Sustainable homes use less resources and are more resource efficient than conventional buildings, using natural materials or recycled supplies in their construction.
Over time, they save money on energy and water usage bills, making them more attractive to homebuyers and improving health for those living there.
Energy Efficiency
No matter if you are building or renovating an existing home, energy efficiency is crucial to its overall performance and will help lower both energy costs and carbon emissions.
Smart home automation and energy-efficient appliances are excellent ways to save on energy. Lights can also be an energy drain; consider LED and CFL bulbs to lower your electric bill.
Renewable energy offers another effective strategy for cutting your energy costs. Solar panels, wind systems and small “hybrid” electric systems may all offer potential savings options that you should explore further.
Sustainable design emphasizes building materials and techniques that have minimal environmental impact; eco-friendly materials like recycled content, reclaimed lumber and natural paints are excellent options for building sustainable homes.
Water Efficiency
Water efficiency is an integral component of sustainable home building, and can reduce water consumption by an astonishing 30 percent.
Transporting, treating and disposing of water requires considerable energy consumption; thus it’s a common goal in green homes to decrease their water use as much as possible.
Low-flow plumbing fixtures, reduced irrigation usage and using rainwater for gardening maintenance can all help save thousands of gallons of water annually and are easy to incorporate into any home environment.
LEED rating systems award points for buildings implementing water efficiency measures such as dual flush toilets, low-flow shower heads and greywater recycling systems.
Materials
Building a home requires careful consideration of the materials you use. They should be sustainable, energy-efficient and waste-reducing as well as being nontoxic, reusable or recyclable and biodegradable – qualities which need to be achieved through using materials which meet these criteria.
Sheep’s wool is an ideal material to consider for insulation because it can easily be obtained, without emitting toxins, and providing excellent thermal properties. Plus, growing sheep wool doesn’t require much water or fertilizers – and harvesting can even be reversed after harvest.
Reclaimed wood offers another eco-friendly solution, with less of an impactful carbon footprint than new timber. Reclaimed timber can be used to craft doors, cabinets, or flooring materials throughout your entire house.
Recycled products make an excellent building material choice, often coming from unexpected places such as plastic bag cinder blocks and wine cork tiles. Other interesting examples include walls grown from mushrooms, old tires and straw bales.
Orientation
One of the cornerstones of sustainable home building is orientation. This feature enables homes to take full advantage of natural light while simultaneously lowering energy costs.
Orientation of your home and solar panels is another key element to successful solar power. Placing most windows and panels facing south for maximum heat and light output.
Sustainable building involves selecting materials with low VOC emissions and local sourcing for optimal results, helping protect the environment while cutting energy, water, and maintenance costs.
Orientation is an integral component of life. Acclimatizing to new companies or environments helps individuals quickly adjust to their work environments while creating an atmosphere in which people feel welcome and comfortable within an organization.
