A sustainable house is a home designed to minimize negative environmental impacts. Sustainability encompasses energy efficiency, the avoidance of environmental toxins, and the responsible use of materials and resources, all while promoting a positive physical and psychological environment for its inhabitants.
The way we build our homes is important, and creating with sustainability in mind should be standard practice for twenty-first-century homes. In this article, we will outline 19 tips for sustainable house design.
The built environment accounts for 30% of global greenhouse gas emissions and consumes one-third of the world’s raw materials, energy, and water. In recent decades, designers and architects have acknowledged the critical need for sustainable home design strategies to address urgent global issues like climate change and global warming. In this blog, we will discuss what sustainable home design entails and examine ten current trends in sustainable architecture.
Why Build an Eco-friendly Home?
Green home or eco-friendly house plans and building green features offer the following benefits:
Environmental stewardship: Building green helps ensure minimal damage to the environment, protecting our air, water and wildlife for future generations.
Economic advantage: Many sustainable home elements pay for themselves many times over in lowered utility bills. Green homes also sell faster and at a premium compared with conventional homes.
Improved comfort. Many green features, such as air sealing and insulation, make for a cozier, more comfortable home.
Aesthetic appeal: Today’s home builders and designers can choose from an astonishing selection of sustainable materials and home elements at all price points. Many stand out for their beauty and visual interest, leading to infinite possibilities in design.
Choose Layout That Does not Affect Energy Use in a Home
Did you know that igloos are very energy-efficient house designs? An igloo is built in a cold climate with a shape that minimizes surface area. The reduced surface area reduces interior heat loss.
Building a very wide and spread out house will have more heat loss and less efficiency than a compact house. Building taller can be more efficient than building wider in some cases. A cube or a sphere are very efficient shapes. There will always be trade-offs in sustainable house design. However, you don’t have to make your home resemble an igloo (unless you want to)! The idea is that a compact design is better than a spread-out one. A compact two-story house will tend to be more efficient than a one-story spread-out house. For example, if you want to build a 2,000-square-foot house, making two stories with 1,000 sq ft per story will most likely be more efficient than building one story of 2,000 sq ft.
Use Local Materials for a Sustainable House
Using local materials in your new sustainable house will reduce the need for shipping. It’s more green to buy locally milled wood than to order it from across the country. However, this is tough because you may have fewer options based on your location. The availability of materials will vary depending on where you build your house.
If there is a local stone quarry, why not use their stone for your patio? See what locally-made materials and products you have available. I recommend getting local kitchen cabinets rather than importing European designer cabinets if you live in Pennsylvania. It is significantly greener, and you can find better quality products from local small businesses.
Recycled Materials For Sustainable House Construction
Recycling is a vital part of building a sustainable future, and it’s exciting to explore the variety of materials we can use, depending on our location and resources. Many incredible options are available that prioritize both sustainability and beauty!
For instance, you can enhance your home with stunning countertops made from recycled glass, or choose durable steel crafted from recycled metals. Reclaimed wood, rich in character and history, offers a unique touch—many contractors salvage these beautiful pieces during renovations, and specialized lumber yards are dedicated to preserving their charm.
Consider reclaimed bricks and masonry, which add a timeless appeal to your home, and even excavated soil can be creatively reused for landscaping. Roof shingles with recycled content and drywall made from recycled materials are also great eco-friendly choices.
Smart Home Strategies
Smart and modern sustainable home designs use technology to allow the home’s systems and electronics to communicate with one another, be controlled by a schedule, and even be remotely activated from a smartphone or other web-enabled device. By implementing smart home and eco-friendly house strategies, homeowners can save money on utility bills and contribute to a healthier environment. Let’s find out how:
Smart thermostats:
These thermostats use artificial intelligence to learn a household’s patterns and preferences, adjusting the temperature accordingly. This can help reduce energy consumption and lower heating and cooling costs.
Smart lighting:
These systems use motion sensors and timers to ensure that lights are only on when they are needed, reducing energy consumption and saving money on electricity bills.
Water consumption monitoring:
Smart irrigation systems can be programmed to water plants only when necessary, reducing water waste. Additionally, smart water metres can track household water usage, making it easier to identify leaks and reduce consumption.
Conclusion
Building something you love is the most sustainable thing one can do in construction. Build a home that you will love. Build a home that your children will love. When people love their homes, they care for them and don’t change them. Do not build a new home to renovate your kitchen in five years. Build a house with which you are happy. Build a home of which you are proud.
