At Lilium Homes sustainability has always been at the heart of all that we do...especially in period homes. Ensuring we access local products, reclaiming, restoring and up-cycling products where possible, is always our first approach. 

We care about the ‘here and now’ and the future of our local and the wider environment.

Our current business development project - The Annexe - home office/show home - is taking things one step further.  Here we’ve taken great care to ensure this building (c1900) doesn’t just meet new building regulation U-values for insulation and condensation measures, but we’re also committing to installing renewable technology. Our Vaillant Heat Source Pump (HSP) will provide both hot water and space heating for this property.  We’ve even been able to match this system successfully with beautiful traditional Stelrad column radiators, that will complete this period restoration.

We’re proud to be making our mark towards reducing our carbon footprint. We welcome all of our prospective clients the opportunity to visit our show home and experience this technology in real time. 

We have been working alongside the Energy Savings Trust Scotland - both domestic and Small to Medium sized Enterprises (SMEs) - and can help to guide clients through the options available under the EST loan/cash-back schemes or the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) scheme, whilst the funding remains available.

SUSTAINABILITY GOALS

In the UK, the use of heating and hot water in our homes accounts for more CO2 emissions (greenhouse gasses) than any other aspect of our lives. In order to reach Scotland’s net zero targets, we all need to commit to dramatically reducing the amount of fossil-fuel generated heating and hot water that we use, i.e. gas or oil-fired boilers.

One way to do this is by installing renewable heating technology, such as a heat pumps, solar thermal water heating systems or biomass boilers. Each home and lifestyle is different and you need to ensure that you fit the right technology for your home. It can feel daunting and complicated. However, with a little research and the right support, it can be a very rewarding experience, knowing  that you are making a difference to global sustainability goals and saving money longer term. The most crucial aspect of renewables is ensuring that your home is insulated to a high standard and meeting the correct u-values.  At Lilium Homes, we have not only installed renewable heating and hot water systems, we work in partnership with several suppliers.

As we move closer to global sustainability goals over the next 12-24 months, we have very recently seen a real 'step change' in clients' willingness and wish to invest in renewable technology and insulation of their period homes. Additionally, the desire to opt for annexes/garden pods, that can be designed around sustainability is growing fast. This can help clients manage their new work/life balance (post-pandemic), without worrying about heating a large (often poorly insulated home).  Many of us now, on average, work from home 300 days of the year, 8 hrs a day, when previously much of that time was spent in a commercial office setting or travelling to and from work.  This is likely to be the way we continue to strike a balance between work and home life as we move forward.  Heating our homes through traditional fossil fuels is becoming not only very expensive but it’s incredibly damaging to our environment.  We can achieve sustainability in period homes, without destroying the original character.   

In our own home, we are taking the plunge and working alongside the Energy Savings Trust and a well-established, highly experienced renewable technology business. Our aim is to instal a thermal solar hot water system...watch this space for developments.