As the popularity of eco friendly housing developments continues to rise, more and more people are looking to the future by purchasing an eco-home. Amongst other things the running costs and environmental impact are far less than that of a conventional home. Check out the list below for ten great reasons to buy an eco-home.

1. Bills - One of the principle advantages of an eco-home comes in the form of lower utility and water bills. An Eco-home equipped with state of the art energy-efficient appliances throughout the house will noticeably cut the price of your bills. Eco additions such as tank less water heaters means less time, water and energy wasted to warm up water in your sink and shower.

2. Health – Eco homes built using green materials, such as low-VOC (volatile organic compound) paint, help to protect you and your family’s health. Formaldehyde-free building materials will also help prevent respiratory problems that might have arisen as a result of the use of traditional building materials.

3. Resale – Buying or building your own eco-home is certainly a good investment. On top of all the other advantages listed here, the market value of your home is increased by its ‘green’ status. As the popularity and financial viability of eco-homes is constantly growing, so does the demand which correlates with a higher resale value.

4. Maintenance – The materials used in the construction of an eco-home are often far more durable and require less maintenance than conventional building materials. Certain green building materials such as bamboo floors are easy to clean and require less maintenance that traditional carpet flooring.

5. Wastage – Modular homes are built in factories that recycle the waste generated during the construction process and also leave less waste at the construction site. Many eco-homes often use recycled building materials.

6. Carbon – Some of you will be familiar with the term ‘food miles’, which refers to the distance food is transported to reach the consumer. Food miles are one factor used when assessing the environmental impact of food, including the impact on global warming. This principle can also be applied to the construction materials used in the building of eco-homes. By using locally produced materials, eco-homes cut down the carbon emissions necessary to deliver supplies to the build site.

7. Conservation – By using xeriscaping and native landscaping (landscaping that reduces or eliminates the need for supplemental irrigation in dry areas) helps to enhance and protect biodiversity and the eco-systems around your home. This is beneficial to local wildlife and plants.

8. Recycle – Harvesting and using gray water by, for example, using a system that fills up your toilets cistern with water collected from the sink next to it, helps you save money on your water bills. Composting saves money ordinarily spent on fertiliser and sends less waste to landfills. Although these are all things that can be implemented into most homes, by buying an eco-home in most cases these systems will already be in place.

9. Life-cycle – By purchasing a house that is sustainable, meaning that they were built to last and work effectively for generation, you are insuring that the life-cycle of your home has been optimised to a far higher level than most conventional homes.

10. Environment – In the UK, homes are responsible for 16% of the country’s greenhouse gas emissions, according to the Department of Energy and Climate change. Living in an eco-home means that instead of being part of the problem and contributing to the cause of climate change, you become part of the solution.

As you can see from this list, the benefits of owning an eco-home are many and varied. By purchasing an eco-home you are not only making a sound financial investment but also an investment that could help combat climate change and keep your carbon footprint to a minimum.