The lack of new developments in Spain inevitably leads to a rapid increase in demand for re-sale property. The relatively low cost of such residential properties is one of their clear advantages. The main disadvantage of such properties is usually low energy efficiency. To remedy this, re-sale property buyers can follow these simple tips.
More Wood
Despite the vast variety of existing materials, none of them can compare with wood. Wood products made as the result of sustainable forest management have a number of environmental benefits. This material is natural and renewable. Representatives of AEIM, the Spanish Association of Timber Trade and Industry, say that, compared to other materials, the production of wooden items requires much less energy.
Organic Waste Composting
Even if a person tries not to waste food and always cook exactly as much as he or she is ready to eat, food leftovers are inevitable. Common examples are potato peels or citrus peels. Barbara Lacroix, founder of Cero Residuo, says that the ideal solution of this problem is composting, a technology that turns organic waste into fertilizer. The resulting fertilizer can be used to grow plants and to make your home an even greener place.
Eco-Friendly Lighting
The UCI recommends the following 3 principles for sustainable lighting in a house:
- Make the most of natural light during the daytime.
- Buy only LED bulbs.
- Avoid having multiple light bulbs in the same room unless absolutely necessary.
Renewable Energy Sources
Although Spain still lags behind other European countries in terms of sustainable development, according to the Red Eléctrica de España (REE), in 2020, renewable technologies made it possible to generate 43.6% of the country's electricity. The share of "green" production in that period was 6.1% higher than in 2019 and 3.2% higher than in 2014.
Water Saving
Saving water is easy. Just turn off the faucet when you wash your hands or brush your teeth. According to Ecodes, this initiative will help one person save an average of 550,000 liters of water during their lifetime. Another solution is to use a fully loaded dishwasher instead of washing dishes by hand. Proper use of the dishwasher saves 30.6 liters of water per day, of which 27.4 liters is hot water.
Reconstruction and New Generation Real Estate
In Spain, 30% of carbon dioxide emissions come from buildings. Therefore, the decarbonization of the housing stock has become one of the main tasks of local environmental activists for 2022. New Generation Funds focus on housing recovery and urban renewal.