An eco-home overseas can mean something quite different from an environmentally-friendly property in the UK. For one thing, in hotter parts of the world, energy is more likely to be consumed cooling a house down than heating it. Water use is often a bigger issue in other countries than it is in the UK.
And with less rigorous planning laws in some countries, the overall impact of medium or large-scale developments in unspoilt terrain can be a serious issue.
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Whether you're building your own home, or choosing a home from a developer, here are some of the things to look out for:Low energy
In Caribbean and other tropical climates, heating is unnecessary throughout the year; in the Mediterranean you will need heating if the house is to be used in winter. Large south-facing windows are a classic device in northern climates to maximize passive solar gain – in other words heat from sunshine – but the hotter the climate the greater the risk of overheating.
At the AlmaVerde resort in southern Portugal, a pioneering Coolhouse system which uses the earth to regulate houses through ventilation, cooling them in summer, warming them in winter. Thick walls are another way to keep temperatures consistent, and avoid excessive heating or air conditioning. Solar panels for heating water are becoming standard in many warmer climates.
Local building materials
Materials which are sourced locally, and in a sustainable fashion, are the ideal. By using local stone, timber and clay, for example, you avoid the energy use and carbon emissions of transporting materials from elsewhere. And by using sustainable or recycled materials, you can protect the eco-system.
Timber should be FSC – Forestry Stewardship Council – certified, which means trees are planted at a rate that avoids depletion. Local natural stone, responsibly quarried, blends in with the landscape. Building should also use non-toxic paint and other treatments.
Water sustainable
In parts of southern Spain there is now a serious water shortage, exacerbated by the proliferation of golf courses and general over-development. Water is a precious commodity in many parts of the world, and so anything which reduces your consumption of water and contributes to recycling is helpful. Simple measures include installing low-flush WCs and taps with built-in airflow. A more advanced approach is recycling grey water – in addition to collecting rainwater – for irrigation.
Low visual impactIncreasingly, developers are looking to build properties that don't disfigure the landscape but blend in. This is usually achieved through a combination of the choice of materials – using indigenous wood and stone for example, which are employed in traditional local building, rather than concrete and glass – and architectural design. Low-rise buildings have a much lower impact than high-rise, and in some cases grass roofs are being used to reduce visual impact even further. The golf resort Bom Sucesso on Portugal's Silver Coast is a good example of this.
In larger developments, protection of surrounding eco-systems, natural habitats and the wildlife they support is also an important issue. And transportation is another issue: electric golf buggies to travel around a resort are a popular way to reduce carbon emissions. In all these questions, don't accept all the claims made by developers at face value: ask to see the evidence, and that way you can be sure you're buying a genuine eco-home.
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Alexander Garrett is a freelance property writer who contributes regularly to The Observer and British Airways' Business Life.
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