An air source heat pump (ASHP) works by transferring heat absorbed from the outside air to an indoor space. This works via the wet central heating systems to heat radiators and provides domestic hot water. Certain air source heat pumps can also work as a cooling system in the summer months. Most commonly they are placed outside of a building where there is adequate space for the installation.

For every 3 to 4 units of energy produced from an air source heat pump, only 1 unit of electricity is used, making it a far better alternative to cut emissions. By switching to air source heat pumps, you can reduce your energy bills as you’ll be using the outside air for your heating and cooling needs. Home users can save up to £1,335 per year in energy savings with an air source heat pump.

A photo-voltaic (PV) panel (solar panel) is an assembly of photo-voltaic cells mounted in a framework for installation. Solar panels use sunlight as a source of energy to generate direct current electricity.

PV solutions can be solar electric systems, which generate electricity, or solar hot water systems, which generate hot water. A solar hot water system installed into a residence will reduce carbon emissions as well as gas bills, and this will be most beneficial in the summer months when the boiler can be turned off, as hot water will be generated by their solar system.

Not only do fibre-optics provide speedier broadband, but they also consume less energy than copper-based systems. Optical fibre cables also have a longer infrastructure lifespan, typically lasting 25 years; the rate of repair is also 50 per cent less than copper, which translates into less resources used and less waste.

A ground source heat pump (GSHP) is a heating/cooling system that uses a type of heat pump to transfer heat to or from the ground. GSHPs are among the most energy-efficient technologies for providing HVAC and water heating using far less energy than can be achieved by burning a fuel. GSHPs provide 3 – 6 units of heat for each unit of electricity used.

Tankless water heaters only heat water when you need it, so there are no standby losses, just endless hot water on demand. The main advantages of tankless water heaters are a plentiful, limitless continuous flow of hot water and large energy savings under some conditions due to the use of energy only when in use.

Insulation is key to a sustainable home, locking in precious resources. There are several green alternatives to synthetic insulation, including sheep’s wool, flax and hemp and wood fibre. Natural insulation materials are made from renewable resources and have low embodied energy. They can also be reused and recycled and are fully biodegradable.

By harvesting rainwater, we take advantage of Britain’s grey skies. Rainwater harvesting systems can now be plumbed into a home’s existing pipework, reducing water consumption by up to 50 percent.

Living roofs blanket a home with a layer of vegetation planted over a waterproofing membrane. They help provide fresh air by utilising plants’ natural ability to filter pollutants. As well as brightening the day of passers-by with their natural good looks, living roofs absorb and filter rainwater, provide insulation and create a habitat for wildlife.

Rather than flushing precious resources away, composting toilets treat human excrement through biological processes, turning it into organic compost material that can be used to fertilise the soil.

A smart power strip automatically feeds electronic devices only when they need it. Rather than going into standby mode, a smart electricity strip will shut the appliance down after a certain time until it is needed again.