When Do I Get My Money Back?
Twenty years ago, this was the question many clients asked me when I recommended that they install photovoltaic panels on the roof of their Huf house. They were often worried that their investment into PV panels would not pay off in the future. Today this question has disappeared.
Instead, my clients ask, “Are you able to install solar panels?" and “How many would you recommend?” An array of questions about air source heat pumps, insulation, underfloor heating, ventilation and building materials demonstrates a massive shift in the awareness of how important sustainability has become and the willingness to invest into a long-term solution.
I’m glad that we have reached this point but, in my view, building sustainable houses and following a truly sustainable concept is far more complex, and we need to embrace a more holistic view. Too many decisions are narrowly focused and based on short-term results. To be truly forward-thinking, we must adopt a more broad-based, long-term mindset.
Not only must we ask ourselves how much energy houses will need in the future, we must also consider how much energy it takes to build a house in the first place, and whether or not the heating concept is flexible enough to accommodate new technologies in the future. We should also evaluate if the design itself follows a sustainable attitude. For instance, is the house designed in harmony with its surroundings and does the design use space efficiently?
Furthermore, we need to consider how sustainable the materials each house is made of, and how these materials influence our health.
Not too long ago, many of these questions were considered “philosophical” and not relevant for the “real” world. This has fundamentally changed. The “philosophical” world of sustainability has become our undeniable reality. Until recently, governments around the world have met climate change with promises: guidelines were written “on paper” but without follow-through or implementation.
Now with the very real prospect of tighter regulations, many businesses have been forced to adapt. In my sector, for example, the building regulation Part L requires all new houses to have a much better fabric efficiency, and almost every planning application needs to show an electrical charging point to accommodate the future of electric cars.
Indeed, the prospect of many more electric cars on our roads has been a lightbulb moment for many in the public, who have realised that the future of sustainability is already on our doorstep. The key question here is how long business leaders will wait to adapt their business model before the government forces them to. Sustainability is no longer optional; it is a necessity.
Many people think sustainability is all about us, as a human race, protecting the planet. This is certainly part of sustainability, but isn’t the reverse also true? No matter how badly we as humans treat it, Planet Earth will continue to exist. The climate crises beg a more immediate question: “Will we, or our way of life, survive if we don’t treat the planet and ourselves in a sustainable way?"
While this is an admittedly alarming question, there is good news: Environmental sustainability not only has a positive impact on the planet, but also improves the quality of our own lives.
The current COVID restrictions have made us all particularly aware of how important our individual wellbeing is. Restricted mobility has made people realise, now more than ever, the importance of the space we live and work in. If your clothes can be described as your second skin, then the space you choose to live in is your third skin, influencing not only your mood but the way you project yourself to the outside world.
Being bound to our homes for months has motivated many people to ask themselves, “What kind of space do I actually want to spend my time in?” Instead of focusing on market trends and resell value, people are increasingly considering how their homes promote the wellbeing and health of their families.
Architects and developers need to respond with spaces that are healthy and sustainable. Caring honestly for our wellbeing needs to be a priority, and a return on the investment will follow. The market value of a Huf house, for example, is growing in sync with the clear trend towards homes that are truly sustainable.
The virus has forced us to take stock of our lives and has reminded us of the importance of investing in our own health and wellbeing. We can no longer afford to ignore sustainability.
Each of us, in our personal and professional lives, must reflect on how to incorporate a sustainable approach. “When do I get my money back?” is a question of the past. The question each of us must reflect on now is: “How much longer can I afford to put off the investment into a sustainable future?”
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