Kitchens - Self builders ''could drive eco-homes''

20/05/2008

Homeowners who are determined to put their kitchens and bathrooms exactly where they want are best placed to move forward the government's commitment to eco-homes, experts have claimed.

Green Moves UK, which offers advice on buying and selling eco-homes, said that self-builders can help the government to achieve its goal of creating sustainable housing, as they work to construct their perfect home.

Julian Brooks, managing director of Green Moves UK, commented: "Self builders are probably the best placed to take forward the government's aspirations, more so than perhaps the industry themselves.

"They can be more flexible, they are interested in it and it's possibly something they want to do anyway."

According to the Daily Telegraph, a study by property consultants Knight Frank and EC Harris suggests that conventional housing developers may be more reluctant to install features such as renewable energy sources, as they fear it could eat into their profit margins.

Research from the National House Building Council suggests that government intervention has encouraged homeowners to adopt zero-carbon improvements such as power showers and solar water heating.