 131 Understanding the Green Landlords’ Scheme 131 Knowing about grants and loans for landlords 132 Knowing about tax incentives for landlords 135 Producing an energy performance certificate 136 Sourcing energy-efficient white goods 137 Marketing your environmentally friendly property 138 Overcoming problems through green action 139 Summary 140 Useful organizations 144 Useful websites 144 Further reading 145 Chapter 8 Tenants 146 Choosing green rental accommodation 146 Making improvements with your landlord 148 Reaching a consensus with other tenants 150 Becoming more energy efficient 151 Buying energy-saving brown goods 152 Saving money 153 Obtaining grants for tenants on benefits 154 Summary 156 Useful organizations 156 Useful websites 157 Further reading 157 Chapter 9 Developers 159 Buying a property or land for development 159 Knowing what to avoid 162 Knowing about rules and regulations 163 Sourcing green materials 165 Knowing about grants and tax incentives 168 Summary 171 Useful organizations 172 Useful websites 173 Further reading 174 Chapter 10 Self-builders 175 Buying land 175 Obtaining permission 181 Understanding rules, regulations and procedures 185 Planning and designing 188 Ethical purchasing and sourcing 193 Generating your own energy 193 Obtaining grants and tax incentives 195 Summary 199 Useful organizations 200 Useful websites 206 Further reading 207 Chapter 11 Gardeners 208 Reusing and recycling 208 Composting 209 Organic growing 210 Creating a wildlife garden 214 Conserving water and energy 214 Sourcing environmentally friendly products and materials 216 Knowing about grants and discount schemes 217 Summary 218 Useful organizations 219 Useful websites 222 Further reading 223 Appendix Grants, loans and tax incentives 224 Useful organizations 237 Useful websites 258 Further reading 265 Index 267 Index of advertsiers 275