A more sustainable approach to second homes in Spain

Sustainability is a big concern for an increasing number of holiday homebuyers, according to Spanish housebuilder Taylor Wimpey España. With this in mind, the firm is showcasing its take on building second homes sustainably with villas located across southern Spain.

Marc Pritchard, sales and marketing director, explained: “There are concepts which apply as standard when building homes sustainably, such as choosing natural materials and prioritising goods from local sources. It’s also important to understand the context of each site and how best to harness natural energy sources.

“Using aerothermal energy systems, for example, can extract up to 75% of energy from outside air, which can then be used to heat homes. That can deliver significant energy and cost savings for second home buyers.”

According to the team, since half of Europe’s energy consumption relates to heating and cooling buildings, switching to aerothermal heating can make a significant difference.

Sustainability is a big concern for an increasing number of holiday home buyers, according to Spanish housebuilder Taylor Wimpey España

The villas include thermal insulation of exterior walls, roofs and windows, the provision of LED lighting, double glazing and low-consumption appliances, and pre-installation for charging electric vehicles.

Other benefits are site-specific. Breeze, in Balcón de Finestrat in Alicante, for example, is well located for accessing the local public transport network, providing homebuyers with a range of alternatives to using cars.

“We often think about energy efficiency and natural materials in terms of reducing properties’ impact on the planet. However, there are other benefits too. More energy-efficient properties can save owners money on their gas and electricity bills. Internal air quality can benefit too, which can deliver wellbeing benefits for owners,” added Pritchard.

The firm’s detached homes at Las Villas de Dalt de Sa Rapita in Mallorca showcase the team’s ideas in action.

The three-bedroom villas each have a large terrace with a private garden and swimming pool. Keen cyclists are also well served, with Sa Rapita providing an excellent starting point for various exploratory routes across the island.

The kitchen features a worktop and oven front panel made from compact quartz and is equipped with an oven, induction hob, integrated refrigerator and dishwasher by Siemens. The extractor hood, manufactured by Pando, is integrated into the ceiling and the single sink is in stainless steel with taps by Tres.

The two bathrooms, both ensuite, have a suspended unit by Kyrya, with an oak finish and an inset washbasin.

All the window and glazing carpentry is made of anthracite-coloured aluminium. 

The property has an armoured front door while the interior doors are made of light oak wood. They have magnetised handles and wooden panels up to the ceiling, with the aim of providing a greater feeling of spaciousness throughout the home. All hanging hardware is made of stainless steel or matt silver aluminium.

For all the interior spaces, large porcelain ceramic tiling by Saloni has been specified. A similar model has been chosen for terraces and porches in a non-slip version.

The villa has motorised roller blinds in the living room and bedrooms, while the laundry and utility rooms are fitted with Majorcan shutters.

Airconditioning is provided by an inverter heat pump system, with ducted fan coil units in the living room and in each of the bedrooms. Domestic hot water is produced by aerothermal energy and the villa comes with pre-installation for the connection of solar panels on the roof.

All the mechanisms in the property are controlled by Berker K1 series switches and sockets.