This post reflects energy saving behaviours in the home. At BuilderScrap.com we want to inform our readers, builders and Contractors how the regular public (taken from a sample) feel about those energy saving devices in the home.

What is a water meter?

A water meter is a device that records the amount of water being used in your home for billing purposes, similar to your gas and electricity metering. Your water company checks your water meter to calculate how much to charge you.

Should I get a water meter?

If you have a water meter fitted your charges would be based on the amount of water you use, rather than being a fixed amount each year based on the rateable value (RV) of your property.

Any savings depend on how much you pay now and how much water you use.

At the time of the survey a third (33%) of respondents said they lived in homes with water meters, 63% lived in homes without a meter and 4% indicated that they did not know if there was a water meter in their home. To ensure an accurate response, respondents were given a description of what a water meter was if they were unsure. Compared with the 2007 Defra survey, the proportion of people living in homes with water meters appears to have increased slightly (from 29% in 2007).

This week at BuilderScrap, we have come across this interesting article about sustainable building materials on ehow.com.  Have a read, and let us know what you think.

In all of the phases of construction of a new house there are material decisions that are required. The materials for the foundation, the material for the super-structure of the house and so on. In choosing these materials home builders have more choices than ever to build using sustainable products. This article will discuss the major steps in the construction of a house and correlate those major phases to the applicable sustainable materials that can be used. In most instances the sustainable material choice has a higher “up front” cost compared to conventional materials but as many business cases have shown they have a pay back over the long run when considering the lower maintenance costs and the longevity of the materials. Another major factor to consider with sustainable materials is the instant “character” that is integrated into the construction of your new home.
According to the U.S. Green Building Council “A green home will have been constructed or renovated with healthy, non-toxic building materials and furnishings, like low- and zero-VOC (volatile organic compound) paints and sealants and non-toxic materials like strawboard for the sub-flooring. Wood-based features should come from rapidly renewable sources like bamboo, but if tropical hardwoods are used, they must be certified by the Forest Stewardship Council. A green home uses salvaged materials like kitchen tiles and materials with significant recycled content.”

Let us here at BuilderScrap know what you think!

Take a look at this intersting article published in The Independent last month. it discusses the realities of living in a green home, as well as offering some useful tips about ‘greening’ your home for under £50.

Take a look, and let us know what you think.