Everyone wants to do their part to contribute to a sustainable, environmentally conscious future. From recycling to composting, these are just some of the little things you can do to reduce your carbon footprint. However, one major action you can take toward a more eco-friendly lifestyle is to explore sustainable home design. Applying environmental principles to your home design will be a huge step forward in going green.
But what exactly does sustainable home design entail? What are the driving principles behind it, and what are some examples of sustainable home design? Fortunately, you can find the answers to these questions by reading this guide.
The Principles Of Sustainable Home Design
Sustainable home design takes into account the long-term environmental and community impacts of construction. Implementing this practice involves reducing the negative outcomes of specific construction and design choices. There are many guidelines from countless organizations defining the principles of sustainable home design. The principles of sustainable design outlined by the U.S. General Services Administration can be summarized as follows:
Being Strategic About Location
Usually phrased as “optimize site potential”, being strategic about location involves considering the ecological impact of where you choose to build your home. Upon evaluating that impact, you need to work with your team to determine how to reduce the negative effects or counteract them. For best results, consider how you can incorporate the local environment into your future home design in a way that doesn’t entirely compromise it.
Energy Efficiency And Waste Reduction
Energy efficiency and waste reduction are the twin pillars of sustainable practices. Energy efficiency can easily be accomplished by investing in products and materials that are Energy Star-approved. As for waste reduction, this can range from ensuring construction materials aren’t just thrown away to using materials that are sustainable and can be recycled and using products and energy sources that allow for water conservation. In other words, environmentally friendly materials, products, and energy systems will go a long way toward fulfilling your sustainable home design goals.
Healthy Indoor Air Quality
Finally, you want to live somewhere with healthy air quality. Lucky for you, sustainable design and healthy indoor environments go hand-in-hand. It is also possible to keep your indoor air quality healthy and clean without relying on HVAC systems that are wasteful. Recovery ventilation systems, for example, are great for homes that are tightly sealed and insulated from the outside air. Natural ventilation is also worth considering to keep your home cool.
3 Sustainable Home Design Ideas
Now that you have a sense of the driving principles behind sustainable home design, you will benefit from some examples of sustainable home design in practice. These three ideas are just a starting point for making your new home environmentally friendly.
1. Passive Solar Design
Passive solar design involves making decisions about your home’s layout that will actively utilize solar energy and increase energy efficiency without the need for additional appliances and technology. Some examples of passive solar design include window positioning in relation to how sunlight travels through your area and having your home face the direction of the sun. These are just a few examples of how passive solar design can effectively reduce energy costs while filling your home with natural light and warmth.
2. Drip Irrigation
When maintaining your lawn or backyard, you want to ensure that no water goes to waste. This waste reduction can be achieved by including a drip irrigation system in your home. Now, you can cut out the middle man of a water pump by having the water sent directly to the roots of your plants.
3. Insulation
Installing insulation is key to making your home sustainable and energy-efficient. From your attic to your garage door, you can improve temperature control in your home, allowing for a better quality of life. You do not want to miss out on the advantages of this addition.
BetterBuilt Builders Will Bring Your Sustainable Home Design Ideas To Life!
We hope that by reading this blog, you are better informed about the basics of sustainable home design. If you’re looking to remodel your home, you can put these principles into practice with the right team. If you happen to live in the Bay Area, that team is BetterBuilt Builders. We practice what we preach when it comes to sustainability, so contact us today.