Green homes and the use of renewable energy may be behind a drop in the level of residential carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions in 2006.A new report from the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) stated a reduction of four per cent for the year in the domestic...

Microgeneration technology is to be incorporated into plans for new homes across the UK, thanks to a number of zero-carbon community initiatives now underway.In an effort to meet the UK government's current targets for low and no-carbon homes in the country, a total of ten sites under the ownership of...

An eco-village in Shropshire is aiming to encourage residents to put down roots and settle for the long-term, its creator has asserted.Bob Tomlinson, who developed the plan for The Wintles - the settlement of 12 green homes near Bishop's Castle - said the town will be built using the newest...

A renewable energy seminar is set to take place on March 8th to help Dartford residents explore ways to make their homes more energy efficient, according to Kent Online.Green home improvements, such as solar panels and wind turbines, will be discussed at the event, which is to be held at...

Using solar panels as a replacement for a traditional boiler may help homeowners save on their electricity bills, according to a south-east London resident.Johannes Gleede told the BBC that since installing a thermal solar panel in his roof, his electricity bills have halved.The British Photovoltaic Association claims that rooftop solar...

People interested in constructing a green home may find that local housebuilders and sustainable materials that require less transportation are more eco-friendly than mass-produced housing, an expert has asserted.Brian Berry, director of external affairs for the Federation of Master Builders (FMB) claimed that the group's members are making an effort...

A new development of green homes has been approved by city councillors in Sheffield, it has emerged.The new green housing estate is expected to consist of 41 houses in Norfolk Park.Sheffield city council has announced that each home will feature high-specification glazing, additional insulation, high-efficiency heating appliances and recycling facilities.Each...

New research has shown that some 70 per cent of UK homeowners would be encouraged to make green improvements to their properties if there were government incentives to do so - such as special mortgages or reduced council tax rates.The survey, conducted by thinkproperty.com, found that 80 per cent of...

Birmingham will join a partnership of seven international cities in a scheme to incorporate environmental factors into the planning regulations of green homes in the region, it has emerged.Other cities participating in the Connected Urban Development initiative include Madrid, Amsterdam, San Francisco, Seoul, Hamburg and Lisbon.The scheme is supported by...

Eco-friendly features are a trend predicted to take off this year, as an increasing number of homebuyers have now claimed they are looking for appliances such as energy-efficient boilers.Citing a survey conducted during January's Homebuyer and Property Investor Show, Wriglesworth Consultancy claimed that around 55 per cent of all prospective...

A green home on display at the EcoBuild conference this week has been certified as achieving Code 6 status, which is the highest level under the current code for sustainable buildings.The eco-friendly home contains a number of energy saving features that the Guardian reports will enable to go for an...