As our interest in looking after the environment grows, so does the desire to have a sustainable home. But what exactly is a sustainable home? Sustainable homes are designed and built with green or recycled materials. They also use alternative energy resources.
These homes are energy efficient by themselves and respect the surrounding natural environment. It is not unknown the impact homes have on our planet, from contributing to CO2 emissions and greenhouse gases which lead to global warming, and much more. There are many ways our homes affect the health of our planet, and it is our mission to ensure we are causing it as little harm as possible. This is where sustainable homes or green/eco houses come into play to solve these issues.
What are the key elements of a sustainable home?
Sustainable homes have three key elements. These include:
Environmental sustainability The home is designed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, save water and energy, and reduce waste during its lifetime.
Social sustainability The sustainable house has built-in features designed to prevent injuries, increasing the owner’s sense of security and comfort. These houses make life easier for people with diverse disabilities or limited mobility. They are user-friendly for children and older citizens.
Economic sustainability Sustainable homes are designed to save money during construction and throughout their lifetime. Careful planning eliminates the need for major upgrades in the future and lowers energy, water, and maintenance expenses.
What are some trending sustainable house features in 2022?
Solar energy and passive design Implementing solar power to enhance the energy and cost-efficiency of your home has remained a common way to increase the sustainability of your home. The passive solar design employs the sun’s direction and natural sunlight to foster a comfortable temperature in your home throughout all seasons.
High-performance windows In most contemporary design styles, windows are a central focal point; however, they are considered responsible for over 50% of home energy loss. Recent sustainability trends enhance the aesthetic feature of windows. These practices include new technologies of double glaze, special coatings, and non-conductive frames. You can limit energy loss by tailoring your windows to your home’s climate, whether serving a colder or warmer setting.
Energy-Efficient appliances When finalising the furnishings and features of modern homes, sustainable appliances continue to be increasingly popular. You can invest in the future of your home and the environment by selecting appliances with high energy efficiency ratings. Choosing good appliances for your kitchen, laundry, heating, and the cooling system remains an intelligent way to incorporate sustainability into new builds or existing homes.
Minimalism Another way to achieve a sustainable home is by engaging in conscious consumerism and following a minimalist lifestyle. Buying fewer consumer goods is one way to reduce waste and cost. Another trend is buying or renting second-hand resources, passed down from generation to generation.
In summary Achieving sustainable homes is in our best interests if we plan to continue living and thriving on this planet we call home—many desire to create a sustainable home but do not know precisely how to go about it.
The most significant area you can make a difference is switching to more environmentally-friendly energy options. In addition, buying less and designing a home that is kinder to the planet will go a long way. We hope that these sustainable home trends will no longer be trends in the future but the pillars of how we design eco-conscious houses.
Read more informative sustainability content in our free online magazine, Earth Mother Magazine. You can even download it as a pdf to read offline.