RE / Green building 'bling'

[guydewdney]

I have an investment property build in a city centre. Its high value, so its soft close glossy kitchens, travertine flooring etc etc.

Luckily the roof is south facing - so solar HW is a go.

Theres a small garden, so a small composting thing (expensive, hand made, poncey Harrods garden equipment composter - not an old barrel) is a go-er.

Its got to appeal to yummy mummies, who have married a solicitor/doctor etc and want to impress their yummy mummy friends.

Yes Martin - chocolate tea pots will probably be on the menu (not actual building mounted wind turbines).....

What would you suggest? Its got to have wow factor, and look good!

energy meter?

[martin]

I've read it four times, and still need a translation..........
Hot and cold nannies, a ghastly placcy henhouse, and just so they're "up with the Beckhams" one of the new "Pigihus" range from the same company, complete with matching midget pigs, and vac pac outfit for the bacon, and to top it all off - an electric Aga......... 

[guydewdney]

City centre - tiny garden - I'm not into animal cruelty - so chickens, let alone pigs - are out.
 
What are 'hot and cold nannies'?

[martin]

"you may take the infant to the west wing, I shall see it when it's six" jobs...........

[guydewdney]

3 bed, 20 feet wide, city centre houses..... No room to swing a cat. Sensible suggestions please?

Can admion(biot... ) move this to "green construction" instead of general?

[martin]

Lots of mirrors to make it look bigger!
(Fatuous, fashionable AND sensible)

[roscoe]

Don't think your customers you portray will be bothered in the slightest with an energy meter. If the roof is visible from the street, then having shiny/glossy solar panels PV or thermal will be enough of a talking point for inter-yummy-mummy chat, if it can't be seem I wouldn't bother.

I would rule out evacuated tubes on style looks alone for this client, unless there is a Herve Leger version sponsored by her[/u]]http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-1320579/Liz-Hurley-wears-pink-ribbon-bodycon-dress-breast-cancer-photocall-Glasgow.html?ito=feeds-newsxmlher.

[dhaslam]

A trendy greenhouse.

http://www.isawitonthebox.com/tv/this-morning/inflatable-greenhouse-as-seen-on-this-morning

Mirrors on the solar panels would be good.

[Baz]

I think posh places are mostly rented by Company staff on a years secondment so will be given a specific budget and will want to go up as close to that as possible without going over. Services may or may not be extra.
They will want convenience like a hotel. A bathroom that just works - instant hot water and no tempremental showers. Heating (and cooling) that is easy to program and adjust. A kitchen with American style fridge, easy use microwave, dishwasher, washerdryer. Wifi. Self maintaining plants. TV with built in freeview, not extra box but provision for cable/sat if the kids need disney.

[martin]

That's actually a fairly frightening summation of what so many people find "important" (with nil consideration for the environment)

[Quakered]

I am sure Baz was assuming all the devices would be A rated.....

[Greenbeast]

I am sure Baz was assuming all the devices would be A rated.....

even so!

I'm with martin, it's a bit scary how much some people will have to change for us to have a chance in the future.

[Brandon]

I console myself in the fact that some of us will find it easier, and others will struggle... and they laugh at me now

[desperate]

Blimey, that just the start of the spec list on some of the kitchens I have been asked to quote on

Sad but true

Desperate

[fatbob]

Really don't want to be cynical, but as others have said, I'm not sure how high up in the list of priorities 'green stuff' would be to a luxury target market.  Perhaps I'm being unfairly biased but in my view most yummy mummy's would probably be more interested in having a fridge with internet built in to do their facebook updates http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/gadgets-and-tech/news/samsung-unveils-fridge-with-builtin-internet-1916651.html whilst they cook the latest Nigella recipe. 

If it were me I'd look at more passive ways to make the building more green - insulation, solar PV/water, heating mods etc etc without labouring it as a marketing point.  I'd even be tempted to install a hidden room thermostat in series with the main one as suggested in another thread about limiting tenants heating use.  They'd be being green without even knowing it    Many people think it's perfectly reasonable to pad around the house barefoot in shorts and T shirt in the depths of winter with the stat set to a comfortable 30 degrees C.  I guess if they have the money they won't care.  Myself, I'd rather put on another jumper and a second pair of socks, but I guess not everyone's like me (or that tight with the bills!)