Sustainability in full bloom

In December 2024, the £6.6 billion Warm Homes Plan was announced. It aims to provide grants and affordable loans to homeowners for installing solar panels and battery storage systems. Millions of homeowners will be given grants and cheap loans to convert their properties to solar power, as part of the government’s attempt to hit its 2030 clean energy pledge.

Under the plans, which are still being developed, eligible fuel-poor households would be given upfront grants to install solar panels and batteries, while richer households could be eligible for cheap government-backed loans to cover the upfront costs of the work.

Ministers are also considering increasing the amount households can make from “selling back” any unused electricity they generate to the grid to increase the incentives for homeowners to take up the offer. This could be quite appealing to consumers considering solar panels for long-term cost efficiencies.

Check out Wickes Solar, powered by Solar Fast, a market-leading solar panel installer that has helped thousands of homes across the UK on their solar energy journey.

Green walls and roofs are rising in popularity due to a number of benefits. They provide natural insulation, which minimises energy demands in the home, and also absorb a vast amount of rainfall which prevents leaks and stormwater runoff. The greenery blends seamlessly with the surrounding landscape, providing a natural habitat for birds and insects, and other pollinators. The plants filter out pollution and carbon dioxide from the air, helping your home play its part in reducing the effects of cars and industry.

There are several types of green roof: extensive green roofs are typically shallow at between two to six inches deep. They’re designed to support low maintenance plants like mosses, grasses and sedums. Alternatively, intensive roofs are designed for deeper growing mediums, between eight and 24 inches, and they can support a wider range of flora, including flowers, shrubs and even small trees. There are also semi-intensive roofs which are a hybrid of these two systems.

The repurposing of stone offcuts - remnants from the fabrication of larger stone installations - is gaining traction in the UK, driven by sustainability and cost-effectiveness. The UK is now importing more bricks than ever before - 500mn in 2022 - more than any other country in the world. Firing and importing them contributes to a global total of 288,190 tonnes of emissions per year. As a result, building in brick is becoming increasingly unsustainable. Construction companies and tradespeople are looking for a more affordable and sustainable option; enter “unloved stone”. Unloved stone is the off cuts from quarrying the premium stone. It is just as strong and durable as any other stone, but its non-uniformity makes it more affordable.

Nearly 1 in 3 tradespeople are interested in green technology training, especially for fitting solar panels. Lack of time is one of the top barriers to training in new green technologies with 17% saying they’re too busy with jobs. With TradePro's new reward Access Training, tradespeople are able to receive 25% off courses which can excel their skills in areas such as green technology training. Find out more here.